Icologiq Knowledge · Standard
ISO 45001
The international standard specifying requirements for an occupational health and safety management system to manage OH&S risks and improve safety performance.
ISO 45001
Also known as:
ISO 45001:2018, OH&S Management System standard
At a glance
Type
Standard
Topic
HSE/QHSE
Applies to
Tank Terminals & Chemicals, Food & Agriculture
Current version
ISO 45001:2018
Status
Current edition at last verification; successor edition in development
Last reviewed
October 9, 2026
Definition
ISO 45001 provides a management-system framework for occupational health and safety. It focuses on leadership, worker participation, hazard identification, risk and opportunity management, operational control, performance evaluation and continual improvement.
Why it matters
ISO 45001 matters because organizations need a systematic way to identify occupational health and safety hazards, manage risks, involve workers, control operations, investigate incidents and improve OH&S performance over time.
Consider the internal and external issues affecting occupational health and safety, the needs of workers and other interested parties, and the boundaries of the OH&S management system. Under the 2024 amendment, determine whether climate change is relevant to the organization's context.
Context of the Organization
4
Top management establishes the OH&S policy, clarifies responsibilities and demonstrates accountability. Worker consultation and participation are essential, especially when identifying hazards, evaluating risks and improving controls. In practice, these activities should influence real operational decisions rather than remain formal statements.
Leadership and Worker Participation
5
Identify hazards, assess OH&S risks and opportunities, determine relevant legal and other requirements, and set objectives. Risk Assessment helps prioritize action, while documented decisions make it clearer how risks are evaluated and what controls or improvements are planned.
Planning
6
Provide resources, competence, awareness, communication and documented information for safe work. Maintain training records and controlled documentation so workers can access current instructions and organizations can demonstrate how critical responsibilities, qualifications and safety information are managed.
Support
7
Plan and control activities to eliminate hazards and reduce OH&S risks. Address operational changes, procurement, contractors, outsourced work and emergency preparedness. Management of Change can provide a practical way to evaluate safety implications before significant changes are implemented.
Operation
8
Monitor OH&S performance, evaluate compliance with legal and other requirements, carry out internal audits and conduct management reviews. Use Incident trends, audit findings and relevant indicators to assess whether controls work as intended and where management attention is needed.
Performance Evaluation
9
Respond to an Incident or Nonconformance with appropriate investigation and, where needed, Corrective Action. Verify whether actions address underlying causes and use the results to support Continuous Improvement. An effective response focuses on learning and preventing recurrence, not simply closing a report.
Improvement
10
Standard explained
Understanding the ISO 45001 Structure
ISO 45001:2018, including Amendment 1:2024, organizes occupational health and safety management into seven requirement areas. The clauses address organizational context, worker participation, Risk Assessment, operational controls, performance evaluation and improvement. They describe what an OH&S management system should address, rather than a prescribed sequence for implementing it.
Health, Safety and Environment: an integrated management scope for occupational health, workplace safety and environmental risks, obligations, incidents and performance.
HSE
Concept
· HSE/QHSE
The structured process for reporting, assessing, investigating, following up and learning from incidents and related events.
Incident Management
Process
· Incident Management
A structured assessment used to identify hazards or uncertainties, estimate their risk and determine whether controls or further action are required.
Risk Assessment
Process
· Risk
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