When you require an Occupational Health & Safety (OH&S) Management System which should be implemented in accordance with the requirements of the ISO 45001:2018 standard, then certain steps need to be taken to ensure a successful implementation process.

1. Top management commitment

Leadership, commitment and active support from top management are critical for the success of the OH&S management system and for the achievement of its intended outcomes.

2. Legal requirements

Identify all the health and safety laws applicable to the organisation’s industry.

3. Define the Scope of the OH&S Management System

Does your OH&S management system cover the entire organisation or only a single site in a multi-national organisation? The organisation’s OH&S Policy must be aligned with this decision.

4. Processes and Procedures

Define the processes and procedures that are required to control OH&S hazards. These hazards can be identified by conducting risk assessments, which will identify the mitigating factors and also the required training and awareness programmes.

5. Implement the OH&S management system

Determine how the processes and procedures will be rolled-out and how some individuals will manage the additional responsibilities that they have acquired.

6. Training

Every employee must be made aware of the ISO 45001:2018 requirements and where they fit into the OH&S management system and what their responsibilities are. Training sessions must be scheduled via a training matrix that will identify who will receive what type of trained.

7. Records keeping

When required, OH&S records need to be modified through the corrective action process. Records must be kept safe and the information obtained can be analysed to determine areas for improvement.

8. Internal audits

The findings raised during internal audits, will alert the management team of areas that require corrective actions and because the processes do not function well, it may also indicate that some areas require more frequent audits.

9. Management review

When reviewing the OH&S Management System, it will be established if the system is properly implemented and functioning effectively. It will also be determined if improvements are required and if there are adequate resources available.

10. Corrective actions

The corrective action process is designed to address the problems in the OH&S Management System by finding the root cause of the problem and address these root causes with corrective actions.