If you had to explain why any business should certify to ISO 45001, you need only say “prepare for the worst and hope for the best”. ISO 45001 certification will create a framework for your business to be in a position to address any safety challenges that may arise in the workplace. 

ISO 45001:2018 is an international set of standards designed to improve workplace health and safety performance by creating safer work conditions. These standards can also help create a clear framework for preventing injuries and illnesses in the workplace.

It can even help save lives.

There are multiple benefits to becoming ISO 45001:2018 certified – like preparing for the unexpected. In this article, we share three ways a work health and safety management system can help you prepare for unexpected workplace incidents, and how this will benefit you and your team in the long run. 

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#1. Workplace hazards and risks will be identified (and ideally eliminated)

In the process of becoming ISO 45001:2018 certified, one of our compliance specialists will help update your existing work health and safety management system to achieve compliance.

The most crucial step in this process is an in-depth gap analysis. We will review your business and processes, then identify any areas of non-compliance, along with potential hazards and workplace risks which will need to be addressed to become ISO 45001:2018 certified.

This is a golden opportunity to review workplace hazards and risks, create a process to avoid these risks or eliminate them completely, and make your workplace a safer place.

Just remember to review workplace hazards on a regular basis. This is a core component of maintaining compliance to the standard and will ensure your new safety management system is effective and relevant at all times

#2. Your team members will be trained and prepared for a workplace incident

During the ISO 45001:2018 certification process, you will also have the chance to refresh team member training and get them up to speed on the new safety management system.

One of our consultants will help to train the team and ensure they know how to use the new management system and use the documentation to maintain compliance.

With a fresh perspective on workplace health and safety, your team will be able to identify possible workplace hazards and risks, then respond to them appropriately. This might mean reporting the hazard, putting up signs to alert other team members until the hazard has been dealt with, or taking the initiative to minimise workplace risks proactively.

This will minimise the chances of an incident occurring – but also ensure team members know how to act in the event of an emergency or hazard.

#3. Your downtime and the cost of disruption to operations will be reduced 

Another benefit to come from ISO 45001:2018 certification is a refreshed framework and set of controls to reduce disruptions in the event of a workplace incident. 

Through becoming ISO 45001:2018 certified, you will have an effective plan in place to ensure the business doesn’t come grinding to a halt following a workplace incident. 

This might include workplace insurance, employee insurance, public liability insurance premiums, or even an internal emergency fund in case an incident occurs.

How BusinessBasics can help your business become ISO 45001:2018 certified

Want to improve the level of safety in your workplace and prepare for the unexpected? 

We recommend refreshing your work health and safety management system through ISO 45001:2018 certification. 

At BusinessBasics, our experienced team can help prepare your business for certification. We do this in a number of ways, including:

• An in-depth gap analysis of the business and existing safety practices
• Identification of hazards and/or areas of non-compliance
• Provide recommendations to become compliant
• Help create and implement a new work health and safety management system
• Train your team to use the new safety management system and show them how to respond to a workplace hazard, risk, or incident
• Complete ongoing reviews of the system to ensure effectiveness

Talk to the expert team at BusinessBasics about developing a new work health and safety management system today.

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