Key Differences OHSAS 18001:2007 and ISO 45001 2016

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What's New


To help you understand what is new and what has changed between OHSAS 18001:2007 and ISO/DIS 45001:2016 (DIS = Draft International Standard) we have compared both Standards to highlight key changes.


New Requirements


ISO 45001 introduces a small number of requirements that are largely new when compared to OHSAS 18001:2007, including:

  • Understanding the Organisation and its context (4.1)
  • Understanding the needs and expectations of workers and other interested parties (4.2)
  • Action to address risks and opportunities (6.1)
  • Assessment of risks to the OH&S Management System (6.1.2.2)
  • Identification of OH&S opportunities (6.1.2.3)
  • Planning to take action (6.1.4)

Consolidated Requirements


ISO/DIS 45001:2016 consolidates a requirements spread across a number of clauses of OHSAS 18001:2007 into stand-alone requirements including (OHSAS 18001 clause numbers in brackets).

For example:

  • Management of Change (4.3.1; 4.4.3.2; 4.4.6; 4.5.3.2; 4.6)
  • Outsourcing, Procurement  and Contractors (4.2; 4.3.1; 4.3.2; 4.4.1; 4.4.2; 4.4.3.2; 4.4.3.1; 4.4.6)
  • Continual Improvement  (4.1; 4.3; 4.3.3; 4.4.1; 4.4.2; 4.5.3.1)

Modified Requirements


ISO/DIS 45001:2016 clauses represent modification of what is required in OHSAS 18001:2007 rather than being a totally new requirement. For example (ISO/DIS 45001 clause numbers in brackets):

For example:

  • Scope (4.3)
  • Leadership and Commitment (5.1)
  • OH&S Policy (5.2)
  • Organizational roles, responsibilities, accountabilities and authorities (5.3)
  • Hazard Identification (6.1.2.1)
  • OH&S Objectives (6.2.1) and Planning to Achieve (6.2.2)
  • Information and Communication (7.4)
  • Operational Planning and Control (8.1.1)
  • Hierarchy of Controls (8.1.2)
  • Outsourcing (8.3)
  • Emergency Preparedness (8.6)
  • Monitoring, measurement, analysis and evaluation (9.1)
  • Internal Audit (9.2)
  • Management Review (9.3)
  • Incident, Nonconformity, Corrective Action (9.1.1)
  • Continual Improvement (10.2)

Relocated Requirements


ISO/DIS 45001 is based on a 1-10 Section structure. Accordingly, ISO 45001 simply relocates a requirement that is very similar to a requirement in OHSAS 18001:2007.
What's Familiar
Thankfully, ISO have not recreated the wheel. 

If you  are familiar with OHSAS 18001:2007 you will be familiar with many of the requirements and concepts in ISO/DIS 45001:2016, including:

 

  • The Plan-Do-Check-Act model remains the fundamental “systems” model promoted by ISO/DIS 45001.
  • The overall intent (a framework for managing prevention of death, injury, ill-health) is consistent with OHSAS 18001:2007.
  • ISO/DIS 45001 maintains (and enhances) the focus on the role of top management in an effective OH&S management system
  • ISO/DIS 45001 maintains a strong focus on hazard, risk, controls focus
  • Very similar requirements for:

          Planning and policy
          Legal requirements
          Improvement – objectives, action planning, monitoring.
          Awareness, consultation, competency needed
          Resources required to support system
          Monitoring, evaluating, analysing OHS performance and improvement.

Source: Andrew Thornhill