ISO 45001 Certification - Occupational health and safety management system

What is ISO 45001?

ISO 45001 is the standard that specifies requirements for an Occupational Health and Safety Management System. The current edition, ISO 45001:2018 (adopted in Romania as SR EN ISO 45001:2023), helps organizations adopt a preventive approach to occupational risks by identifying hazards, assessing risks and establishing appropriate control measures.

ISO 45001 can be implemented by any organization, regardless of size, field of activity or number of employees. The standard is compatible with other management system standards, such as ISO 9001 for quality management and ISO 14001 for environmental management.

What does an occupational health and safety management system involve?

An occupational health and safety management system represents a systematic approach through which an organization identifies hazards associated with its activities, products and services, assesses occupational risks and implements measures to eliminate hazards and reduce risks, while identifying and managing legal obligations. The purpose is twofold: reducing the number of occupational accidents and illnesses and continually improving the management system. The results of risk assessments, audits and inspections are translated into concrete action plans to minimize risks.

Worker participation and consultation in ISO 45001

A distinctive element of ISO 45001 is the emphasis placed on worker consultation and participation. Unlike purely formal approaches, ISO 45001 requires employees to be actively involved in hazard identification, risk assessment and the improvement of occupational health and safety performance. This direct involvement strengthens the prevention culture and contributes to employee well-being, which in turn is reflected in improved professional performance.

Hazard identification and occupational risk control

A central element of ISO 45001 is the risk-based approach. The organization must identify hazards associated with its activities and assess risks to the health and safety of workers. Depending on the specific nature of the activity, these may include physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic or psychosocial hazards. Based on the assessment, the organization establishes control measures and monitors their effectiveness. The objective is to move from a predominantly reactive approach to a preventive one: identifying and addressing the potential causes of incidents and accidents before they produce effects. The result is a working environment with lower accident risks and more effective control of risk factors.

ISO 45001 and occupational health and safety legislation (OHS)

In Romania, occupational health and safety is regulated by law, and compliance with legislation is mandatory for all employers. ISO 45001 does not replace legal obligations relating to occupational health and safety; rather, it provides a framework for identifying, monitoring and managing legal obligations and other requirements applicable to the organization. Therefore, ISO 45001 certification should not be confused with certification of legal OHS compliance. In practice, the certification audit helps the organization go beyond mere formal compliance through active and documented management of occupational risks.

Current edition and the future ISO 45001:2027 standard (climate change amendment)

The current edition of the standard is ISO 45001:2018, adopted in Romania as SR EN ISO 45001:2023. In February 2024, an amendment concerning climate change was added to the standard, requiring organizations to determine whether climate change is relevant to their context and whether interested parties have requirements related to climate change. The standard is currently under revision, and a new edition of ISO 45001 is expected around 2027. According to current drafts, the revision will place greater emphasis on mental health and psychosocial risks, new forms of work (including remote and hybrid work), climate-related risks and organizational resilience. Until a new edition and transition rules are officially published, organizations certified against the current edition must apply the requirements of ISO 45001:2018.

Benefits of ISO 45001 certification

ISO 45001 certification provides concrete benefits:

• creating a working environment with lower risks of occupational accidents and/or illnesses;
• more effective control of occupational accident and illness risk factors;
• transparency and effectiveness in occupational health and safety management by translating risk assessments, audits and inspections into action plans;
• improved employee performance by ensuring well-being in the workplace;
• a favorable perception among suppliers, customers and society as a whole;
• more effective management of legal obligations and other applicable requirements;
• the possibility of integration with other management systems, such as ISO 9001 and ISO 14001.

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Who is ISO 45001 intended for?

ISO 45001 is intended for any organization that wishes to systematically manage occupational health and safety risks, regardless of size or field of activity. The standard is relevant for companies in construction, manufacturing, industry, transport, logistics, energy, maintenance or other sectors where risks to workers’ health and safety exist, as well as for any organization participating in tenders, seeking to reduce costs generated by accidents and occupational illnesses, or aiming to strengthen its reputation as a responsible employer.

How to obtain ISO 45001 certification with SRAC?

ISO 45001 certification involves an assessment by a certification body of the organization’s occupational health and safety management system against the requirements of the standard.

Certification stages

1. Submission of a request for quotation and establishment of the certification scope.
2. Two-stage certification audit: documentation review and on-site assessment of the implementation of the occupational health and safety management system.
3. Addressing any nonconformities and implementing corrective actions.
4. Issuance of the ISO 45001 certificate, valid for 3 years, subject to the completion of annual surveillance audits to verify the maintenance and effectiveness of the management system.
5. Recertification audit (renewal of certification) to extend the validity of the certificate for a new 3-year cycle.

Cost of ISO 45001 certification

The price of ISO 45001 certification depends on the organization, the number of employees, the field and complexity of activities, the level and nature of occupational risks, as well as the number of sites. To find out the exact cost of ISO 45001 certification, the best solution is to request a personalized quotation.

Why SRAC

SRAC is accredited by RENAR – the national accreditation body (certificate no. SM 004) – for the certification of occupational health and safety management systems in accordance with the reference standard SR EN ISO 45001:2023. In addition, the SRAC certificate is internationally recognized through RENAR accreditation, as a signatory to the IAF-MLA international agreement, as well as through SRAC’s partnership with IQNET (The International Certification Network). Certified organizations receive, at no additional cost, both the SRAC certificate and the IQNET certificate and are entitled to use the conformity marks for promotional purposes.