Occupational health and safety · OH&SMS
ISO 45001:2018
Requirements for an occupational health and safety management system to prevent work-related injury and ill health and provide safe and healthy workplaces. A revision is under way at draft (DIS) stage.
1 What it covers
ISO 45001 gives a framework for managing OH&S risks and opportunities: identifying hazards, assessing risks, eliminating hazards and reducing risks using the hierarchy of controls, meeting legal and other requirements, preparing for emergencies, investigating incidents and improving OH&S performance.
A distinctive feature is the emphasis on consultation and participation of workers — not just managers — in developing and running the system.
2 Who uses it
Construction, manufacturing, utilities, logistics, facilities management and any organisation with significant workplace risk; it is also widely asked for in supply-chain prequalification. Health and safety managers, advisers and auditors are the main audience. In the UK, it sits alongside — not instead of — legal duties under health and safety law.
3 Structure and key clauses
ISO 45001:2018 follows the high-level structure in use at the time (clauses 4–10). Clauses courses focus on:
5 Leadership and worker participation
- 5.4 Consultation and participation of workers
6 Planning
- 6.1.2 Hazard identification and assessment of risks and opportunities
- 6.1.3 Determination of legal requirements and other requirements
8 Operation
- 8.1.2 Eliminating hazards and reducing OH&S risks (the hierarchy of controls)
- 8.1.3 Management of change
- 8.1.4 Procurement (including contractors and outsourcing)
- 8.2 Emergency preparedness and response
10 Improvement
- 10.2 Incident, nonconformity and corrective action
- 10.3 Continual improvement
4 Key facts for courses and exams
- Current edition: ISO 45001:2018 + Amendment 1:2024. A new edition is being developed (ISO/DIS stage on iso.org, October 2026) — expect transition courses once it is published.
- The hierarchy of controls runs from eliminating the hazard, through substitution, engineering controls and administrative controls, to personal protective equipment.
- Unlike the 2021+ Harmonized Structure, the 2018 edition places Continual improvement at 10.3.
5 ISO 45001 qualifications
6 Prepare
- ISO 45001 occupational health and safety practice quiz
S Sources
Facts on this page last checked 3 October 2026.
- iso.org, ISO 45001:2018 page (life cycle: “Will be replaced by: under development ISO/DIS 45001”) — https://www.iso.org/standard/45001