Work environment management
Work environment management’s primary purpose is to create and maintain a work environment that is safe and healthy for workers and other people who can be affected by the organization, such as contractors and visitors where relevant. ISO 45001 gives organizations a framework to systematically identify hazards, assess OH&S risks, and control work-environment risks. When implemented correctly, an effective occupational health and safety management system can help reduce the number of work-related injuries and illnesses while also improving the well-being and productivity of employees.
To establish an effective system according to ISO 45001 you should manage:
Leadership and worker participation
Top management needs to be engaged, and the organization needs processes for consultation and participation with workers, especially non-managerial workers in hazard identification, risk assessment, and improvement. Employees have direct insight into risks in their work environment, so they must be able to contribute observations and suggestions.
Risk assessments
Hazard identification and risk assessments should be carried out proactively, on an ongoing basis, and before planned changes to identify risk factors linked to the work. These can include physical risks (such as ergonomic problems or noise), chemical risks (such as exposure to dangerous substances), psychosocial risks (such as stress or bullying in the workplace), and biological risks (such as exposure to infectious diseases).
Goals
Clear goals for the work should be set, and performance should be evaluated continuously for continuous development.
Training
Workers should receive relevant training for their responsibilities at work.
Documentation
Documented information should exist where ISO 45001 requires it and where the organization needs it to show that the OH&S management system works. This can include incident reports for accidents and near misses.
Review
The system needs to be regularly reviewed and updated to ensure its effectiveness.
Communication
Establish communication processes with employees on work-related issues and encourage active participation in the area.
Legislation
The organization should determine and have access to current legal and other requirements that apply to its hazards, OH&S risks, and OH&S management system. Data-protection rules may also need to be handled when occupational health and safety work contains personal data.