ISO 45001:2018 – Occupational Health & Safety Management System

ISO 45001:2018 is the international standard for managing Occupational Health & Safety and follows the modern High Level Structure (HLS), just like other ISO standards (ISO 9001, ISO 14001, etc.).

Its objective is to help organizations create a safe and healthy working environment, reduce occupational risks, prevent injuries and illnesses, and improve overall OH&S performance.

The standard emphasizes top management commitment, worker participation, hazard identification, risk evaluation, and continuous improvement of the OH&S Management System.

The main requirements of ISO 45001:2018 include, indicatively:

• Understanding the context of the organization and the needs of interested parties.
• Defining an OH&S Policy and OH&S strategic objectives.
• Identifying hazardous situations, assessing and evaluating occupational risks.
• Planning risk control measures and preventive actions.
• Ensuring compliance with applicable legislation and regulations.
• Organization, roles, responsibilities, training, and worker awareness.
• Operational control, procedures, work instructions, use of PPE, etc.
• Incident management, accidents, near-misses, and corrective actions.
• Internal audits, management review, and continuous improvement.

Implementing a documented OH&S Management System according to ISO 45001:2018 offers significant benefits, such as:

• Reduction in frequency and severity of workplace accidents.
• Reduction in absenteeism and improvement of productivity.
• Better compliance with legislation and regulatory inspections.
• Enhanced company image toward employees, clients, and partners.
• Creation of a prevention-based safety culture.
• Increased worker involvement and satisfaction.
• Eligibility to participate in projects and tenders requiring strict OH&S standards.

The approach for developing an effective ISO 45001 Management System consists of the following key phases:

Phase A: Assessment of Current Situation & Hazard Identification.

Phase B: System Development & OH&S procedures.

Phase C: System Implementation – Staff Training.

Phase D: Internal Audit – Corrective Actions – Certification Preparation.

Detailed methodology for system development and certification is described here.

The required time for developing and certifying an ISO 45001:2018 System varies depending on company size, number of facilities, industry sector, and level of existing organization.

Typical implementation time is estimated at 1–3 months, assuming active involvement from management and OH&S staff.

Businesses already certified under OHSAS 18001 can transition to ISO 45001:2018 through system upgrade and certification audit by the Certification Body.

The total cost of obtaining ISO 45001:2018 certification includes:

a. Consulting Support

Consulting covers the assessment of the current situation, development of required procedures, staff training, and preparation for the certification audit.

The cost depends on the size of the company, number of employees, industry sector, and number of facilities.

b. Certification Body Audit Cost

The Certification Body conducts the initial audit and annual surveillance audits. The cost is annual and recurring, based on defined criteria (size, sector, number of facilities).

c. Possible Additional Costs

Additional investments may be required (e.g., personal protective equipment, technical interventions, measurements, medical exams, etc.) depending on company needs.

ISO Certification Bodies in Greece

To obtain an ISO Certificate (e.g., ISO 45001, ISO 9001, ISO 14001), a business must successfully undergo an audit to demonstrate full compliance with the required standard. Audits are performed by authorized Certification Bodies that are accredited and monitored by the state.

Certification Bodies are usually private organizations operating in Greece or abroad. Public organizations such as ELOT or agricultural product certification bodies (OPE-GEP) also act in certain areas.

Additionally, private companies represent international Certification Bodies such as TUV (Germany), Lloyd's (UK), SGS (Switzerland), ABS (USA). Many are accredited by foreign accreditation bodies (UKAS, DGA, COFRAC) and recognized through mutual recognition agreements (MLA).

In the Greek market, all accredited Certification Bodies are monitored by ESYD. A complete list of accredited Certification Bodies is available on: www.esyd.gr. The Certification Body must be accredited by ESYD so that the certification is valid and internationally recognized.

Other ISO Types Covered