With the new year fast approaching, CG Business Consulting Ireland’s leading ISO consultants, are driving the adoption of the ISO 45001 standard to companies across Ireland and the UK.

ISO 45001:2018 is the new international standard for occupational health and safety (OH&S) management systems and will replace the existing OHSAS 18001:2007 standard. Companies across Ireland certified under the OHSAS standard will have to migrate to the new ISO 45001 standard by March 2021.

With the legal compliance of the 2005 Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, Irish employers are being placed under increased pressures to manage their activities to create a safer workplace for anyone affected by their activities or operations, this includes contractors, customers, visitors and the public. Considerable fines are the penalties that employers can face from poor Health and Safety Management.

The new changes to the ISO 45001 standard include the following:

• New clauses for systematic determination and monitoring of the business context.
• Enhanced focus on consultation and participation needs for all workers and other interested parties and worker involvement. This is to systematically identify and understand factors that need to be managed through the management system.
• Companies are to determine, consider and, where necessary, take action to address any risks or opportunities that may impact (either positively or negatively) the ability of the management system to deliver its intended results, including enhanced health and safety at the workplace.
• ISO 45001 has stronger emphasis on top management to actively engage and take accountability for the effectiveness of the management system.
• Strengthened focus on objectives as drivers for improvements and performance evaluation

In today’s environment, companies are turning to Management Systems such as ISO 45001 as a means for ensuring competence in the companies they do business with as required by the SHWW Act 2005, this is even more evident with increased competitiveness in the market.

Caroline Geoghegan, Managing Director, CG Business Consulting, comments “The benefits of implementing ISO 45001 are endless. When implemented correctly it provides a company with an effective tool that will show a clear return on investment. With continued increases in insurance premiums, increased injury claims and spiralling health care costs the question companies need to ask themselves is; can they afford not to implement ISO 45001, at CG Business consulting we make the process hassle free and guarantee certification within 12 weeks”.

CG Business Consulting carry out an audit or gap analysis of your existing health and safety practices and methods of work including compliance with legislative requirements and industry best practice (safety statement, risk assessments, method statements). This is then reviewed against the requirements of Irish Health & Safety legislation and regulations. CG Business Consulting will also assist in preparing safe systems of work, identifying legal requirements, implementing best practice measures and recommending opportunities for improvement.

Ensure you are prepared for the new implementation of ISO 45001 and talk to a member of the CG Business Consulting team today visit www.cgbusinessconsulting.com.

CG Business