There is a tremendous business transformation across industry sectors to cop up with the consumer demands amidst the lockdowns, travel-bans, restrictions, etc.
To keep business running continuously and ensuring employee safety during the Covid-19, ISO 45001:2015 will be of great help.
Workplace safety and employee health and prevention of Covid-19 in the organizations is the top priority for all at present.
So, implementing a Safety Management System to keep the team protected is possible through following the ISO 45001:2018 guidelines.
How ISO 45001:2018 Ensure Workplace Safety During Covid-19?
Identify and Fill in the Health and Safety Gaps
Identify the vulnerabilities in your system that you never knew existed through a thorough Gap Analysis.
It is going to take a while to fully prepare to mitigate the risks from the pandemic. The scope of improvements required is still unknown and time and later you will be bound to find new gaps in the system.
Precautionary Measures to be taken by the Organization
Based on the current Know-How, an organization must ensure the following precautions are taken.
- Consistent staff training and creating awareness about the Pandemic at all levels of employment
- The undertaking of mandatory safety measures – Wearing Masks, Gloves, Washing hands, etc.
- Mandatory temperature test for all employees and visitors daily.
- Availability of cleansing agents, sanitizers at the reception and all office spaces, pantry, etc.,
- Periodic Sterilization drives and Covid-19 Testing for employees
Implementing a Robust Health and Safety Management System in Organization
The Health & Safety Management System must be quick enough to adopt the current guidelines and protocols issued by authorities to ensure employee safety from the Pandemic.
A robust Health & Safety Management System in place ensures business continuity. All key departments of the organization must adhere to the ISO 45001:2018 guidelines to stay protected.
How Companies are getting ready to Transform Business Operations?
Organizations are overcoming the situation of not meeting their customers by resorting to electronic media and staying connected with the customers.
Employees are using alternative options such as working from remote locations, from homes, alternative distribution channels for product delivery.
By making these changes from the traditional workspace setup, business continuity and sustainability are at risk for many businesses.
Challenges Faced by Organizations in the ‘New-Normal’ World
There is a growing risk of data security as employees are working from home and logged-in to public Wi-Fi networks sharing office works online to colleagues and customers.
Also, the distribution and logistics network is affected due to the closure of international borders, lockdowns, and shutdowns.
Identifying Health Hazards through ISO 45001:2018 Certification
Identifying the health hazards and associated risks during the pandemic phase must be of top priority for the organizations.
The ISO 45001:2018 Standard framework provides guidelines to assess health hazards and take required preventive actions.
Improving Workplace Safety
Instilling confidence to the employees about workplace safety and business operations is helpful. It helps customers to gain confidence in reaching out to the employees without any fears.
Frequent meetings and brainstorming sessions will help in identifying the specific requirements, gaps, and improvements to tackle the pandemic. It will help to remain protected and continue to support the customers always.
ISO 45001:2018 Guidelines
ISO 45001:2018 provides guidelines for improving the overall health and safety of the organization. The Certification Standard follows a five-step procedure to issue certifications for the organizations.
The Health and Safety Standard is providing a robust framework to ensure worker safety and organizational goals of people management.
It helps organizations of all sizes achieve higher productivity, raise employee safety standards, reduce workplace incidents, and more.
With the onset of the Pandemic, ISO 45001:2018 Health & Safety standard has become a must-have for organizations to ensure a safe work environment for all.
Health & Safety Management System Certification Assessment Process – How to Get ISO 45001:2018 Certification?
1. Gap Analysis
A Gap Analysis is to be carried out before the initial assessment. It helps to identify any gaps that are hindering the ISO 45001:2018 compliance.
2. Stage 1
The organization’s documented Quality Management System is evaluated against the requirements of the ISO 45001:2018 Standard.
A detailed assessment report including improvements required is forwarded to the organization to apply the changes.
3. Stage 2
A site inspection is carried out (currently virtual due to Pandemic) to verify the Quality Management system documentation. Any non-conformities are flagged, explained, and recorded.
This audit is conducted by the certification body, All the changes have to be incorporate and the report must be completed. A reassessment is to be conducted to ensure the system is ISO 45001:2018 Compliant.
4. ISO Certificate Registration
Once, the audit report is submitted to the certification body, after a thorough assessment of the changes, the organization will be awarded the ISO 45001:2018 certificate
5. Continued Certification
The ISO 45001:2018 Certification is valid for three years and is subject to annual surveillance audits. The surveillance audits are due from six months after the certificate registration.
Recertification will be conducted in the third year of certification, three months before the expiry of the certification.
To know more about the ISO 45001:2018 Certification in UAE, talk to our expert ISO Consultants right away!
Contact: Aurion ISO Standards
