JAS-ANZ is finalising details of its requirements on the migration of OHSAS 18001:2007 to ISO 45001.

The IAF published two Mandatory Documents relating to ISO 45001; IAF MD21:2018 and IAF MD22:2018, while ISO will be producing ISO/IEC 17021-10:2018 (requirements for bodies providing audit and certification of management systems). These documents, together with ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015, will form the requirements of the IAF OH&S scheme. JAS-ANZ will be adhering to requirements of IAF MD21:2018 in the migration, tailored and amended to the operating environment of its accredited certification bodies and their certified clients. 

A key message from stakeholders is that third-party accredited certification to international OH&S standards shows commitment by top management to worker safety and wellbeing. The alignment of ISO 45001 into the ISO High Level Structure for management systems will further assist top management commitment to the safety and wellbeing of workers.

What will it mean for CBs?

One difference between Procedure 2 and IAF MD22:2018 is audit duration for a given risk category. The latter requires slightly longer audit durations, and the extent of the difference increases with increasing effective personnel size. Another difference is that IAF MD22:2018 establishes OH&S risk complexity by ‘Business sector’. This is contrast to the approach in JAS-ANZ Procedure 2 to establish the risk profile of organizations based on composite score of ‘potential hazards and other factors’. IAF MD22:2018 also establishes witnessing requirements per ‘Technical Cluster’, consistent with the revised witnessing requirements in IAF MD17:2015. This may result in changes to JAS-ANZ witnessing requirements for accredited CBs.

JAS-ANZ is continuing accreditation to JAS-ANZ Procedure 2 for other occupational management system standards, and in particular AS/NZS 4801:2001. Discussions will be held with government agencies on the role of these standards in the ISO 45001 environment.