6 Reasons to Have an ISO Certified Safety Management System

Summary:

This article explains some of the potential benefits of having an ISO 45001 certified occupational health and safety management system in your organisation.

Workers in your organisation need to be provided with safer and more hygienic workplaces and implementing an occupational health and safety management system (OHSMS) is the key to do so. To make your OHSMS the most effective it can be in safeguarding your workers, you need an OHSMS that is certified with the ISO 45001 standard—the internationally accepted standard addressing occupational health and safety. Most organisations are achieving it to validate their safety management practices for their workers.

Besides enabling your organisation to create safer workplaces, an ISO certified OHSMS also can help to attract potential employees and new business prospects. Here are some reasons for an organisation to get its OHSMS certified with the ISO 45001 standard.

Focus on Occupational Safety

The key purpose of the standard is to establish a management system that takes care of workplace risks or hazards. This assures physical safety and mental wellbeing of the workers. The ISO 45001 standards help organisations to recognise the best safety management practices including risks identification, risks assessment, and preventive actions implementation. When a formalised and certified OHSMS is in place, employees are trained to follow the safety practices promoted by it.

Increase in Employee Retention

A properly implemented OHSMS also can have a significant impact on the morale of the employees. It can decrease turnover and simultaneously, increase retention rate. It is an important reason to consider certifying your OHSMS because improved morale and higher retention of employees both contribute to quality output and higher productivity.

Improves Management Commitment

The need to maintain the ISO 45001 certification gives a sense of ownership and calls for commitment from the management team of the organisation. Clearly, the top management team including safety management representatives are held accountable for operating the OHSMS and ensuring its compliance with the ISO 45001 guidelines. Their commitment and active involvement results in direct communication with the employees regarding risks identification and safety practices. Therefore, workplace safety and workers’ wellbeing are continuously monitored and improved over time.

Reduction in Insurance Premiums

With implementation of a certified OHSMS, safety of workers is not only assured but the cost of health insurance premiums can also be reduced. As the organisation has a strong obligation towards protecting their workers and managing their health with best practices, it may attract lower insurance premiums. That can be a huge contribution to the overall savings of the organisation!

Increases Trust and Reliability

An ISO certification helps to demonstrate your organisation’s intended efforts towards improving your staff’s morale, safety, and welfare. This enables people as well as other organisations (i.e. investors, creditors, suppliers, third-party service providers, etc.) to trust you. Being ISO certified also holds you socially accountable for the well-being of your employees. These can make other agents, people or businesses, more likely to choose your organisation for tender, partnerships or investments. Needless to say, there is an increase in the overall prospect of your business.

Gives a Competitive-Edge

Holding the highest international certification for occupational safety management leaves an everlasting impression of your organisation on the industry. It benchmarks your organisation in the matter of workers’ safety assurance which can set you apart from your competitors.

There are myriad reasons to get an ISO-certified occupational safety management system for your organisation. In fact, the costs and efforts for implementing the ISO 45001 safety management system are nothing when you consider the benefits you can reap as a result of the certification. Therefore, you should consider the certification for your safety management system to put employees’ safety at the forefront.