What is ISO 45001?
ISO 45001 is the international standard for Occupational Health & Safety Management Systems (OHSMS). It confirms that your organization systematically identifies, assesses, and controls occupational risks, complies with applicable legal and regulatory obligations, and actively promotes employee participation. Certification demonstrates reliability and responsibility to customers, employees, suppliers, and safety authorities.
What is ISO 45001 Certification?
ISO 45001 certification proves that an organization has implemented a participatory, documented OHS management system with clearly defined roles and preventive/improvement mechanisms. It aims to reduce incidents, injuries, and occupational diseases while ensuring compliance with relevant legislation.
In simple terms: from hazard identification and employee training to emergency preparedness and incident investigation, ISO 45001 ensures control, traceability, feedback, and prevention at every stage.
A People-Centered Standard: ISO 45001 applies to any organization seeking to maintain safe and healthy workplaces by eliminating hazards and minimizing occupational risks.
This is achieved through:
- Continuous identification of OHS risks and opportunities (including psychosocial factors) and prioritization of control measures (elimination–substitution–engineering–administrative–PPE).
- Employee participation and consultation through OHS committees and safety representatives.
- Management of change, monitoring of OHS indicators (e.g. near-miss, LTIFR, incidents), root cause analysis, and prevention of recurrence.
Main Requirements and Clauses of ISO 45001
- Context of the Organization & Interested Parties (needs of employees, contractors, regulators)
- Leadership, OHS Policy & Top Management Commitment
- Risk-Based Planning (hazard identification, risk & opportunity management, legal compliance)
- Support (resources, competence/training, communication, documented information)
- Operation (operational controls, contractors/outsourcing, procurement, change management, emergency preparedness & response)
- Performance Evaluation (monitoring & measurement, internal audits, management review)
- Improvement (incident reporting, investigation, corrective actions, PDCA cycle)
Benefits of Implementing ISO 45001
- Reduction of workplace accidents, illnesses, and absenteeism; improved wellbeing and productivity.
- Compliance with labor and insurance legislation; reduced legal and financial risks.
- Development of a prevention culture through active employee engagement.
- Competitive advantage in tenders and enhanced ESG image.
- Integration with other standards (ISO 9001, ISO 14001) thanks to the shared High-Level Structure.
ISO 45001 Certification Process
As an accredited certification body with long-standing experience in Greece and abroad, Q-CERT follows a clear, business-friendly approach:
Prerequisites Before Certification
A documented OHSMS with policy, objectives, and indicators; updated occupational risk assessment and legal register; a complete cycle of internal audits and a management review with performance/improvement evidence.
Stage 1 – Readiness Review (on-site)
Understanding the context and processes, assessing risk evaluation, legal compliance, resources, results of internal audits, and management reviews.
Deliverable: a readiness report highlighting key focus areas. Stage 2 must take place within six months (back-to-back possible if ready).
Stage 2 – On-site Evaluation of Implementation and Effectiveness
Sampling of sites and activities, interviews with employees and contractors, inspection of controls, PPE usage, training, emergency preparedness, incident investigation, and change management.
Classification of Findings & Corrective Actions
Certification Decision & Issuance
The decision is taken by an authorized Q-CERT decision-maker/team. The certificate validity starts from the decision date (or later if requested).
3-Year Certification Cycle & Surveillance Audits
Two annual surveillance audits; the first within one year − one day from the certification decision. All requirements are covered across both surveillances.
Recertification
Typically conducted in one stage (two if significant changes exist). If major NCs remain open past expiry, certification lapses. A 6-month window is available to complete recertification. Once successful, a new certificate is issued with continuity of validity dates.
Maintaining Certification
ISO 45001 certification is valid for three years and maintained through annual surveillance audits. The organization must ensure ongoing compliance and improvement with updated objectives, indicators, and active employee participation.
Recertification
Recertification in Year 3 involves a full reassessment of scope, risks, legal obligations, performance, and changes.
The ISO 45001 – ISO 9001 – ISO 14001 Family
This “management system triad” forms the backbone of modern integrated management systems (IMS).
They share the Annex SL structure (Context – Leadership – Planning – Support – Operation – Performance Evaluation – Improvement), enabling unified management with common processes for policies, objectives, competence, documentation, internal audits, and management reviews.
Together, they offer integrated governance, reduced procedural overlap, combined audits, and simultaneous focus on safety, quality, and environment.
ISO 45001 Across Industries
The standard is industry-neutral and adaptable to manufacturing, logistics, construction, energy, healthcare, offices/IT, education, and more.
It integrates seamlessly into IMS with ISO 9001/14001 for unified governance, joint audits, and cost efficiency.
Case Studies / Examples:
1) Heavy Industry
Implementation of control hierarchy, LOTO, permit-to-work, and behavior-based safety. Results in 12 months: −35% TRIR, −40% LTIFR, +60% near-miss reporting.
2) Construction
Integrated risk assessments per project phase, daily toolbox talks, strict contractor control. In 9 months: −30% incidents, −25% safety-related delays.
3) Services/IT Offices
Focus on ergonomics, psychosocial risks (micro-breaks, workload), evacuation drills. In 6 months: −20% musculoskeletal discomfort, improved employee satisfaction.
Legal & Regulatory Requirements in Greece
Greek OHS requirements are defined by Law 3850/2010 (Occupational Safety & Health Code) and Law 4808/2021.
Employers must maintain:
For construction sites, P.D. 305/1996 (Safety & Health Plan/File) applies.
Additional regulations cover chemicals, noise, lifting, fire safety, and electrical/mechanical installations.
The Independent Labor Inspection Authority performs inspections and imposes penalties.
Compliance is evidenced through work permits, training records, equipment maintenance logs, medical surveillance, and incident notifications.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Conclusion – The Added Value of ISO 45001
ISO 45001 is not just a certificate; it is a practical prevention framework that measurably reduces occupational risks and losses, enhances wellbeing and productivity, and builds a culture of safety through employee involvement.
Through the PDCA cycle, risk-based thinking, and the control hierarchy, it aligns OHS policy, objectives, and performance indicators — reducing costs (absences, compensations, downtime) and strengthening ESG performance.
Integration with ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 enables unified governance and audit synergy. When properly implemented, ISO 45001 becomes a driver of resilience and sustainable growth.
To achieve ISO 45001:2018 certification, contact Q-CERT for a tailored offer.