International Organisation for Standardization (ISO) sets international standards in the industrial and commercial fields of the world. Companies apply diverse ISO management systems, depending on the line of work, in order to boost company reputation and image and to enhance employee performance.
To become ISO certified and to maintain said accreditation, companies are required to preform internal audits as a part of the ISO standard’s requirement. An ISO audit is a task which someone in the company performs in order to assess, confirm, and verify processes relating to the quality, security and safety of product and services provided and hence determine the effectiveness of the management system implemented.
There are three types of ISO Audits;
- Internal (First-Party) Audits: this is an audit that can be conducted by an auditor from the company. The auditor checks whether the company is adopting ISO standards as a model of best practice.
- Supplier (Second-Party) Audits: this is an audit undertaken by a customer to ensure the supplier or chain-provider to ensure that any safety risks will not affect the product and hence the purchasing company.
- External Audits: this is an audit performed by a third-party company to assess the organization’s ISO compliance.
ISO audits are usually performed on an annual basis depending on the nature of the process. They can be used as an indication of whether the company is maintaining their quality standards, if the processes can be made more efficient and whether there is any room for improvement. Essentially, they evaluate the processes and management systems in order to reach the full potential of the organisation and to maximise company resources leading to greater profits and higher employee satisfaction. Additionally, ISO standards in many cases are parallel to the legal and regulatory standards and requirements of various industries.
ISO 45001 (Operational Health and Safety Management System) is an ISO standard for occupational health and safety management systems that is recognized and implemented worldwide. This standard was published in 2018 in order to replace OHSAS 18001:2007. ISO 45001 provides a framework for organisations of any size and industry to manage and continuously improve their occupational health and safety (OH&S) performance. It offers compatibility with other management systems like ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 for streamlined improvement. The key reason for obtaining ISO 45001 certification is to provide staff with the assurance that their workplace prioritises health and safety. Additionally, compliance with the standard also has the following benefits:
- Enhanced safety performance: A framework for detecting and evaluating hazards to occupational health and safety is provided by ISO 45001. Organizations can improve their safety performance and lower the risk of mishaps, injuries, and occupational diseases by putting the standard into practice.
- Legal compliance: ISO 45001 assists companies in adhering to pertinent health and safety laws. This can be important in a number of areas where noncompliance can result in penalties, legal repercussions, or reputational harm for the company.
- Employee well-being: The standard encourages a pro-active strategy for safeguarding workers’ wellbeing. Organizations can improve employee happiness and morale by establishing a safer and healthier work environment through the methodical resolution of health and safety concerns.
- Decreased workplace occurrences: By promoting the detection and mitigation of possible dangers, ISO 45001 helps to lower the number of workplace mishaps. Consequently, this reduces insurance costs, minimizes downtime, and raises overall production.
- Improved reputation: An organization’s dedication to delivering a safe and healthy workplace is demonstrated by its ISO 45001 certification. The organization’s reputation with stakeholders, such as clients, staff, investors, and regulatory agencies, may benefit from this commitment.
- Savings: Although there could be one-time expenses involved in putting ISO 45001 into practice, these are frequently offset by long-term gains. The investment in compliance pays off since fewer illnesses, accidents, and lost time result in overall cost reductions.
- International recognition: The ISO 45001 standard, which offers a common framework for occupational health and safety management, is widely acknowledged. Getting certified can help an organization become more credible and make doing business internationally easier.
- Continuous improvement: By routinely reviewing, updating, and monitoring the occupational health and safety management system, the standard encourages a cycle of continuous improvement. This supports organizations’ ability to be proactive in risk management and adjust to changing conditions.
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