From BS OHSAS 18001 to ISO 45001
Author: Patrick Brom
Apr 03, 2025Audit / Safety at workDEKRA's 8-step plan to prepare for ISO 45001
Until 2021, BS OHSAS 18001 was the international standard for occupational health and safety management systems. BS OHSAS 18001 has now been replaced by ISO 45001. To obtain certification for this current standard, you must draw up an internal action plan containing all the necessary steps, from training on ISO 45001 to the final certification. DEKRA has drawn up an 8-step plan to help you develop such an action plan. Read all about it in this blog.
What is BS OHSAS 18001?
Until 2021, BS OHSAS 18001 was a widely used international standard for setting up and managing an occupational health and safety management system. The standard BS OHSAS 18001 provided a structured approach to identifying risks, establishing control measures, and continuously improving. Many organizations used BS OHSAS 18001 to demonstrably guarantee occupational safety and have it certified by an independent party.
What is ISO 45001?
ISO 45001 is the successor to BS OHSAS 18001 and is the current international standard for management systems for health and safety at work. The standard places greater emphasis on leadership and management involvement, embedding safety in business operations, and proactive risk management. ISO 45001 certification also ties in well with other ISO management standards, making it easier to integrate with existing systems.
From BS OHSAS 18001 to ISO 45001
BS OHSAS 18001 stood for the British Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series. The revision of the standard in 2018 was accompanied by a three-year transition period. Since 2021, the standard BS OHSAS 18001 has been completely phased out. Organizations must now undergo a full audit procedure to obtain ISO 45001 certification. Please note that this can take a considerable amount of time and resources. However, it is very important that you have your existing occupational health and safety management system (OHSM system) assessed against the ISO 45001 standard. ISO 45001 is the only international and independent standard for operational health and safety management systems.
ISO 45001 certification: a structured 8-step plan
Preparing for ISO 45001 certification requires a well-thought-out approach. By drawing up a clear action plan, you can ensure the smooth and successful implementation of ISO 45001. Below, we present a structured 8-step plan to bring your occupational health and safety management system (OHSM) into compliance with the ISO 45001 standard.
Identify the employees responsible for ISO 45001 certification. Consider setting up a project team to coordinate implementation efficiently.
Ensure that your team is well informed about the content and requirements of ISO 45001. DEKRA is happy to assist you with training courses and any questions you may have.
- Link the components of your current OHSM system to ISO 45001.
- Have all requirements been met? Where are the gaps? Which existing regulations can be retained?
- Consider the most important topics in ISO 45001:
- Can I benefit from the new structure, for example with integrated management systems?
- Is risk-based thinking implemented in the context of the PDCA cycle and in support of the process-oriented approach?
- Are the processes in your company clearly defined against the reduced documentation requirements for the OHSM system?
- Is there awareness within your company about the importance of analyzing the context of the organization as a new basic requirement of the management system?
- Is there a stronger emphasis on leadership responsibility for the implementation and effectiveness of the OHSM system in your company?
- Is there more focus on outsourcing the management of certain processes/subcontractors?
- How is stakeholder involvement ensured?
Create a plan with a clear timeline, responsible persons, and actions for a smooth transition:
- Which internal stakeholders are affected?
- What are the training needs?
- What information and communication actions are needed?
- How can you raise awareness among management and employees?
Based on the internal gap analysis, the processes and procedures can be updated. DEKRA can perform a gap audit to assess the certification readiness of your system. More information can be found here. Evaluate the effectiveness of your action plan and determine the right time for a certification audit.
Ensure that your internal auditors develop the new audit techniques and skills required to comply with ISO 45001.
- Have all requirements been implemented?
- Is the correct documentation available?
- Is there sufficient evidence that your organization complies with ISO 45001? And has this been correctly evaluated?
- Has the internal audit been completed?
Once the internal test of the effectiveness of your converted OHSM system has been evaluated positively, you can schedule an appointment for the conversion audit.
More information about BS OHSAS 18001 / ISO 45001
Do you have another question about ISO 45001 or BS OHSAS 18001? First, read our ISO 45001 FAQ. Are you considering ISO 45001 certification for your organization? Our experts are happy to provide more information about the standard. Please contact us using the contact form below.
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