Does ISO 9001 cover health & safety?

ISO 9001 is one of the most common standards set by the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO). The objective of the ISO 9000 series is to provide a set of requirements that, if implemented, will enable your organisation to consistently produce goods and services that meet the expectations and needs of all stakeholders. It emphasises creating an effective Quality Management System (QMS).

What is ISO 9001?

ISO 9001 is an international standard that relies on several quality management principles. These principles place a strong focus on customer experience, and a commitment to continual improvement, while ensuring the involvement and dedication of top-level management. Meeting the requirements of ISO 9001:2015 ensures that your customers consistently receive quality products and services, bringing several benefits to your company.

Does ISO 9001 include health and safety?

ISO 9001 doesn’t directly cover health and safety, but it does require organisations to maintain workplace conditions that support the consistent delivery of quality products and services. While the standard focuses on quality management, it still expects businesses to identify and manage factors within the work environment that can affect product quality and overall performance.

When discussing ISO 9001:2015 or Quality Management Systems and the topic of health and safety arises, many people wonder how the two are interlinked. Generally, not all organisations are required to have a quality management system, but an ISO 45001:2018 Occupational Health and Safety Management System is essential for maintaining a conducive work environment.

In clause 6.4 of ISO 9001, organisations must identify and manage the work environment required to produce quality products and services. Physical factors such as hygiene, noise, and human factors such as employee supervision are some of the areas to be considered.

ISO 9001 vs. ISO 45001 and OHSAS 18001

Each of these standards serves a distinct purpose within management systems, but they are designed to complement one another:

• ISO 9001:2015 – Quality Management System (QMS) focuses on maintaining consistent product and service quality, improving customer satisfaction, and driving continual improvement.
• ISO 45001:2018 – Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSMS) aims to create safer workplaces by identifying, controlling, and reducing risks related to health and safety.
• OHSAS 18001 (older standard) was previously used for workplace safety but has now been replaced by ISO 45001.

A Quality Management System is the foundation of an Occupational Health and Safety Management System. ISO 9001 establishes processes and procedures like data analysis, corrective actions, internal audits, and management reviews. These processes are also required in establishing a health and safety management system.

Where do ISO 9001 and health and safety overlap?

The two management systems have similar core elements. They include:

• Management commitment – Executives should be committed to guaranteeing the production of quality and safe products and services.
• Continuous improvement – Organisations should regularly assess the effectiveness of the Quality Management System and their health and safety hazard controls.
• Communication – There should be a unified program to communicate policies and objectives across all organisation levels.

Although Occupational Health and Safety Management and Quality Management focus on different aspects, they work together to achieve the set objectives for health and safety.

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