Section 01

Introduction to ISO 45001 Certification

ISO 45001 is the international standard for an Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) Management System. It gives organisations a risk-based framework to prevent work-related injury and ill health and to provide safe, healthy workplaces for employees, contractors and visitors.

For Indian companies, ISO 45001 is a common requirement in PSU, oil & gas, power, infrastructure and multinational vendor qualification — and a practical way to stay on top of obligations under the Factories Act, the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code and state safety rules.

✦ Key Highlights of ISO 45001
  • Current edition ISO 45001:2018 with Amendment 1:2024 (climate change)
  • Replaced OHSAS 18001, which is no longer valid
  • Centred on Hazard Identification & Risk Assessment (HIRA) and worker participation
  • Covers contractors, outsourced processes and emergency preparedness
  • Valid for 3 years with annual surveillance audits
Section 02

ISO 45001 at a Glance

Full TitleISO 45001 — Occupational health and safety management systems — Requirements with guidance for use
Current EditionISO 45001:2018 + Amd 1:2024
ReplacedOHSAS 18001:2007
Accreditation Body in IndiaNABCB — Quality Council of India
Certification TypeVoluntary, third-party
Validity3 years with annual surveillance
Hierarchy of Controls
  • Elimination: Remove the hazard altogether
  • Substitution: Replace with a less hazardous process or material
  • Engineering Controls: Guards, ventilation, interlocks, isolation
  • Administrative Controls: Procedures, permits, training, signage
  • PPE: Personal protective equipment as the last line of defence
Section 03

Who Needs ISO 45001 Certification?

🏭 Factories

Engineering, chemicals, pharma, steel, automotive and electronics plants.

🏗️ Construction & EPC

Building, road, metro, power and infrastructure contractors.

⛽ Oil, Gas & Power

Contractors and service providers to refineries, utilities and mines.

🚚 Warehousing & Logistics

Operators managing material handling, forklifts and transport.

🛡️ Manpower & Facility Services

Security, housekeeping and facility management companies.

🏥 Hospitals & Labs

Healthcare, laboratories, hotels and large campuses.

Section 04

ISO 45001 Requirements — Clauses 4 to 10

ClauseTitleKey Requirements
4ContextNeeds of workers and interested parties, OH&S scope
5Leadership & Worker ParticipationOH&S policy, roles, consultation and participation
6PlanningHazard identification, risk assessment, legal requirements, objectives
7SupportResources, competence, awareness, communication
8OperationHierarchy of controls, management of change, contractors, emergency response
9Performance EvaluationMonitoring, compliance evaluation, internal audit, management review
10ImprovementIncident investigation, corrective action, continual improvement
Section 05

ISO 45001 Certification Process

1

Safety Gap Assessment

Site walk-through; review of permits, incident history and legal compliance.

2

HIRA Study

Hazard identification and risk assessment for routine and non-routine activities.

3

Legal Register

Map applicable safety, health and labour law requirements.

4

OH&S Documentation

Policy, objectives, work permits, SOPs, emergency plans and incident reporting.

5

Training & Drills

Safety awareness, internal auditor training and mock drills.

6

Internal Audit & Review

Effectiveness check and management review before certification.

7

Stage 1 & Stage 2 Audit

Certification audits and issue of the ISO 45001 certificate.

Section 06

Documents Required for ISO 45001

🏢 Company & Site

  • Company registration and factory licence
  • Plant / site layout
  • Scope and list of sites

🦺 OH&S Documents

  • OH&S policy and objectives
  • HIRA register
  • Legal & other requirements register

📋 Operational Controls

  • Work permit and LOTO procedures
  • PPE issue records
  • Contractor safety records

📊 Records

  • Incident and near-miss investigations
  • Mock drill and fire-safety records
  • Health check-ups, training, audits and reviews
✔ Compliance Tip
  • ISO 45001 does not replace statutory licences, safety audits or approvals under the Factories Act, OSH Code or state rules.
Section 07

ISO 45001 Timeline & Cost Factors

StageTypical Duration
Gap assessment & HIRA1 – 3 weeks
Documentation & implementation3 – 6 weeks
Internal audit & review1 week
Certification audits1 – 3 weeks
Total6 – 12 weeks
What Affects the Cost?
  • Number of workers including contractors, number of sites and hazard level of operations.
  • Integrated ISO 9001 + 14001 + 45001 audits usually give the best value.
Section 08

Validity, Surveillance & Recertification

An ISO 45001 certificate is valid for three years, subject to successful surveillance audits.

Year 1 — Surveillance Audit

Review of incidents, HIRA updates, legal compliance and objectives.

Year 2 — Surveillance Audit

Continued verification of OH&S performance.

Year 3 — Recertification

Full re-audit to renew the certificate.

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Section 09

Frequently Asked Questions

  • No, it is voluntary, but PSUs, EPC majors, oil and gas, power and multinational clients frequently require it from vendors and contractors.

  • No. OHSAS 18001 has been replaced by ISO 45001 and its migration period has ended, so organisations should hold ISO 45001 certification.

  • Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment — the systematic analysis of every activity to identify hazards, assess risk and apply controls using the hierarchy of controls.

  • Typically 6 to 12 weeks, depending on workforce size, number of sites and existing safety maturity.

  • Yes. ISO 45001 requires organisations to control OH&S risks from contractors and outsourced processes.

  • Three years, with annual surveillance audits and a recertification audit before expiry.