Businesses will have many reasons for wanting to be ISO 45001 certified. Most commonly, it demonstrates an unquestionable commitment to occupational health and safety. Furthermore, it can be a transformative process for a business. But, as with the implementation of any new management system, it can present challenges and face resistance within an organisation. So, in this article, we’re going to identify some of the likely obstacles in ISO 45001 implementation and offer solutions to overcome them.
1) Lack of management commitment to ISO 45001:
Securing support from top management is crucial for the success of ISO 45001 implementation. Indeed, without the buy-in from senior leaders, there may be limited of insufficient resources made available as well as little commitment to prioritising or ‘pushing through’ the process.
Solution:
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- Be sure to involve top management as early as possible.
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- Set out the benefits of ISO 45001, highlighting improved safety performance, reduced incidents, and legal compliance.
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- Demonstrate how the standard aligns with the businesses’ goals and values.
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- Engage them in planning and decision-making, encouraging them to share their ideas to reach a successful outcome.
2) Limited employee engagement in ISO 45001:
As creatures of habit, it’s common for employees to resist or be hesitant about any changes within a business. Change – even positive change – can be daunting and uncertain at first. So often, those who are driving change can experience a lack of cooperation from colleagues. Additionally, this can make the process difficult and drain the positivity and energy from the ISO 45001 implementation process.
Solution:
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- Ensure you bring employees at all levels on the implementation journey by involving them from the start.
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- Schedule appropriate training on the standard’s requirements so that everyone knows what is involved in the process and how they can contribute to achieving a good result.
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- Welcome the use of open communication and provide further training and workshops to address any concerns and misconceptions. Emphasise the key benefits of ISO 45001 to your staff, such as safer working conditions, reduced incidents at work, as well as improved organisational reputation.
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- Give employees opportunities to take ownership of health and safety initiatives.
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- Remember to acknowledge and reward effective contributions which create a positive safety culture.
3) Complexity of documentation for ISO 45001:
Drafting and developing the necessary documentation and procedures to meet all of ISO 45001’s requirements from scratch may appear to be overwhelming. Furthermore, the pursuit of perfection may lead to progress stalling.
Solution:
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- If you’re wondering where to start, break down the documentation process into manageable steps. By creating smaller milestones, the project will seem less intense and more easily achievable.
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- Make use of templates and guidelines which will be helpful in getting started. At ISO-Cert Online Ltd, we provide a range of helpful templates to guide our clients through what’s needed.
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- Documentation should be concise, practical, and relevant to your company’s specific needs.
4) Resource constraints to support ISO 45001:
Even the most enthusiastic small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) may face limitations in resources such as budget and workforce. Similarly, this can lead to delays in the implementation process of your occupational health and safety management system (OHSMS).
Solution:
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- Identify the most critical aspects of ISO 45001 that align with your organisation’s needs and risks and prioritise these.
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- Develop a realistic implementation plan, with agreement and commitment from senior management.
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- If needed, your business should seek external support. As an experienced certification provider, ISO-Cert Online Ltd understands the challenges of running a small business. We work with SMEs every day as a trusted advisor, available to answer quick questions as well as offering consultancy and training – all priced with SMEs’ budgets in mind.
5) Integration of ISO 45001 with existing systems:
Has your business already implemented one or more management systems, e.g., ISO 9001 (quality management), ISO 14001 (environmental management) or ISO 27001 (information security management)? If so, you may be concerned about how straightforward it will be to align ISO 45001 with these systems.
Solution:
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- Take a look at our article: Streamline your success: the advantages of integrating ISO standards for some useful pointers on how to approach the integration process.
6) Maintaining momentum for ISO 45001:
It’s normal for a new project to attract plenty of enthusiasm at the start, but for this to wane as businesses struggle to keep up the momentum. If this happens during the implementation process, you could experience delays or even risk not fully completing the process.
Solution:
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- Set and communicate clear milestones and deadlines for different stages of the implementation, to ensure that everyone involved knows what success looks like.
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- Schedule regular progress updates and celebrate achievements, as this will keep the team motivated.
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- Assign clear responsibilities and accountability to ensure progress continues.
7) Monitoring and continuous improvement with ISO 45001:
Achieving ISO certification and having your OHSMS up and running isn’t the end of the journey! Indeed, ISO 45001 enables you to monitor your health and safety performance effectively. Additionally, it helps you to implement a corrective action process. But some companies find that they struggle with this, meaning that they’re missing out on valuable insights and opportunities to make continuous improvements.
Solution:
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- Start by implementing a system for ongoing monitoring, measurement, and analysis of health and safety indicators.
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- Encourage all staff to report near-misses and incidents, as this is the best way to quickly identify areas for improvement.
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- Eliminate a ‘blame culture’ and establish a ‘culture of continuous improvement’ within your organisation, where feedback and lessons learned are treated positively and integrated into the system.
As you can see, by being proactive and tackling these challenges with appropriate strategies, you and your business can navigate the ISO 45001 implementation journey successfully. Moreover you will enjoy the many benefits it offers in terms of improved safety, enhanced reputation, and sustainable growth.
“In our work with clients, we provide the solutions which enable businesses to succeed in their implementation journey. Our online platform removes many of the barriers and pain points associated with traditional auditing methods, so our clients can achieve success for their business and stakeholders with ease.””
Claire Howard, Director of ISO-Cert Online Ltd
Next steps
At ISO-Cert Online Ltd, we specialise in helping businesses to reach their full potential through continuous improvement. For more information on our services or to discuss your requirements please contact us on 0333 014 7720 or email info@isocertonline.net.
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