ISO 37301
International certifiable standard for compliance management systems
CSA
Canadian consensus standards for occupational health and safety management
Quick Verdict
ISO 37301 provides certifiable compliance management systems for global organizations, emphasizing risk-based culture and whistleblowing. CSA delivers OHS hazard identification standards, primarily Canadian, becoming mandatory via legal reference. Companies adopt ISO 37301 for assurance, CSA for safety compliance.
ISO 37301
ISO 37301:2021 Compliance management systems – Requirements
Key Features
- Certifiable standard replacing guidance-only ISO 19600
- High-Level Structure enables IMS integration
- Risk-based compliance obligations and planning
- Leadership commitment and culture emphasis
- Mandatory whistleblowing protections and channels
CSA
CSA Z1000 Occupational Health and Safety Management
Key Features
- Consensus-based development with SCC oversight
- PDCA cycle for OHS management systems
- Hazard classification across 6 categories
- Risk assessment with hierarchy of controls
- Mandatory worker participation and leadership commitment
Detailed Analysis
A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.
ISO 37301 Details
What It Is
ISO 37301:2021, officially "Compliance management systems – Requirements with guidance for use," is a certifiable international standard for establishing effective CMS. It replaces guidance-only ISO 19600, using Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) and High-Level Structure (HLS) for risk-based compliance across all obligations.
Key Components
- Core clauses: context, leadership, planning, support, operation, evaluation, improvement.
- Emphasizes leadership, risk assessment, whistleblowing, monitoring, continual improvement.
- Built on HLS for integration with ISO 9001/14001/27001.
- Certifiable via accredited bodies like ANAB.
Why Organizations Use It
- Demonstrates compliance to stakeholders, reduces risks/fines.
- Builds culture of integrity, supports ESG/SDGs.
- Enhances reputation, investor confidence; voluntary but strategic.
Implementation Overview
- Phased: gap analysis, register building, training, audits.
- Scalable for SMEs/enterprises, all sectors.
- Certification involves initial/surveillance audits (3-year cycle).
CSA Details
What It Is
CSA standards are consensus-based documents from CSA Group (formerly Canadian Standards Association), spanning products, systems, and management in health, environment, and safety (HES). Key ones like CSA Z1000 (OHSMS) and CSA Z1002 (hazard identification/risk assessment) follow a PDCA cycle for systematic risk governance.
Key Components
- Leadership commitment, worker participation, policy
- **Planninghazard ID (6 categories: biological, chemical, ergonomic, physical, psychosocial, safety), risk assessment (severity, likelihood, exposure)
- **Implementationcontrols via hierarchy (elimination, engineering, admin, PPE), training, emergency prep
- **Checkingaudits, incident investigation, monitoring
- SCC-accredited; certification available
Why Organizations Use It
Meets legal duties when referenced in regulations; demonstrates due diligence; reduces incidents/reputational risk; enables continual improvement, market access.
Implementation Overview
Phased: gap analysis, policy/training, process integration, audits/reviews. Suits all sizes/industries; global alignment; optional third-party certification.
Key Differences
| Aspect | ISO 37301 | CSA |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Compliance obligations, risks, culture, whistleblowing | OHS hazards, risk assessment, worker safety controls |
| Industry | All sectors worldwide, all organization sizes | All industries, Canada-focused, all sizes |
| Nature | Certifiable international management system standard | Consensus standards, voluntary unless referenced in law |
| Testing | Accredited certification audits, 3-year cycle | Internal audits, SCC-accredited certification optional |
| Penalties | Loss of certification, no direct legal penalties | Fines/prosecution if incorporated by reference |
Scope
Industry
Nature
Testing
Penalties
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about ISO 37301 and CSA
ISO 37301 FAQ
CSA FAQ
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