Standards Comparison

    ISO 45001

    Voluntary
    2018

    International standard for occupational health and safety management systems

    VS

    BRC

    Voluntary
    2022

    GFSI-benchmarked global standard for food safety manufacturing

    Quick Verdict

    ISO 45001 provides a global OH&S management system for all industries, emphasizing leadership and worker participation to prevent injuries. BRC ensures food safety and quality for manufacturers via HACCP and site controls. Companies adopt ISO 45001 for safety culture; BRC for retailer supply chain access.

    Occupational Health & Safety

    ISO 45001

    ISO 45001:2018 Occupational health and safety management systems

    Cost
    €€€
    Complexity
    High
    Implementation Time
    6-12 months

    Key Features

    • Mandates leadership accountability and worker participation
    • Risk-based approach addressing risks and opportunities
    • Hierarchy of controls prioritizing hazard elimination
    • Annex SL structure for IMS integration
    • PDCA cycle driving continual improvement
    Food Safety

    BRC

    BRCGS Global Standard for Food Safety

    Cost
    €€€€
    Complexity
    High
    Implementation Time
    6-12 months

    Key Features

    • Codex HACCP-based food safety plan with PRPs
    • Senior management commitment and culture requirements
    • Fundamental non-negotiable certification clauses
    • Site standards and high-risk zoning controls
    • Graded annual audits with unannounced option

    Detailed Analysis

    A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.

    ISO 45001 Details

    What It Is

    ISO 45001:2018 Occupational health and safety management systems is an international certification standard for OHSMS. It provides a framework to prevent work-related injuries and ill health, improve OH&S performance via proactive risk management, using PDCA cycle and Annex SL structure.

    Key Components

    • Clauses 4-10: context, leadership/worker participation, planning, support, operation, performance evaluation, improvement.
    • Emphasizes hierarchy of controls, risk/opportunity assessment, documented information.
    • Built on risk-based thinking, worker consultation; optional third-party certification.

    Why Organizations Use It

    • Reduces incidents, legal risks, costs; enhances resilience, insurance savings.
    • Meets stakeholder expectations, enables IMS with ISO 9001/14001.
    • Builds safety culture, competitive edge via certification.

    Implementation Overview

    • Phased: gap analysis, policy/objectives, training/controls, audits/reviews.
    • Scalable for all sizes/sectors; 6-12 months typical; internal audits, management reviews essential.

    BRC Details

    What It Is

    BRCGS Global Standard for Food Safety is a GFSI-benchmarked certification framework for food manufacturers, processors, and packers. It assures product safety, legality, authenticity, and quality via a structured system combining senior management commitment, Codex HACCP-based plans, and robust prerequisite programs (GMP/GHP).

    Key Components

    • Nine core clauses spanning governance, HACCP, site standards, product/process controls, personnel, and traded products.
    • Fundamental requirements (e.g., internal audits, traceability, allergen management) critical for certification.
    • Built on HACCP principles with PRPs like hygiene, pest control, environmental monitoring.
    • Graded certification (AA/A/B/C/D) through annual third-party audits, announced or unannounced.

    Why Organizations Use It

    • Retailer mandates enable supply chain access and reduce duplicative audits.
    • Mitigates risks like recalls from allergens, pathogens, labeling errors.
    • Demonstrates due diligence, boosts resilience, and enhances reputation.

    Implementation Overview

    • Phased: gap analysis, documentation, training, internal audits, certification.
    • Suited for global manufacturing sites; scalable via START for SMEs.
    • Multidisciplinary teams drive PDCA for continuous improvement. (178 words)

    Key Differences

    Scope

    ISO 45001
    Occupational health & safety management
    BRC
    Food safety, quality, legality in manufacturing

    Industry

    ISO 45001
    All sectors, all sizes worldwide
    BRC
    Food manufacturing, packaging, supply chain

    Nature

    ISO 45001
    Voluntary ISO management system standard
    BRC
    Voluntary GFSI-benchmarked certification scheme

    Testing

    ISO 45001
    Internal audits, management reviews
    BRC
    Annual on-site third-party audits

    Penalties

    ISO 45001
    Loss of certification
    BRC
    Certification withdrawal, market access loss

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Common questions about ISO 45001 and BRC

    ISO 45001 FAQ

    BRC FAQ

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