ISO 45001
International standard for occupational health and safety management
EN 1090
EU harmonized standard for steel and aluminium structures execution
Quick Verdict
ISO 45001 provides voluntary OH&S management systems for global organizations, emphasizing leadership and continual improvement. EN 1090 mandates CE marking for EU structural steel/aluminium via FPC certification. Companies adopt ISO 45001 for safety culture; EN 1090 for legal market access.
ISO 45001
ISO 45001:2018 Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems
Key Features
- Strong leadership accountability and worker participation
- Annex SL structure for IMS integration
- Hierarchy of controls prioritizing hazard elimination
- Risk-based planning for hazards and opportunities
- PDCA cycle driving continual improvement
EN 1090
EN 1090: Execution of steel and aluminium structures
Key Features
- Risk-based Execution Classes (EXC1-EXC4)
- Factory Production Control (FPC) certification
- CE marking and Declaration of Performance
- Welding quality via ISO 3834 alignment
- Material traceability and NDT inspection
Detailed Analysis
A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.
ISO 45001 Details
What It Is
ISO 45001:2018 is the international standard for Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems (OHSMS). It provides a framework to prevent work-related injuries and ill health through proactive risk management. Built on the High-Level Structure (Annex SL) and PDCA cycle, it emphasizes leadership, worker participation, and continual improvement.
Key Components
- Clauses 4-10 covering context, leadership, planning, support, operation, evaluation, and improvement.
- Hierarchy of controls for operational risks.
- Risk-based approach to hazards, opportunities, and legal requirements.
- Optional third-party certification via audits.
Why Organizations Use It
- Reduces incidents, downtime, and costs; improves resilience.
- Meets legal/compliance needs; enhances insurance and tenders.
- Builds safety culture, talent retention, and stakeholder trust.
- Integrates with ISO 9001/14001 for efficiency.
Implementation Overview
- Phased: gap analysis, policy/objectives, controls, audits, reviews.
- Scalable for all sizes/sectors; 6-12 months typical.
- Certification involves Stage 1/2 audits, annual surveillance.
EN 1090 Details
What It Is
EN 1090 is a family of harmonized European standards (EN 1090-1, -2, -3) governing execution and conformity assessment of structural steel and aluminium components under the Construction Products Regulation (CPR). It ensures safe fabrication, assembly, and CE marking for load-bearing elements in construction works, using a risk-based approach through Execution Classes (EXC1-4).
Key Components
- **Factory Production Control (FPC)Certified internal production oversight system.
- **Technical requirementsWelding, tolerances, corrosion protection, materials traceability, inspection/NDT.
- **Execution ClassesMatrix based on consequence, service, production categories.
- **Welding managementAligned with ISO 3834 levels by EXC.
- Notified Body certification with surveillance.
Why Organizations Use It
- Mandatory for EU/EEA market access via CE marking.
- Mitigates liability, ensures quality consistency.
- Enables competitive bidding, builds stakeholder trust.
- Drives operational maturity, reduces rework.
Implementation Overview
Phased: gap analysis, FPC development, personnel/welding qualification, ITT/ITC, NB audits. Targets fabricators; 6-12 months typical; scales with EXC and size.
Key Differences
| Aspect | ISO 45001 | EN 1090 |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | OH&S management systems across Clauses 4-10 | Execution and conformity of steel/aluminium structures |
| Industry | All sectors worldwide, scalable to size | Construction, steel/aluminium fabrication in EU/EEA |
| Nature | Voluntary international certification standard | Mandatory harmonized standard for CE marking |
| Testing | Internal audits, management reviews, monitoring | FPC certification, NB surveillance, ITT/ITC |
| Penalties | Loss of certification, no legal penalties | Market exclusion, fines, legal liability |
Scope
Industry
Nature
Testing
Penalties
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about ISO 45001 and EN 1090
ISO 45001 FAQ
EN 1090 FAQ
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