Standards Comparison

    ISO 45001

    Voluntary
    2018

    International standard for occupational health and safety management

    VS

    GLBA

    Mandatory
    1999

    U.S. law for financial privacy notices and data safeguards

    Quick Verdict

    ISO 45001 provides global OH&S management for all industries, while GLBA mandates US financial data privacy/security. Companies adopt ISO 45001 for certification and safety culture; GLBA for legal compliance and breach avoidance.

    Occupational Health & Safety

    ISO 45001

    ISO 45001:2018 Occupational health and safety management

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

    Key Features

    • Mandates leadership accountability and worker participation
    • Aligns with Annex SL for IMS integration
    • Enforces hierarchy of controls prioritizing elimination
    • Proactively addresses risks and opportunities
    • Drives PDCA continual improvement cycle
    Financial Privacy

    GLBA

    Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA)

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

    Key Features

    • Privacy notices and opt-out rights for NPI sharing
    • Comprehensive Safeguards Rule security program
    • Qualified Individual with board reporting
    • 30-day FTC breach notification for 500+ consumers
    • Service provider oversight and risk assessments

    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 an international standard specifying requirements for occupational health and safety (OH&S) management systems. It provides a framework to prevent work-related injuries, ill health, and improve OH&S performance proactively. Built on the Annex SL High-Level Structure (HLS) and PDCA cycle, it emphasizes risk-based thinking across Clauses 4-10.

    Key Components

    • Core clauses: Context (4), Leadership/participation (5), Planning (6), Support (7), Operation (8), Evaluation (9), Improvement (10).
    • Key elements: Hierarchy of controls, worker consultation, hazard identification, legal compliance.
    • No fixed controls count; scalable requirements.
    • Optional third-party certification via audits.

    Why Organizations Use It

    • Reduces incidents, costs, and downtime.
    • Enhances resilience, insurance savings, talent retention.
    • Meets stakeholder/supply-chain expectations; boosts reputation.
    • Integrates with ISO 9001/14001 for efficiency.
    • Voluntary but strategic for high-risk sectors.

    Implementation Overview

    • Phased: Gap analysis, policy/objectives, controls rollout, audits.
    • Applies to all sizes/sectors; 6-12 months typical.
    • Involves training, culture change, contractor management.

    GLBA Details

    What It Is

    The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) is a U.S. federal regulation enacted in 1999. It establishes privacy and security standards for financial institutions handling nonpublic personal information (NPI). GLBA uses a risk-based approach focusing on transparency in data sharing and comprehensive safeguards against threats.

    Key Components

    • **Privacy Rule (16 C.F.R. Part 313)Requires initial/annual notices and opt-out rights for nonaffiliated third-party sharing.
    • **Safeguards Rule (16 C.F.R. Part 314)Mandates a written information security program with administrative, technical, and physical controls; includes nine core elements like risk assessment and Qualified Individual oversight.
    • **Pretexting ProvisionsProhibits obtaining NPI under false pretenses. Compliance is enforced by FTC for non-banks, with no formal certification but ongoing audits.

    Why Organizations Use It

    • Mandatory for broad financial entities (banks, lenders, tax firms).
    • Mitigates enforcement risks (fines up to $100K/violation).
    • Enhances customer trust, operational resilience, and vendor management.

    Implementation Overview

    Phased approach: scoping, risk assessment, policy development, technical controls, testing. Applies to U.S. financial activities; suits all sizes with scaled exemptions for small entities.

    Key Differences

    Scope

    ISO 45001
    Occupational health & safety management
    GLBA
    Consumer financial data privacy & security

    Industry

    ISO 45001
    All industries worldwide, scalable
    GLBA
    Financial institutions, US-focused

    Nature

    ISO 45001
    Voluntary ISO certification standard
    GLBA
    Mandatory US federal regulation

    Testing

    ISO 45001
    Internal audits, management reviews
    GLBA
    Risk assessments, penetration testing

    Penalties

    ISO 45001
    Loss of certification, no fines
    GLBA
    Civil penalties up to $100K per violation

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Common questions about ISO 45001 and GLBA

    ISO 45001 FAQ

    GLBA FAQ

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