Standards Comparison

    ISO 45001

    Voluntary
    2018

    International standard for occupational health and safety management systems

    VS

    IFS Food

    Voluntary
    2023

    GFSI-benchmarked standard for food safety and quality.

    Quick Verdict

    ISO 45001 provides OH&S management systems for all industries globally, preventing workplace injuries via PDCA. IFS Food ensures food safety/quality for manufacturers, via product audits and traceability. Companies adopt for certification, compliance, and supply chain trust.

    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 top management accountability and worker participation
    • Enforces hierarchy of controls prioritizing hazard elimination
    • Aligns with Annex SL for integrated management systems
    • Requires proactive risk and opportunity assessment
    • Drives continual improvement via PDCA cycle
    Food Safety

    IFS Food

    IFS Food Version 8

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

    Key Features

    • Product and Process Approach with audit trails
    • Risk-based HACCP and prerequisite programs
    • Annual site-specific certification audits
    • Knock-Out requirements for critical controls
    • Unannounced audits for Star status

    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, improve OH&S performance, using a risk-based approach aligned with Annex SL (High-Level Structure) and PDCA cycle.

    Key Components

    • Clauses 4-10 cover context, leadership, planning, support, operation, evaluation, improvement.
    • Emphasizes hierarchy of controls, worker participation, contractor management.
    • Built on risk/opportunity assessment, continual improvement principles.
    • Optional third-party certification via audits.

    Why Organizations Use It

    • Reduces incidents, legal risks, costs; enhances resilience, reputation.
    • Meets stakeholder expectations, integrates with ISO 9001/14001.
    • Drives safety culture, competitive advantage in high-risk sectors.

    Implementation Overview

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

    IFS Food Details

    What It Is

    IFS Food Version 8 is a GFSI-benchmarked certification standard for auditing product and process compliance in food manufacturing. It focuses on food safety, quality, legality, authenticity, and customer requirements using a risk-based Product and Process Approach (PPA) with on-site verification.

    Key Components

    • Organized into governance, HACCP/PRPs, operational controls (e.g., allergens, fraud, defense), and performance monitoring.
    • Over 200 checklist requirements with 10 Knock-Out (KO) criteria.
    • Built on HACCP principles, integrated pest management, and annual audits.
    • Two certification levels: Higher (≥95%) and Foundation (≥75%).

    Why Organizations Use It

    • Meets European retailer demands for private-label supply.
    • Reduces duplicate audits, enhances market access.
    • Manages risks like recalls, fraud, and contamination.
    • Builds stakeholder trust via transparent scoring and database.

    Implementation Overview

    • Phased: gap analysis, FSMS design, training, validation, certification audit.
    • Applies to food processors globally, site-specific.
    • Requires accredited bodies, annual recertification, unannounced options.

    Key Differences

    Scope

    ISO 45001
    Occupational health & safety management systems
    IFS Food
    Food product & process safety/quality compliance

    Industry

    ISO 45001
    All sectors, global, scalable to all sizes
    IFS Food
    Food manufacturing/packing, esp. European retail

    Nature

    ISO 45001
    Voluntary ISO management system certification
    IFS Food
    GFSI-benchmarked food audit certification

    Testing

    ISO 45001
    Internal audits, management reviews, certification
    IFS Food
    Annual product/process audits with traceability tests

    Penalties

    ISO 45001
    Loss of certification, no legal penalties
    IFS Food
    Certification denial, customer contract loss

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Common questions about ISO 45001 and IFS Food

    ISO 45001 FAQ

    IFS Food FAQ

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