Standards Comparison

    ISO 45001

    Voluntary
    2018

    International standard for occupational health and safety management

    VS

    ISO 14064

    Voluntary
    2018

    International standard for GHG quantification, reporting, verification.

    Quick Verdict

    ISO 45001 provides occupational health & safety management systems for worker protection across industries, while ISO 14064 enables credible GHG emissions accounting and verification. Companies adopt 45001 for safety compliance and culture, 14064 for climate reporting and decarbonization strategy.

    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
    • Aligns with Annex SL for IMS integration
    • Requires hierarchy of controls for hazards
    • Risk-based planning for risks and opportunities
    • PDCA cycle drives continual OH&S improvement
    Greenhouse Gas Accounting

    ISO 14064

    ISO 14064 GHG quantification and reporting standards

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

    Key Features

    • Modular three-part structure for inventories, projects, assurance
    • Five principles: relevance, completeness, consistency, transparency, accuracy
    • Scope 1-3 boundaries and emission categorization
    • Baseline scenarios and additionality for projects
    • Risk-based validation/verification with materiality assessment

    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 for integration.

    Key Components

    • Clauses 4-10 cover context, leadership, planning, support, operation, evaluation, improvement.
    • Emphasizes hierarchy of controls, worker participation, continual improvement via PDCA.
    • No fixed controls; scalable requirements with certification option.

    Why Organizations Use It

    • Reduces incidents, ensures legal compliance, lowers costs.
    • Enhances resilience, reputation, integrates with ISO 9001/14001.
    • Builds stakeholder trust, competitive edge in high-risk sectors.

    Implementation Overview

    • Phased: gap analysis, policy/objectives, controls, audits.
    • Applicable all sizes/sectors; 6-12 months typical.
    • Optional third-party certification with surveillance audits.

    ISO 14064 Details

    What It Is

    ISO 14064 is an international standard family (ISO 14064-1:2018, -2:2019, -3:2019) providing specifications and guidance for quantifying, reporting, and verifying greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and removals. It is a modular framework covering organizational inventories (Part 1), project-level reductions (Part 2), and validation/verification (Part 3), emphasizing principle-based approaches like boundaries, baselines, and risk assessments.

    Key Components

    • Three interdependent parts: organizational GHG inventories, project quantification, and assurance processes.
    • Five core principles: relevance, completeness, consistency, transparency, accuracy.
    • Scope 1-3 emissions categorization, baseline scenarios, monitoring plans.
    • Third-party verification model under ISO 14064-3, often paired with ISO 14065 for bodies.

    Why Organizations Use It

    • Enables credible reporting for regulations (e.g., CSRD, SB-253), carbon markets, investor disclosures.
    • Drives operational improvements, risk mitigation, and stakeholder trust.
    • Supports decarbonization strategies, green finance access, and anti-greenwashing.

    Implementation Overview

    • Phased approach: governance, boundary setting, data systems, verification.
    • Applies to all sizes/industries; voluntary but audit-ready.
    • Involves cross-functional teams, software tools, and optional reasonable/limited assurance. (178 words)

    Key Differences

    Scope

    ISO 45001
    Occupational health & safety management
    ISO 14064
    GHG emissions quantification & verification

    Industry

    ISO 45001
    All sectors, high-risk industries emphasized
    ISO 14064
    All sectors, energy-intensive & manufacturing focus

    Nature

    ISO 45001
    Voluntary management system certification
    ISO 14064
    Voluntary GHG accounting & reporting standard

    Testing

    ISO 45001
    Internal audits, management reviews, certification
    ISO 14064
    Independent validation/verification of inventories

    Penalties

    ISO 45001
    Loss of certification, no legal penalties
    ISO 14064
    No legal penalties, reputational/financial risks

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Common questions about ISO 45001 and ISO 14064

    ISO 45001 FAQ

    ISO 14064 FAQ

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