What is the primary objective of **ISO 45001**?

**ISO 45001 specifies requirements for an Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSMS) to prevent work-related injury and ill health and proactively improve OH&S performance.** It follows the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle across Clauses 4–10, embedding OH&S into business processes via context analysis (**Clause 4**), leadership commitment (**Clause 5**), risk-based planning (**Clause 6**), operational controls (**Clause 8**), performance evaluation (**Clause 9**), and continual improvement (**Clause 10**).

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with **ISO 45001**?

**ISO 45001 applies voluntarily to organizations of all sizes and sectors seeking to manage OH&S risks systematically.** It is scalable for microenterprises to multinationals, with particular relevance in high-risk industries like construction, manufacturing, oil & gas, and healthcare, where top management, EHS leaders, operations managers, workers, and contractors must demonstrate leadership accountability and participation.

Does **ISO 45001** require an external audit or third-party certification?

**ISO 45001 does not require third-party certification, which is optional for demonstrating compliance.** Organizations must conduct internal audits (**Clause 9.2**) and management reviews (**Clause 9.3**), but certification involves accredited bodies performing Stage 1 (documentation) and Stage 2 (effectiveness) audits, followed by annual surveillance and triennial recertification.

How often should an assessment for **ISO 45001** be performed?

**ISO 45001 requires internal audits at planned intervals based on risk, status, and results (**Clause 9.2**), typically annually with higher frequency for high-risk areas.** Management reviews occur at least annually (**Clause 9.3**), incorporating performance data, audits, and changes; continual monitoring (**Clause 9.1**) uses leading/lagging KPIs like near-miss rates and LTIFR.

What are the consequences of non-compliance with **ISO 45001**?

**Non-compliance with ISO 45001 risks operational incidents, regulatory fines, legal liabilities, and certification loss, though it imposes no direct penalties as a voluntary standard.** System failures lead to increased injuries, production downtime, higher insurance premiums, reputational damage, and supply-chain disqualification.

An **ISO 45001** be mapped to other international frameworks?

**Yes, ISO 45001 uses the High-Level Structure (Annex SL) for seamless integration with other ISO management system standards.** Common elements like context analysis (**Clause 4**), leadership (**Clause 5**), audits (**Clause 9**), and improvement (**Clause 10**) enable unified Integrated Management Systems (IMS), reducing duplication in documentation, reviews, and processes.

What is the first step to begin implementing **ISO 45001**?

**The first step is conducting a gap analysis of current practices against Clauses 4–10 to understand organizational context and identify remediation needs.** Secure top-management commitment (**Clause 5**), define OHSMS scope (**Clause 4.3**), and develop a prioritized roadmap with resources for leadership, worker participation, and risk planning (**Clause 6**).

What is the primary objective of **ISO 19600**?

**ISO 19600 provides guidelines for establishing, developing, implementing, evaluating, maintaining, and improving an effective Compliance Management System (CMS).** Published in 2014 as a Type B guidance standard, it promotes principles of good governance, proportionality, transparency, and sustainability across all organization sizes and sectors. The framework follows a 10-clause Annex SL structure with PDCA logic, enabling risk-based integration into existing processes for sustainable compliance outcomes.

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with **ISO 19600**?

**No organization is legally required to comply with ISO 19600, as it is a voluntary Type B guidance standard without mandatory requirements.** It applies universally to all types and sizes of organizations facing statutory, regulatory, contractual, or internal obligations, including financial services, manufacturing, healthcare, technology, public sector, SMEs, and startups. Professionals such as CCOs and compliance officers use it for benchmarking CMS effectiveness to regulators, customers, and partners.

Does **ISO 19600** require an external audit or third-party certification?

**No, ISO 19600 does not require external audits or third-party certification, as it is non-certifiable guidance.** Organizations conduct internal audits per Clause 9.2 (aligned with ISO 19011) and self-assessments to evaluate CMS performance. Alignment is demonstrated through internal benchmarking, risk registers, and documented evidence for stakeholders.

How often should an assessment for **ISO 19600** be performed?

**ISO 19600 assessments should be performed at planned intervals via monitoring, internal audits, and management reviews, with reassessments triggered by changes or issues.** Clause 9 requires continual monitoring of performance, nonconformities, and obligations; Clause 4.6 mandates risk reassessment when contexts change. Quarterly management reviews (Clause 9.3) and annual audits ensure ongoing suitability, adequacy, and effectiveness.

What are the consequences of non-compliance with **ISO 19600**?

**There are no direct consequences for non-compliance with ISO 19600 itself, as it imposes no legal obligations.** However, lacking a structured CMS increases exposure to regulatory fines, operational disruptions, reputational damage, and higher insurance costs from unmet obligations, as illustrated by cases like €12M banking fines for weak controls.

An **ISO 19600** be mapped to other international frameworks?

**Yes, ISO 19600 can be mapped to other international frameworks due to its Annex SL high-level structure and PDCA cycle.** Its 10 clauses (context, leadership, planning, etc.) align seamlessly with integrated management systems, enabling consolidation of processes, reduced duplication, and unified risk registers for efficient governance.

What is the first step to begin implementing **ISO 19600**?

**The first step is securing top-management endorsement and establishing a Compliance Steering Committee (Phase 0).** Clause 5 demands leadership commitment via a signed charter; define CMS scope per Clause 4, considering context, obligations, and risks to ensure proportionality and cross-functional oversight.

ISO 45001 vs ISO 19600

Standards Comparison

ISO 45001

Voluntary

2018

International standard for occupational health and safety management systems

ISO 19600

Voluntary

2014

International guidelines for compliance management systems

Quick Verdict

ISO 45001 provides certifiable OH&S management for all industries to prevent injuries, while ISO 19600 offered non-certifiable compliance guidelines (now withdrawn). Companies adopt 45001 for safety certification and integration; 19600 for CMS foundations before ISO 37301.

Occupational Health & Safety

ISO 45001

ISO 45001:2018 Occupational health and safety management systems

Cost

€€€

Complexity

High

Implementation Time

6-12 months

Key Features

Annex SL structure enables integrated management systems
Mandates leadership accountability and worker participation
Risk-based planning for hazards and opportunities
Hierarchy of controls prioritizes hazard elimination
PDCA cycle drives continual OH&S improvement

Compliance Management

ISO 19600

ISO 19600:2014 Compliance management systems — Guidelines

Cost

€€€

Complexity

Medium

Implementation Time

6-12 months

Key Features

Risk-based compliance management framework
Principles of good governance and independence
PDCA structure for continual improvement
Scalable to all organization sizes
Integrates with other ISO management systems

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 enables organizations to proactively prevent work-related injury and ill health while improving OH&S performance. Adopting a risk-based approach via the High-Level Structure (Annex SL) and PDCA cycle, it aligns with standards like ISO 9001 and ISO 14001.

Key Components

Clauses 4–10: context, leadership and worker participation, planning, support, operation, performance evaluation, improvement.
Emphasizes hierarchy of controls, hazard identification, legal compliance.
Outcome-focused requirements, no fixed controls count.
Third-party certification model through accredited bodies.

Why Organizations Use It

Reduces incidents, ensures legal compliance, lowers costs.
Builds resilience, enhances reputation, aids IMS integration.
Provides competitive edge, insurance savings, stakeholder trust.

Implementation Overview

Phased: gap analysis, policy/objectives, controls rollout, audits.
Scalable for all sizes/sectors globally.
Typically 6–12 months to certification.

ISO 19600 Details

What It Is

ISO 19600:2014, officially Compliance management systems — Guidelines, is a Type B guidance standard from the International Organization for Standardization. Its primary purpose is providing recommendations for establishing, implementing, evaluating, maintaining, and improving a Compliance Management System (CMS). It adopts a risk-based approach with a PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) structure aligned to Annex SL, applicable to all organization sizes and sectors.

Key Components

10 clauses mirroring high-level structure: context, leadership, planning, support, operation, performance evaluation, improvement.
Core principles: good governance, proportionality, transparency, sustainability.
Focus on compliance obligations identification, risk assessment, controls, training, monitoring.
Non-certifiable; used for internal benchmarking.

Why Organizations Use It

Mitigates legal penalties, operational disruptions, reputational damage.
Drives efficiency (10-20% cost savings), market access, cultural integrity.
Prepares for ISO 37301 certification.
Builds stakeholder trust via demonstrated governance.

Implementation Overview

**Phased roadmapleadership commitment, gap analysis, design, rollout, continuous improvement.
Scalable for SMEs to multinationals, all industries.
No formal certification; self-assessment, internal audits per ISO 19011.

Key Differences

Aspect	ISO 45001	ISO 19600
Scope	Occupational health & safety management	Compliance management systems guidelines
Industry	All sectors, high-risk industries emphasized	All organizations, regulated sectors highlighted
Nature	Certifiable requirements standard	Non-certifiable guidance (withdrawn 2021)
Testing	Internal audits, management reviews, certification	Internal audits, self-assessments, no certification
Penalties	Certification loss, no direct legal penalties	No penalties (guidance only)

Scope

ISO 45001

Occupational health & safety management

ISO 19600

Compliance management systems guidelines

Industry

ISO 45001

All sectors, high-risk industries emphasized

ISO 19600

All organizations, regulated sectors highlighted

Nature

ISO 45001

Certifiable requirements standard

ISO 19600

Non-certifiable guidance (withdrawn 2021)

Testing

ISO 45001

Internal audits, management reviews, certification

ISO 19600

Internal audits, self-assessments, no certification

Penalties

ISO 45001

Certification loss, no direct legal penalties

ISO 19600

No penalties (guidance only)

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about ISO 45001 and ISO 19600

ISO 45001 FAQ

ISO 19600 FAQ

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ISO 45001

ISO 19600

Quick Verdict

ISO 45001

Key Features

ISO 19600

Key Features

Detailed Analysis

ISO 45001 Details

What It Is

Key Components

Why Organizations Use It

Implementation Overview

ISO 19600 Details

What It Is

Key Components

Why Organizations Use It

Implementation Overview

Key Differences

Scope

Industry

Nature

Testing

Penalties

Frequently Asked Questions

ISO 45001 FAQ

What is the primary objective of ISO 45001?

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with ISO 45001?

Does ISO 45001 require an external audit or third-party certification?

How often should an assessment for ISO 45001 be performed?

What are the consequences of non-compliance with ISO 45001?

An ISO 45001 be mapped to other international frameworks?

What is the first step to begin implementing ISO 45001?

ISO 19600 FAQ

What is the primary objective of ISO 19600?

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with ISO 19600?

Does ISO 19600 require an external audit or third-party certification?

How often should an assessment for ISO 19600 be performed?

What are the consequences of non-compliance with ISO 19600?

An ISO 19600 be mapped to other international frameworks?

What is the first step to begin implementing ISO 19600?

You Might also be Interested in These Articles...

ISO 27701 Implementation Roadmap: Extending Your ISMS to PIMS in 12 Months or Less

The Panoramic View: How Integrated Compliance Monitoring Creates Unprecedented Organizational Visibility and Adaptability

Beyond the Boardroom: 5 Ways Modern Compliance Software Elevates Every Department

Run Maturity Assessments with GRADUM

Check out these other Gradum.io Standards Comparison Pages

PMBOK vs WELL

ITIL vs ISO 26000

CSL (Cyber Security Law of China) vs CE Marking