ISO 45001
International standard for occupational health and safety management systems
ISO 31000
International guidelines for enterprise risk management
Quick Verdict
ISO 45001 provides certifiable OH&S management systems for workplace safety across industries, while ISO 31000 offers non-certifiable risk guidelines for any uncertainty on objectives. Companies adopt 45001 for compliance and safety certification; 31000 for strategic risk integration.
ISO 45001
ISO 45001:2018 Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems
Key Features
- Top management accountability and worker participation
- Risk-based approach with hierarchy of controls
- Annex SL structure for integrated management systems
- Operational controls for contractors and change management
- PDCA cycle for continual improvement and performance evaluation
ISO 31000
ISO 31000:2018 Risk management — Guidelines
Key Features
- Eight core principles for risk management
- Leadership commitment and governance framework
- Iterative risk assessment process
- Customizable to any organization size
- Non-certifiable flexible guidelines
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, PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) approach aligned with Annex SL for integration with other ISO standards like ISO 9001 and 14001.
Key Components
- Clauses 4-10 cover context, leadership, planning, support, operation, evaluation, and improvement.
- Emphasizes hierarchy of controls, worker participation, and management of change/contractors.
- No fixed controls; scalable requirements with documented information.
- Certification via accredited bodies through audits.
Why Organizations Use It
- Reduces incidents, legal risks, and costs; enhances resilience and insurance savings.
- Builds stakeholder trust, talent retention, and market advantage.
- Supports integrated management systems for efficiency.
Implementation Overview
- Phased: gap analysis, policy/objectives, controls, audits, certification.
- Applicable to all sizes/sectors; 6-12 months typical.
- Involves leadership commitment, training, and continual improvement.
ISO 31000 Details
What It Is
ISO 31000:2018, Risk management — Guidelines is an international standard providing non-certifiable guidance for systematic risk management. Its primary purpose is to help organizations of any size or sector manage uncertainty affecting objectives, using a principles-based, iterative approach focused on creating and protecting value.
Key Components
- **Three pillars8 principles (e.g., integrated, customized, dynamic), framework (leadership, integration, design, evaluation), and process (communication, assessment, treatment, monitoring).
- No fixed controls; flexible guidelines.
- Built on PDCA cycle for continual improvement.
- Non-certifiable; alignment demonstrated via internal governance.
Why Organizations Use It
- Enhances decision-making, resilience, and opportunity capture.
- Supports governance, strategy, and compliance (e.g., aligns with ISO 27001).
- Builds stakeholder trust through transparent risk practices.
- Provides competitive edge via better resource allocation.
Implementation Overview
- Phased roadmap: leadership alignment, gap analysis, pilot, integration, monitoring.
- Involves policy development, training, tools like risk registers.
- Applicable universally; no certification, focuses on internal audits.
Key Differences
| Aspect | ISO 45001 | ISO 31000 |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Occupational health & safety management | General enterprise risk management |
| Industry | All sectors, high-risk emphasized | All sectors, any organization type |
| Nature | Certifiable management system standard | Non-certifiable guidelines framework |
| Testing | Internal audits, management reviews, certification | Internal monitoring, reviews, no certification |
| Penalties | Loss of certification, no legal penalties | No penalties, voluntary guidelines |
Scope
Industry
Nature
Testing
Penalties
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about ISO 45001 and ISO 31000
ISO 45001 FAQ
ISO 31000 FAQ
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