ISO 45001
International standard for occupational health and safety management
PRINCE2
Structured project management methodology of 7 principles, practices, processes.
Quick Verdict
ISO 45001 provides OH&S management systems for workplace safety across industries, while PRINCE2 offers structured project governance for controlled delivery. Companies adopt ISO 45001 for certification and risk reduction; PRINCE2 for repeatable success and executive oversight.
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 IMS integration
- PDCA cycle for continual improvement
- Explicit operational controls for contractors and change
PRINCE2
PRINCE2 (Projects IN Controlled Environments)
Key Features
- Seven principles as guiding obligations
- Seven practices for continuous management
- Seven processes for lifecycle control
- Manage by stages and exception tolerances
- Mandatory tailoring to project context
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.
Key Components
- Clauses 4-10 cover context, leadership, planning, support, operation, evaluation, improvement.
- Emphasizes hierarchy of controls, worker participation, contractor management.
- Built on HLS for compatibility with ISO 9001/14001.
- Optional third-party certification via audits.
Why Organizations Use It
- Reduces incidents, legal risks, costs (22-29% drops reported).
- Enhances resilience, insurance savings, talent retention.
- Builds stakeholder trust, supply-chain advantage.
- Drives continual improvement, reputation.
Implementation Overview
- Phased: gap analysis, policy/objectives, controls, audits (6-12 months typical).
- Scalable for all sizes/sectors; integrates with IMS.
- Requires leadership commitment, training, audits.
PRINCE2 Details
What It Is
PRINCE2 (Projects IN Controlled Environments), 7th Edition, is a structured project management framework providing governance, control, and delivery across project lifecycles. Its principle-based approach emphasizes value delivery through staged decisions and exception management.
Key Components
- **Three pillars7 Principles (e.g., continued business justification, manage by exception), 7 Practices (business case, risk, progress), 7 Processes (starting up to closing a project).
- Over 15 management products (e.g., PID, registers).
- **CertificationFoundation and Practitioner levels via PeopleCert.
Why Organizations Use It
- **Strategic benefitsRepeatable governance, reduced overruns, executive efficiency via tolerances.
- **Risk/complianceAudit trails, stage gates for viability checks.
- Builds stakeholder trust, supports hybrid/agile integration, enhances success rates through tailoring.
Implementation Overview
- **Phased rolloutGap analysis, tailoring blueprint, training, pilots, assurance.
- Suits all sizes/industries; tailor to context.
- Focus: Certification pathways, templates, PMO integration. (178 words)
Key Differences
| Aspect | ISO 45001 | PRINCE2 |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Occupational health & safety management systems | Project governance, processes, and delivery control |
| Industry | All sectors, high-risk industries emphasized | All sectors, public sector and regulated common |
| Nature | Voluntary international certification standard | Voluntary project management methodology |
| Testing | Internal audits, management reviews, certification audits | Stage boundary reviews, exception reports, assurance |
| Penalties | Loss of certification, no direct legal penalties | No penalties, internal governance failure risks |
Scope
Industry
Nature
Testing
Penalties
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about ISO 45001 and PRINCE2
ISO 45001 FAQ
PRINCE2 FAQ
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