ISO 45001
International standard for occupational health and safety management
SQF
GFSI-benchmarked food safety certification standard
Quick Verdict
ISO 45001 provides a global OH&S management system for all industries to prevent injuries, while SQF delivers GFSI-recognized food safety certification for supply chains. Companies adopt ISO 45001 for worker safety compliance and SQF for retailer market access.
ISO 45001
ISO 45001:2018 Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems
Key Features
- High-Level Structure enabling integrated management systems
- Top management accountability with worker participation
- Risk-based planning addressing risks and opportunities
- Hierarchy of controls prioritizing hazard elimination
- PDCA cycle for continual OH&S improvement
SQF
Safe Quality Food (SQF) Code Edition 9
Key Features
- Modular structure: Module 2 plus sector GMPs
- HACCP-based Food Safety Plan mandatory
- SQF Practitioner for onsite leadership
- GFSI-benchmarked annual audits with scoring
- Traceability, recall, food defense requirements
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 the High-Level Structure (Annex SL) and PDCA cycle.
Key Components
- Clauses 4-10 covering context, leadership, planning, support, operation, evaluation, improvement.
- Emphasis on hierarchy of controls, worker participation, change management.
- No fixed controls; scalable requirements for documented information and objectives.
- Optional third-party certification via audits.
Why Organizations Use It
- Reduces incidents, legal risks, costs; enhances resilience, reputation.
- Meets stakeholder expectations, supply-chain demands.
- Integrates with ISO 9001/14001 for efficiency.
- Drives culture shift to proactive safety governance.
Implementation Overview
- Phased: gap analysis, policy/objectives, controls, audits, certification.
- Applicable to all sizes/sectors; 6-12 months typical.
- Involves training, worker consultation, KPI monitoring.
SQF Details
What It Is
Safe Quality Food (SQF) is a GFSI-benchmarked certification program administered by SQFI. It ensures food safety and quality across the supply chain via a HACCP-based, modular management system for manufacturing, storage, and distribution.
Key Components
- Module 2 (universal system elements: management commitment, HACCP plan, verification, traceability)
- Sector-specific GMP modules (e.g., Module 11 for processing)
- Over 200 auditable clauses emphasizing PRPs, food defense, allergens
- Built on Codex HACCP principles; annual third-party audits with scoring
Why Organizations Use It
- Meets retailer mandates for market access
- Reduces recalls, audits, and risks
- Builds food safety culture and supplier trust
- Aligns with FSMA, enhances resilience
Implementation Overview
- Phased: gap analysis, documentation, training, internal audits, certification
- Applies to all sizes, food sectors globally
- Requires SQF Practitioner, mock recalls; 6-12 months typical
Key Differences
| Aspect | ISO 45001 | SQF |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Occupational health & safety management | Food safety & quality management |
| Industry | All sectors worldwide, scalable | Food manufacturing, supply chain primarily |
| Nature | Voluntary ISO certification standard | GFSI-benchmarked food certification |
| Testing | Internal audits, management reviews | Annual third-party audits, unannounced |
| Penalties | Loss of certification, no legal fines | Certification loss, market access denial |
Scope
Industry
Nature
Testing
Penalties
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about ISO 45001 and SQF
ISO 45001 FAQ
SQF FAQ
You Might also be Interested in These Articles...
CMMC Level 3 Implementation Guide: Integrating NIST SP 800-172 Enhanced Controls for APT Defense
Step-by-step CMMC Level 3 guide for DIB contractors. Implement 24 NIST SP 800-172 controls on Level 2. Prep for DIBCAC, C3PAO scoping & 180-day POA&Ms. Boost cy
CIS Controls v8.1 Metrics That Matter: KPIs, KRIs, and Dashboards for Board-Ready Cyber Reporting
Quantify CIS Controls v8.1 success with KPIs, KRIs & dashboards. Learn what to measure, calculations, and executive presentations linking security to business r
NIST CSF 2.0 Deep Dive: Mastering the Updated Framework Core Functions
Unpack NIST CSF 2.0's enhanced Core Functions: Govern, Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, Recover. Get SME playbooks, governance shifts & strategies for cyber
Run Maturity Assessments with GRADUM
Transform your compliance journey with our AI-powered assessment platform
Assess your organization's maturity across multiple standards and regulations including ISO 27001, DORA, NIS2, NIST, GDPR, and hundreds more. Get actionable insights and track your progress with collaborative, AI-powered evaluations.
Check out these other Gradum.io Standards Comparison Pages
NIST 800-53 vs ISO 27701
Discover NIST 800-53 vs ISO 27701: Compare 20 control families, baselines, RMF integration vs PIMS for privacy. Optimize compliance & risk mgmt today!
SAFe vs UL Certification
SAFe vs UL Certification: Scale agile enterprises or certify product safety? Compare frameworks, ROI, compliance benefits & integration for agile innovation. Discover now!
ITIL vs SAMA CSF
Discover ITIL vs SAMA CSF: ITSM best practices (34 practices, SVS) meet Saudi finance cyber framework (4 domains, maturity levels). Align services, boost resilience—choose wisely!