Module 1: Introduction to ISO 45001:2018 (45–60 min)

• What is ISO 45001 and its purpose
  • International standard for Occupational Health & Safety Management Systems (OHSMS) to prevent work-related injury and ill health and to provide safe and healthy workplaces.
• Evolution and context
  • Replaced OHSAS 18001; built on Annex SL for easier integration with ISO 9001/14001.
• Benefits of an OHSMS
  • Risk reduction, legal compliance, fewer incidents, improved wellbeing, stakeholder trust, productivity, insurance and cost benefits.
• Key terms
  • OHSMS, context, interested parties, hazards, risks, opportunities, workers, consultation & participation, competence, nonconformity, corrective action, incident.
• Core OH&S principles
  • Hazard identification and risk control hierarchy
  • Worker participation and consultation
  • Legal compliance obligation management
  • Prevention and continual improvement
  • Leadership and culture of safety
• Exercise: Identify your top 10 workplace hazards and rank by risk
• Deliverables:
  • Quick reference guide to OH&S terms and hierarchy of controls

Module 2: High-Level Structure, PDCA, and Risk-Based Thinking (45 min)

• Annex SL structure: Clauses 1–10 overview
• PDCA cycle in ISO 45001
  • Plan: context, leadership, planning
  • Do: support and operation (controls, change, contractors, emergency prep)
  • Check: performance evaluation (monitoring, audits)
  • Act: improvement (incidents, NC/CAPA, continual improvement)
• Process approach with OH&S lens
  • Identify process hazards, controls, responsibilities, KPIs (e.g., LTIFR, TRIR, near-miss reporting)
• Risk-based thinking vs. opportunity promotion
  • Integration of safety opportunities (ergonomics, automation, training, design out hazards)
• Exercise: Map a high-risk process and embed OH&S KPIs
• Deliverables:
  • Process map template with hazard/risk column
  • Risk and opportunity register template (with severity/likelihood matrix)

Module 3: Clause-by-Clause Deep Dive (3–3.5 hours)

• Clause 4: Context of the Organization
  • Internal/external issues; workers and interested parties; scope; OHSMS processes and interactions
  • Activity: Context and stakeholder analysis for safety-critical operations
• Clause 5: Leadership and Worker Participation
  • OH&S policy, roles, responsibilities, accountability
  • Worker consultation and participation requirements (including non-managerial workers)
  • Removing obstacles to participation (e.g., fear of reprisal, language)
  • Activity: Draft/review OH&S policy and a participation plan
• Clause 6: Planning
  • Hazard identification methods (JHA/JSA, HAZOP, inspections, incident data)
  • OH&S risk assessment and determining legal and other requirements
  • OH&S objectives (SMART) and planning actions; management of change
  • Activity: Build a risk register and set 3–5 OH&S objectives
• Clause 7: Support
  • Resources; competence; awareness; communication
  • Documented information (procedures, work instructions, records); control of documents/records
  • Activity: Define a competence and training matrix; document control approach
• Clause 8: Operation
  • Operational control; eliminating hazards and reducing OH&S risks via the hierarchy of controls
  • Management of change; procurement and contractor control; outsourcing; permit-to-work
  • Emergency preparedness and response (planning, drills, learning)
  • Activity: Create a control plan for a high-risk task (e.g., confined space, LOTO)
• Clause 9: Performance Evaluation
  • Monitoring, measurement, analysis and evaluation (leading/lagging indicators)
  • Compliance evaluation with legal and other requirements
  • Internal audit program and method; management review inputs/outputs
  • Activity: Draft an OH&S internal audit plan and checklist
• Clause 10: Improvement
  • Incident, nonconformity, and corrective action
  • Root cause analysis (5 Whys, Fishbone, TapRooT-style thinking)
  • Continual improvement mechanisms and learning culture
  • Activity: Complete an incident investigation and CAPA form
• Deliverables:
  • Clause quick sheets
  • Documented information matrix (required docs/records + recommended)

Module 4: Building and Implementing Your OHSMS (60–75 min)

• Gap assessment against ISO 45001 requirements
• Implementation roadmap and project plan with milestones
• Embedding hazard/risk controls into processes and change management
• Integrating with ISO 9001/14001; aligning KPIs and reporting cadences
• Activity: Draft a phased implementation plan with responsibilities
• Deliverables:
  • Gap analysis checklist (editable)
  • OHSMS implementation project plan template

Module 5: Internal Auditing Essentials for OH&S (60 min)

• Audit principles, ethics, and competence; auditor independence and worker participation
• Planning audits with a risk-based and process-based approach
• Gathering objective evidence (interviews, observation, sampling, records)
• Writing clear nonconformity statements; grading and prioritizing findings
• Activity: Role-play an OH&S audit and write one major and one minor finding
• Deliverables:
  • OH&S internal audit plan and schedule template
  • Process-based OH&S audit checklist examples

Module 6: Certification Journey and Maintaining Compliance (30–45 min)

• Selecting a certification body; Stage 1 vs. Stage 2 certification audits
• Managing audit findings and corrective actions; timelines and effectiveness checks
• Surveillance and recertification audits; keeping legal compliance current
• Safety dashboards, leadership walks, safety committees, and management reviews cadence
• Activity: Prepare a certification readiness pack (evidence index)
• Deliverables:
  • Certification readiness checklist
  • Management review agenda/template tailored to OH&S

Capstone Assessment (30–45 min)

• Case study: Evaluate a fictional company’s OHSMS
• Tasks: Identify hazards/risks, gaps to ISO 45001, propose controls and CAPAs, prioritize improvements
• Final quiz: 30–40 questions covering clauses and key OH&S concepts
• Certification:
  • Pass mark: 70% on final quiz + completion of activities
  • Issued: Certificate of Completion (PDF)

Target Audience

• HSE/OH&S Managers, Supervisors, Process Owners, Facilities/Operations Managers
• Internal Auditors and Compliance Officers
• SMEs and startups establishing their first OHSMS
• Teams preparing for ISO 45001 certification or migration from OHSAS 18001