Tracking Trends: Revisions to ISO Occupational Health and Safety Standard on Horizon

Proposed revisions to ISO 45001:2018 – a global consensus standard that provides guidance on the use of occupational health and safety (OHS) management systems – is undergoing revisions that are scheduled to be finalized by 2027. ISO-certified organizations will have until 2030 to implement management system changes to meet new requirements.

The anticipated updates may seem like they’re a long way off, but they warrant employers’ attention now. These updates are expected to influence decisions about future investments in workplace health and safety solutions and employee well-being globally, domestically, and locally for years to come.

ISO 45001 is an internationally recognized OHS management framework based on best practices for hazard assessment and risk-control measures to reduce workplace incidents, injuries, and illnesses. The standard is designed to be integrated into existing OHS management processes and follow the same model as other widely used International Organization for Standardization management system guidance, such as ISO 9001 (quality) and ISO 14001 (environmental).

ISO 45001 Current Status and Anticipated Updates

ISO 45001 is a relevant resource for U.S. employers with multi-national or domestic operations, including those subject to federal employment laws and OHS regulations and industry-specific requirements. Compliance with ISO standards is inherently voluntary, but the guidance is often baked into enforceable regulations.

The 45001 framework revisions are being developed by ISO/TC 283, the ISO’s technical committee on OHS management, with a stated goal of helping organizations improve worker safety, reduce workplace risks, and create healthier working conditions. The committee is also responsible for supporting guidance standards (e.g., ISO 45002, ISO 45003) for the implementation of psychological health and safety practices in the workplace, auditing, and performance evaluations.

Framework development is based on a three-step process – plan, do, check – to support continuous quality improvement and advances in the field of occupational health and safety. According to an article on Navigating the Winds of Change in Safety published by the American Society of Safety Professionals, the committee’s strategic direction is defined by three priorities:

• Integrating recommendations on employee well-being, psychosocial hazards (e.g., stress, burnout, harassment), workforce culture and diversity, technological advances, and supply-chain safety into the core OHS framework.
• Strengthening collaboration within the ISO to help ensure that OHS standards are harmonized and relevant to ergonomics, sustainability, and other fields.
• Providing guidance on ways to manage exposure risks associated with climate change (e.g., reactions to extreme temperatures, natural disaster response) and incorporate contemporary models of work and leadership into the OHS framework.

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI), which is represents the U.S. as a member of the ISO federation of countries, reports that the 45001 standard requires employers to consider the context in which an organization operates, including the needs and expectations of its workers and other stakeholders. ANSI cautions that “claims of conformity are not acceptable unless all requirements are incorporated into an organization’s OHS management system and fulfilled without exclusion.”

ISO 45001 does not:

• State specific criteria for OHS performance
• Prescribe the design of an OHS management system
• Address product safety, property damage, or environmental impacts beyond potential risks to workers and other affected parties

Benefits of ISO 45001 Compliance

In the U.S., companies with large domestic or multi-national operations have the option of engaging consultants to conduct independent audits as part of the process to quality for ISO certification, which may be necessary to meet certain contractual, regulatory, or supply-chain requirements. ANSI is the primary source for “conformity assessments,” accreditation, and training. Smaller companies with domestic operations typically do not pursue certification but may adopt ISO guidance to comply with best OHS practices.

Voluntary compliance demonstrates an employer’s commitment to employee health, safety, and well-being, creating a halo effect that can improve workforce morale, employee retention, and a company’s reputation. Other potential benefits of compliance include legal conformity, lower insurance premiums, improved emergency preparedness, and greater organizational resilience.

Recommended Action Plan

To start preparing now for 45001 changes, employers are advised to:

• Track ISO/TC 283 updates via ANSI and trade groups
• Train OHS, environmental, and human resource teams on emerging risks
• Take steps to strengthen governance, leadership, and worker participation
• Add mental health, remote work, and climate change to risk management plans
• Budget for training, audits, and system updates from 2026 to 2028
• Plan for certification transition within two to three years post-publication

“As long as your organization has people working on its behalf, or who may be affected by its activities, then using a systematic approach to managing health and safety will bring benefits to it. The 45001 standard can be used by small, low-risk operations equally as well as by high-risk and large, complex organizations.” – International Standards Organization

ISO Applicability in the U.S.

The ISO establishes and updates standards that apply to thousands of mission-critical areas. The organization is comprised of 175 national standards bodies, with one representative per country.

The sheer number of applicable standards and industry-specific requirements that exist today creates compliance challenges for U.S. employers. According to the ISO, government agencies are estimated to enforce more than 44,000 distinct statutes, technical regulations, and purchasing specifications, far more than any other country. About 50,000 more standards come from the private sector.

Specific policies apply to the use of consensus standards in the U.S. According to the ISO, these policies emphasize that regulations and referenced standards should be cost-effective, consistent, sensible, and understandable – and that they are backed by a regulatory process that is open, transparent, and fair to all interested parties. A U.S. government agency may adopt a voluntary standard and make it mandatory by incorporating it in a regulation or referring to it by title. (For example, OSHA adopted the National Electrical Code by reference.

Alternatively, an enforcement agency may grant strong deference to standards developed by a particular organization for a specific purpose or in lieu of developing a regulation. ISO standards are often used as a resource in the federal rulemaking process. The ISO reports that voluntary consensus standards from both national and international sources are being increasingly referenced by U.S. agencies and regulatory bodies.

Rely on WorkCare for Compliance Guidance

At WorkCare, our team of occupational health and safety professionals monitors regulatory developments for our clients. We’re your partner in compliance. Contact us to today to learn about the ways we can help your company monitor global and domestic standards and regulatory trends, adopt recommended best practices, and ensure compliance with legally enforceable requirements.