Introduction:
Workplace safety is as non-negotiable as workplace-related injuries and accidents can cost workers their lives or make them physically impaired and cause businesses to lose millions of dollars in litigation costs. These mishaps can be prevented, minimized, or totally eliminated by imbibing a preventive safety culture and following the framework recommended in ISO 45001 and AS/NZS 4801 for achieving workplace health and safety. This article will help you understand the difference between AS/NZS 4801 and ISO 45001.
What is AS/NZS 4801?
It is the Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems used in Australia and New Zealand. This certification is only applicable to companies in Australia and New Zealand. It ensures that businesses meet the requirements to create a safe workplace for their employees. In other parts of the world, the certification is inapplicable.
What is ISO 45001?
ISO 45001 is the new globally accepted standard that provides a comprehensive framework for an effective occupational health and safety management system. It helps organizations to manage occupational health and safety risks and opportunities; providing a safe and healthy work environment for employees and stakeholders, protecting their physical and mental health, and preserving the company’s assets and properties. ISO 45001 supersedes the AS/NZS 4801. The AS/NZS 4801, however, remains available in Australia and New Zealand until the 13th of July, 2023.
Note: If your company is based in Australia or New Zealand and is currently operating under AS/NZS 4801 but you desire expansion and want your company to operate internationally, you will have to migrate to ISO 45001. The framework provided in ISO 45001 Standard will help you cover the new health and safety processes and reduce work-related injuries and loss.
Difference between AS/NZS 4801 and ISO 45001:
The table below highlights the difference between AS/NZS 4801 and ISO 45001 to give you a clear understanding of each and to help you make an informed decision as to which is better for you.
Table 1: Difference between AS/NZS 4801 and ISO 45001
| AS/NZS 4801 | ISO 45001 |
| Appointed Management Representatives are responsible for integrating health and safety management system requirements in the organization | OHSMS responsibilities previously allocated to the Management Representative in the AS/NZS 4801, are now on senior managements |
| Does not provide consistency, nor aligns with other management systems. It does not work for organizations that need to meet the requirements of several standards simultaneously | Prepared with high-level-structure to provides consistency and alignment with other management systems e.g ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 |
| Can be used only by businesses in Australia and New Zealand | Applies to businesses all over the world, (small and big). |
| Provides an Occupational Health and Safety policy stating dedication to improving occupational health and safety performance | Additional commitment to eliminating all hazards and reducing occupational health and safety risks to improve OHSMS performance |
| Organizations are responsible for keeping their employees safe | Organizations have an additional responsibility of creating a safe workplace to keep workers, contractors, and other parties safe |
| Will remain an occupational health and safety standard in Australia and New Zealand until the 13th of July, 2023 | ISO 45001 will become widely accepted globally and highly needed by businesses, worldwide. |
Becoming ISO 45001 Lead Auditor:
ISO 45001 helps combat workplace hazards and reduces occupational risks, improving employees’ and stakeholders’ safety. Organizations that do not comply may experience a damaged brand reputation, a strain on their resources, loss of time due to staff sick-leave-absence, injury, or death, financial loss from hospital bills, or compensation to the family of the employee who has lost his/her life. Organizations that implement the standard will enjoy longevity, a safe working environment, and dedicated employees.
Before an organization can receive the ISO 45001 certification, it will need to be audited by a certified ISO 45001 Lead Auditor. After the certification, the organization will need to undergo periodic audits to ensure that the business complies with the requirements of the ISO 45001 Standard.
The ISO 45001 OHSMS Lead Auditor is highly respected and their skills and competencies are highly valued and demanded by employers. To become an ISO 45001 OHSMS Lead Auditor, you will need to undergo the ISO 45001 OHSMS Lead Auditor Training Program. To ensure you receive an authentic certification, attend the ISO 45001 Lead Auditor training at an approved training partner of CQI IRCA – the internationally recognized certification body for management systems auditors.
Purpose of the ISO 45001 OHSMS Lead Auditor Training Course:
The purpose of the ISO 45001 OHSMS Lead Auditor training course is to equip delegates with the skills and knowledge to plan, conduct, report, and follow-up first, second and third-party audits of the occupational health and safety management system to determine conformity or otherwise with the ISO 45001, and in accordance with ISO 19011 ISO/IEC 17021. Every organization, no matter the industry, needs an occupational health and safety management system lead auditor. Attaining the ISO 45001 Lead Auditor Certificate of Achievement will make organizations trust you above someone who has not.
NOTE: There is a huge difference between AS/NZS 4801 and ISO 45001, if you are a certified auditor of the AS/NZS 4801, you need to quickly get the ISO 45001 Lead Auditor certification if you want to remain relevant in the industry.
How can 3FOLD help?
As earlier stated, to become an ISO 45001 OHSMS Lead Auditor, you need to attend the ISO 45001 Lead Auditor training course and receive the Certificate of Achievement. CQI IRCA is the globally recognized and widely accepted certification body for management systems. CQI IRCA gives the authorization to their Approved Training Partners to train delegates to become professional certified lead auditors. 3FOLD Training has satisfactorily met the requirements of CQI IRCA and is Approved by them as an Approved Training Partner.
Getting your ISO 45001 Lead Auditor certification at 3FOLD Training is getting authentic training, with quality CQI IRCA training materials, from an expert trainer who has been vetted and approved. 3FOLD is an industry leader dedicated to producing lead auditors that are the same. You can join the upcoming ISO 45001 Lead Auditor Training course and begin your amazing journey to becoming a certified lead auditor.
Conclusion on the difference between AS/NZS 4801 and ISO 45001:
Yearly, nearly 2.5 million people die from work-related injuries and diseases. The consequences of occupational illnesses, accidents, and deaths pose a huge strain on employers and the economy. In Australia and New Zealand, the AS/NZS 4801 is the occupational health and safety standard used in dealing with work-related accidents or diseases. The Standard is, however, not as robust or effective in dealing with all occupational hazards.
The ISO 45001:2018 OHSMS Standard deals with all work-related accidents, injuries, and diseases, and puts into consideration the mental health of employees. Organizations that follow the ISO 45001:2018 Occupational Health and Safety Management System requirements will create a better safe working environment, and working conditions that will result in reduced occupational hazards and risks, and experience improved employee safety and business longevity.
A significant difference between AS/NZS 4801 and ISO 45001 is, senior management can no longer not get actively involved in improving OHSMS performance. They now have 13 new OHSMS responsibilities formerly allocated to management representatives in the AS/NZS 4801.
If you are an OHSMS auditor who currently does not hold the ISO 45001:2018 OHSMS Lead Auditor Certificate of Achievement, it is high time you did as it is a requirement to become a certified lead auditor. To attain this certificate, you need to attend the ISO 45001:2018 OHSMS Lead Auditor training course in an approved training partner of CQI IRCA. You can enroll in 3FOLD Training; a CQI IRCA Approved Training Partner. 3FOLD is an industry leader trusted by thousands of professionals all over the world. 3FOLD’s trainers are industry experts, vetted and approved to deliver quality training.
Take your career to the next level. Enroll in 3FOLD’s ISO 45001 OHSMS Lead Auditor training course! You can reach us through the enquiry form, email, or whatsapp.
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