Annual statistics released by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) of ‘Workplace fatal injuries in Great Britain 2021’, were published on 7 July 2021. The report provides headline numbers on workplace fatal injuries resulting from a work- related accident that were reported to enforcing authorities in 2020/21. It includes both fatal injuries to workers and to members of the public. With 142 deaths reported, it’s an increase of 29 from last year.

Managing risk in the workplace has been a huge challenge for employers across all industries who have had to adapt to the pandemic restrictions, with some employees on site, and others working from home. Every business owner has a social and legal responsibility to its employees to ensure their work environment is safe, and the pandemic has magnified this responsibility which has made occupational health and safety more important than ever.

Now the UK has almost returned to pre-lockdown life, but with the continued threat of the virus affecting workers that may have to isolate at any point, the key message here is ‘Protect your people’ which in turn will help you to protect your business. If you have the optimum processes and procedures in place to manage workplace safety, then you will be better placed to overcome any unforeseen problems.

ISO 45001 occupational health and safety management systems is a standard that provides organisations, large or small, with robust OHS policies and procedures to identify potential hazards. It also ensures the company is meeting legal requirements to keep employees, and any visitors to its premises free from injury.

The benefits of gaining ISO 45001 certification are far reaching and can result in long-term business efficiencies such as:

• Reducing and preventing accidents
• Enhance your business reputation
• Compliance to industry legislation
• Improved hazard awareness
• Lower insurance policies
• Focusing the involvement of top management’s commitment to improve workplace conditions
• Reduce time and costs related to accidents or ill health
• Successful monitoring and measurement of on-site and offsite processes

ISO 45001 draws on OHSAS 18001, so if you are already certified to OHSAS the migration process should be straightforward and you can migrate at any time until 12th September 2021. From this date however, OHSAS 18001: 2007 will be considered ‘Withdrawn’. We recognise that each organisation has a bespoke set of requirements, therefore you will be assigned a specialist auditor in your field who understands your business.

Is your business in the construction or waste industry?

These figures from HSE are a stark reminder that the sectors you work in have a higher level of workplace injury and death. They are complex industries, using high risk machinery and equipment, working from heights and are probably two of the most regulated industries, both in terms of health and safety and the environment. We have a dedicated team that work closely with organisations in the construction and waste sectors providing advice on gaining and maintaining ISO certification that helps to keep their employees safe.

ISO certification actually works to enhance other assessments within your industry. For example, The Environmental Agency monitors the waste sector closely, but they don’t necessarily check the same elements of the business as ISO assessments cover. The EA generally focus on license adherence and not all the other business management requirements that ISO certification assessors would. Both the EA and ISO assessments support each other.

If you would like to chat through your certification status, about Auva’s certification process, or our transfer process, please get in touch with us here