In the modern fast-paced industrial world, it has become very imperative that safety and welfare at the workplace are properly ensured. A safe workplace not only protects the workers against possible hazards but also contributes to improved productivity and efficiency within the organization. The ISO 45001 Occupational Health & Safety Management System Certification UAE is one of the most efficient ways to establish and maintain stringent safety measures. This international standard leads an organization in every industry within the UAE and worldwide to adopt proactive principles in managing OHS.
The blog is about checking up on what ISO 45001 is and why it is relevant for organizations in the United Arab Emirates. We will look at how businesses benefit from getting this certification.
What is ISO 45001 Occupational Health & Safety Management System?
ISO 45001 is the first international standard for an OHSMS. This standard specifies requirements applicable to all organizations for providing a safe and healthy workplace by preventing work-related injury and ill health, as well as by proactively improving its OH&S performance.
The certification is targeted at organizations of all sizes, whatever the nature of activities might be construction and manufacturing, or even health care and services. The certification has specified certain requirements that an organization has to follow for the identification of hazards, assessment of risks, and using control measures that would guarantee the safety of employees among other stakeholders.
By offering the ISO 45001 certification, organizations are serving notice of commitment to workplace safety, legal demands, and continuous improvement in OHS practices.
Benefits of ISO 45001 Certification in UAE
Improved Health and Safety Performance
The immediate benefit derived from ISO 45001 is the improvement in workplace health and safety. A well-structured OHS management system will enable organizations to identify hazards before they turn into potential incidents or accidents. This proactively reduces the probability of incidents within the workplace, hence securing employees and visitors.
Compliance with Legal Requirements
Although the organizations in the UAE-Abu Dhabi have to follow local government-declared occupational health and safety legislation, such as the OSHAD Audit in Abu Dhabi, the ISO 45001 Certificate will help any business organization understand those legal requirements and simultaneously satisfy the international standards. It proves that the organization is compliant with not only the local legislation but also internationally in terms of health and safety.
Improved Corporate Reputation: The ISO 45001 Occupational Health & Safety Management System Certification UAE essentially communicates to all of your clients, stakeholders, and employees that your organization is one that concerns itself with safety. This will definitely boost your company’s reputation and make it easier to establish better trust with your partners and customers. In competitive markets, ISO 45001 certification will give you an edge over the competition, which hasn’t attained this accreditation level as yet.
Increased Productivity and Employee Morale
A safe workplace, as a result of fewer accidents and injuries, means less downtime or absenteeism. The guarantee of safety and protection increases morale, leading to increased productivity and better engagement. ISO 45001 will not only minimize workplace hazards but will also increase employee involvement in safety matters to attain a safety culture with responsibility at all levels of the organization.
Cost Reduction
Such workplace incidents and accidents can be awfully costly for businesses in terms of medical expenses, claims for compensation, legal fees, and production downtimes. Reducing these incidents through the use of ISO 45001 means a reduction in all these costs that emanate from workplace hazards. In addition, insurance premiums can also be reduced for those companies with operational health and safety management systems.
Understanding OSHAD Audit in Abu Dhabi
Apart from international standards like ISO 45001, organizations operating in Abu Dhabi will also have some local occupational safety and health regulations. These fall under the purview of the Abu Dhabi Occupational Safety and Health Center as OSHAD. The OSHAD Audit in Abu Dhabi is a very vital element of compliance with these local regulations.
The audit in OSHAD evaluates conformity to the requirements of the Abu Dhabi Occupational Safety and Health System Framework, commonly referred to as OSHAD-SF. This is the minimum set of requirements for the management of health and safety in Abu Dhabi; therefore, all organizations, whether public or private sector organizations are expected to meet this minimum requirement.
The audit involves the verification of an organization’s OHS policies, procedures, and practices against the requirements within the UAE. Companies that pass this audit demonstrate compliance with Abu Dhabi’s legal and regulatory health and safety standards.
For companies in Abu Dhabi, this will be coupled with passing the OSHAD Audit in Abu Dhabi for ISO 45001 Occupational Health & Safety Management System Certification, UAE, in order to ensure conformity both internationally and locally. The result of such dual compliance will be an enhanced commitment to workplace safety and an increase in the level of credibility for the organization not only within the domestic sphere but also on the international front.
How to get ISO 45001 certification in UAE
ISO 45001 Occupational Health & Safety Management System Certification UAE requires a systematic process for building and operating an OHS management system to meet the requirements of ISO 45001. Here is a step-by-step guide that will help organizations in the UAE achieve ISO 45001 certification.
Gap Analysis:
Do the gap analysis in advance of the implementation to identify where your current practice falls short. This will give you some idea of what needs to change in order for you to meet the requirements of ISO 45001.
Implementation:
Develop and implement those policies, procedures, and controls that would help in enhancing an OHS management system, such as training of employees, hazard identification processes, risk assessments, and establishment of emergency preparedness plans.
Internal Audit:
Internal Audit: Once the ISO 45001 system is in place, perform an internal audit on the effectiveness of your OHS management system. The internal audit should be able to point out gaps or areas for improvement before the certification audit.
Certification Audit:
Independent Certification Audit by an accredited certification body such as URS ME, auditors would verify an organization against the standard ISO 45001 on whether OHS management system has achieved the requirements stipulated in this standard.
Certification
After the audit is clear for your organization, you will receive ISO 45001 Occupational Health & Safety Management System Certification UAE. When certified, monitoring and further improvement of your OHS would continue for its compliance and continuity.
Basically, the ISO 45001 Occupational Health & Safety Management System Certification UAE is a must for those organizations that treat their employees seriously and are keen on giving their best in maintaining a safe workplace. ISO 45001 will help organizations minimize workplace risk, advance local and international requirements on safety, and improve overall performance.
For the companies operating in Abu Dhabi, passing the OSHAD Audit in Abu Dhabi is equally important to prove their compliance with local OHS requirements. Achieving ISO 45001 certification and passing the OSHAD audit ensure that your organization is well-positioned at the top of the highest standards of health and safety.
At URS ME, we specialize in ISO 45001 certification for organizations in the UAE, from auditing to consulting services. Our auditors/consultants will lead your organization through the process of fulfilling requirements that shall assure compliance.