ISO 45001 LA key terms

Conditions and factors at work that affect, or could affect, the health, safety and wellbeing of workers and other people in the workplace, including physical hazards, how work is organised, and psychosocial factors.

A set of interrelated elements an organisation uses to establish OH&S policy and objectives and to achieve them, covering processes, responsibilities, resources and documented information structured to ISO 45001.

A source or situation with the potential to cause injury or ill health, such as moving machinery, chemicals, work at height, excessive workload or poor work organisation.

The combination of how likely a hazardous event is and how severe the resulting injury or ill health could be, assessed before or after controls are applied.

A circumstance that can lead to improved OH&S performance, for example eliminating a hazard, adapting work to the people doing it, or introducing technology that reduces exposure.

The internal and external issues, such as legal, technological, social, cultural, market and worker-related factors, that are relevant to the organisation's purpose and can affect its OH&S management system.

A person or organisation that can affect, be affected by, or perceive itself to be affected by the organisation's OH&S activities, for example workers, regulators, unions, neighbours, customers and suppliers.

Processes for involving workers at all levels in OH&S decision-making, including providing information, seeking their input and removing barriers such as language, fear of reprisal or lack of training.

Top management's documented statement of direction, including commitments to provide safe and healthy working conditions, fulfil legal requirements, and eliminate hazards and reduce OH&S risks.

An ongoing, proactive process of recognising sources of harm from work activities, including routine and non-routine tasks, human factors, emergencies and changes in the workplace.

Systematic evaluation of the likelihood and severity of harm from identified hazards, using a defined method and criteria, so the organisation can decide which risks need control.

Laws, regulations, permits, collective agreements and voluntary commitments that apply to the organisation's OH&S aspects and must be identified, accessed and kept current.

Measurable targets set for relevant functions and levels, consistent with the OH&S policy and taking account of significant risks, legal requirements and opportunities, with plans for achieving them.

A ranked order for reducing risk: eliminate the hazard, substitute something safer, use engineering controls, then administrative controls, with personal protective equipment as the last line of defence.

A planned process for controlling OH&S risks and opportunities before temporary or permanent changes to processes, equipment, materials, work organisation, staffing or contractors.

Plans, resources, training and drills that enable the organisation to respond effectively to foreseeable emergency situations, and to test, review and revise that capability.

A planned, objective and systematic examination of the OH&S management system, performed by or for the organisation, to determine whether it conforms to its criteria and is effectively implemented.

Top management's periodic evaluation of whether the OH&S management system is suitable, adequate and effective, using defined inputs such as audit results and performance data, and producing decisions and actions.

A work-related event in which injury or ill health occurs or could have occurred; organisations must report, investigate and act on incidents, including near misses and unsafe conditions.

A failure to meet a requirement that must be corrected, together with action to remove its cause so it does not recur, followed by a check that the action worked.

Recurring activity to enhance OH&S performance, achieved by improving controls, processes, culture and management system elements rather than only correcting individual failures.

A systematic, independent and documented process for obtaining objective evidence and evaluating it objectively against audit criteria to determine the extent of conformity.

The set of requirements used as a reference against which evidence is compared, such as the ISO 45001 standard, the organisation's own procedures, contracts and applicable legal requirements.

Records, statements of fact or other verifiable information relevant to the audit criteria, gathered through interviews, observation of activities and review of documents.

The results of evaluating audit evidence against audit criteria; findings show conformity or nonconformity and are classified by significance to guide corrective action.

The outcome of an audit after considering the objectives and all findings, indicating whether the management system conforms and is effectively implemented and maintained.

Freedom from bias, conflict of interest and undue influence, so that findings and conclusions rest only on evidence; auditors do not audit their own work or have a stake in the outcome.

A description of the activities, schedule, resources and responsibilities for a specific audit, derived from the audit programme and agreed with the auditee.

The extent and boundaries of an audit, such as the sites, organisational units, activities, processes and time period covered, agreed with the client and recorded in the plan.

Pre-audit examination of the organisation's documented information, records and data to understand the management system, spot gaps and prepare relevant lines of enquiry.

A short meeting at the start of the audit to confirm the plan, scope and criteria, explain methods and reporting, and agree communication and confidentiality arrangements with the auditee.

Selecting less than all available information, activities or records for examination, using judgement or statistical methods, so that conclusions can reasonably be drawn about the whole.

Judging the severity of a nonconformity: major where a requirement is not met in a way that undermines the system's effectiveness, minor where the lapse is isolated and not system-wide.

A documented summary of the audit covering objectives, scope, criteria, findings, conclusions and any recommendations, issued to the client within an agreed time.

The final meeting of the audit at which findings and conclusions are presented and understood by the auditee, and corrective action and follow-up arrangements are agreed.

Follow-up activity confirming that actions taken in response to audit findings were implemented and are effective, with results feeding into the audit programme and management review.

Arrangements for one or more audits planned over a period and aimed at a particular purpose, including scheduling, resources, criteria, and monitoring of the programme's performance.

Planning audits so that their frequency, duration and focus reflect the significance of OH&S risks, results of previous audits and the maturity of the management system.

Periodic evaluation of whether the audit programme is achieving its objectives, leading to adjustments in schedules, resources, criteria, scope or audit methods.