ISO 45001 revision expected in 2027

CONTENT

• What is the ISO 45001 revision?
• Why is the occupational health and safety standard being revised?
• Which topics are the focus of the revision?
• Which changes in the draft revision are particularly relevant?
• What opportunities does the revision offer?
• What organizations should do now
• Conclusion on the ISO 45001 revision

What is the ISO 45001 revision?

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) reviews all standards on a regular basis in order to adapt them to new social, technological and regulatory developments. The ISO 45001 revision ensures that the international standard for occupational health and safety management systems (OHSMS) remains a practical management system that effectively improves health and safety - and not just fulfills formal requirements.

Why is the occupational health and safety standard being revised?

Working environments are changing rapidly. New risks are emerging:

• Hybrid work and mental stress
• Demographic change and a shortage of skilled workers
• Digitalization and AI-supported processes
• Extended responsibility in global supply chains
• ESG requirements and sustainability reports

These developments make it necessary to adapt occupational health and safety management so that the standard realistically reflects today's working conditions and risks. The aim is to integrate current issues more clearly into the requirements and to strengthen the effectiveness of occupational health and safety management in a verifiable manner.

Which topics are the focus of the revision?

The ISO working groups (TC 283) are currently discussing the following key topics, among others:

• Mental health and well-being: Integration of mental stress as a systematic risk factor.
• Resilience and crisis resilience: preparing for disruptions, pandemics, cyber risks.
• ESG integration: connectivity to sustainability reporting.
• Supply chain responsibility: Extended scope to external partners.
• Digitalization: Consideration of digital tools, remote audits and AI-supported processes.

Which changes in the draft revision are particularly relevant?

Most relevant for companies are:

• New terms and definitions, e.g. "psychological risk" and "resilience"
• Greater involvement of management in the prevention culture
• More focus on results instead of documentation
• Greater focus on the working environment, including remote and supply chain risks
• Clearer interfaces with ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ESG frameworks

This brings occupational health and safety more into the strategic management of the company.

What opportunities does the revision offer?

The new ISO 45001:2027 offers more than just additional requirements: It supports an integrated view of key future issues such as occupational health and safety, health protection, sustainability and resilience. Organizations that react early not only strengthen their compliance, but also their attractiveness as an employer and their resilience to crises.

Aligning occupational health and safety management with the new standard requirements at an early stage facilitates certification or the transition of an existing certification to the new ISO 45001:2027 at a later date - and ensures that the revision of ISO 45001 does not lead to unexpected expenses.

What organizations should do now

Actively follow the developments of the standard and check at an early stage what impact the planned changes could have on your own SGA management system. It is well worth analyzing existing processes with a view to future requirements, identifying potential weaknesses, and planning initial adjustments. Also, involve top management at an early stage. If you remain attentive, you can structure the transition to the new ISO 45001:2027 without time pressure.

Internal audits play a key role in preparing for the new requirements, allowing you to identify the need for action at an early stage and show how sustainable and effective the existing processes already are. In the context of the ISO 45001 revision, internal audits are becoming even more important: They help organizations to realistically assess the maturity level of their prevention culture, to specifically review new topics such as mental health or supply chain risks and to actively involve the management level. Companies that use internal audits strategically create the best conditions for a smooth transition to ISO 45001:2027 - and at the same time increase the effectiveness of their entire management system.

Conclusion on the ISO 45001 revision

The forthcoming update of ISO 45001 marks an important turning point in the management system for occupational safety and health. The ISO 45001 revision underlines how fundamentally the requirements and expectations of a modern management system will change: Those who remain active now can not only master these developments in good time, but also make targeted use of them.

The upcoming requirements - from mental health to digitalization and the supply chain - make the SGA management system fit for the challenges of the modern working world. If you review processes at an early stage, involve managers and focus on integration instead of bureaucracy, the new ISO 45001:2027 will lead to real added value in your organization: for more occupational safety, for better health protection, for more attractive working conditions and sustainable corporate development.

DQS - What you can expect from us

Particularly in the context of standard revisions, organizations benefit from a certification body that offers more than a formal conformity assessment. DQS combines over 40 years of auditing experience with a deep understanding of the functional interrelationships of management systems - especially where new requirements meet established structures.

Our auditors offer impressive industry knowledge and methodological strength. They focus on potential for improvement and make the actual effectiveness of your occupational health and safety management system visible. This allows you to identify options for action and where it needs to be tightened up with a view to the new ISO 45001:2027. Take us at our word. We look forward to getting in touch with you.

Trust and expertise

Our texts and brochures are written exclusively by our standards experts or long-standing auditors. If you have any questions about the text content or our services to our author, we look forward to hearing from you. contact with you.