ISO 45001:2018
Consultation and Participation of Workers in ISO 45001
Understanding the requirements of Clause 5.4 and how to effectively engage workers in your OH&S management system.
Introduction
One of the key differentiators of ISO 45001 compared to OHSAS 18001 is the elevated importance of Consultation and Participation of Workers (Clause 5.4). The standard recognizes that a top-down approach to safety rarely works. To be effective, safety must be built with the people who do the work, not just for them.
Definitions
- Consultation: Seeking views before making a decision. It involves a two-way dialogue.
- Participation: Involvement in decision-making. It means workers contribute to the outcome.
What Requires Consultation?
You must consult non-managerial workers on:
- Determining the needs and expectations of interested parties.
- Establishing the OH&S policy.
- Assigning organizational roles and responsibilities.
- Determining how to fulfill legal requirements.
- Establishing OH&S objectives.
- Determining controls for outsourcing and procurement.
- Monitoring and measuring performance.
- Planning and conducting the audit program.
- Ensuring continual improvement.
What Requires Participation?
You must ensure non-managerial workers participate in:
- Determining mechanisms for their consultation and participation.
- Identifying hazards and assessing risks.
- Determining actions to eliminate hazards and reduce risks.
- Determining competence requirements and training needs.
- Determining what needs to be communicated and how.
- Investigating incidents and nonconformities.
Removing Barriers
The organization must identify and remove barriers to participation. Common barriers include:
- Language or literacy issues.
- Fear of reprisal or punishment.
- Lack of time or resources.
- Complex or inaccessible documentation.
Practical Methods for Engagement
- Safety Committees: Establish a joint management-worker safety committee.
- Toolbox Talks: Regular, short briefings where workers can raise concerns.
- Suggestion Schemes: A simple way for workers to propose improvements.
- Risk Assessments: Include the workers who do the job in the risk assessment team.
- Incident Investigation: Involve workers in finding the root cause of accidents.
Benefits
- Better Decisions: Workers have unique insights into how work is actually done (vs. how it’s imagined).
- Higher Buy-in: People support what they help create.
- Improved Culture: Demonstrates respect and builds trust between management and staff.