What Is the Certificate?
ISO 45001 defines requirements for the systematic management of OHS risks in order to prevent occupational accidents and diseases. It replaces OHSAS 18001. Its most distinctive difference is the weight it gives to worker participation: consulting workers and their representatives, where they exist, in risk assessment and decision processes is an explicit requirement. The current version is ISO 45001:2018.
Who Needs It?
- Manufacturing, construction, mining and energy organisations in a high hazard class
- Businesses working with subcontractors
- Organisations whose tender specification requires an OHS certificate
- Businesses of any size wanting to systematically reduce their accident frequency rate
Is It Mandatory?
The certificate is not legally mandatory; but complying with OHS legislation is mandatory. In Turkey, Law No. 6331 on Occupational Health and Safety imposes obligations such as risk assessment and appointing an OHS specialist and a workplace physician. ISO 45001 does not substitute for these obligations; it establishes a management framework that encompasses them, and legal compliance is additionally checked during the audit.
Scope of the Standard
- Clause 4 — Context of the organisation: the needs of workers and interested parties, the OHSMS scope
- Clause 5 — Leadership and worker participation: the OHS policy, responsibility, mechanisms for consulting and involving workers
- Clause 6 — Planning: hazard identification, assessment of OHS risks and opportunities, determining legal and other requirements, OHS objectives
- Clause 7 — Support: resources, competence, awareness, communication, documented information
- Clause 8 — Operation: hazard elimination and the hierarchy of risk reduction, management of change, procurement, contractors and outsourcing, emergency preparedness and response
- Clause 9 — Performance evaluation: monitoring and measurement, compliance evaluation, internal audit, management review
- Clause 10 — Improvement: incident (accident/near-miss) investigation, nonconformity and corrective action, continual improvement
Certification Process
- 1ApplicationThe organisation's field of activity, headcount, number of sites and scope boundaries are determined. The number of audit days is calculated from this information.
- 2Document Review (Stage 1)The management system documentation, scope definition, risk assessment and internal-audit/management-review records are examined; readiness for the on-site audit is assessed.
- 3Certification Audit (Stage 2)It is verified on site that the system is implemented and effective. Findings are classified as major/minor nonconformity or observation.
- 4Closing NonconformitiesThe organisation submits a root-cause analysis and corrective action plan. The certificate is not issued until major nonconformities are closed.
- 5Issuing the CertificateThe certificate is issued after review by an independent decision-maker. The audit team cannot make the certification decision.
- 6Surveillance AuditsA surveillance audit is carried out at least once a year during the certificate's validity. The first surveillance cannot exceed 12 months from the last day of Stage 2.
- 7RecertificationAt the end of three years, the entire system is re-audited; it must be completed before the certificate expires.
Period of Validity
Management system certificates are valid for three years. At least one surveillance audit is carried out per year during this period; the certificate is suspended if surveillance is not carried out. A recertification audit is completed at the end of the third year.
Required Documents
- Trade registry record and operating licence
- The organisation's organisation chart and headcount
- The list of sites/branches within scope
- The management system manual or process documentation
- Internal audit and management review records
- Legal permits, licences and operating documents, if any
Certification Cost
There is no fixed list price; the cost is calculated based on the following variables and provided in writing in the quote.
- The headcount within scope (directly determines the number of audit days)
- The number of sites and branches; whether multi-site sampling applies
- The activity's risk level and process complexity
- The number of standards to be certified — an integrated audit reduces the number of days
- The three-year cycle: certification + two surveillance audits
Accreditation
Management system certification is carried out within the scope of ISO/IEC 17021-1. The certification body is accredited by an accreditation body party to the IAF multilateral recognition agreement (IAF MLA); This agreement establishes a chain of international recognition that ensures that a document issued in one country is accepted in other countries. EUROLAB has internationally recognized accreditation from IAF member accreditation bodies within the scope of ISO/IEC 17021-1.
The scope under which this scheme can be offered varies according to your product and activity; it is confirmed in writing at the quote stage.
Scope and authorisationsRelated Certifications
ISO 45003Psychosocial Risk Management
ISO 9001Quality Management System
ISO 10002Customer Satisfaction and Complaint Management
ISO 10004Customer Satisfaction Monitoring and Measurement
ISO 10012Measurement Management System
ISO 13485Medical Device Quality Management
ISO 15378Pharmaceutical Primary Packaging Quality Management
ISO 17034Reference Material Producers
Frequently Asked Questions
Is my OHSAS 18001 certificate still valid?
No. OHSAS 18001 has been withdrawn and its transition period has ended; ISO 45001 is the standard in force.
If an accident occurs at a business with an ISO 45001 certificate, is the certificate revoked?
It is not revoked automatically. In a serious incident, the certification body assesses the event, the root-cause analysis and the measures taken; the certificate can be suspended or withdrawn if the system is found to have broken down. The certificate is not a guarantee of no accidents, but an indicator that risk is managed.
Are subcontractor workers within scope?
The standard covers everyone affected by working conditions under the organisation's control; contractor and subcontractor personnel are within this scope. The procurement and contractor-control clauses address this explicitly.

