ISO 45001:2027 Revision

Key Developments, Transition Timeline and Preparation for ISO 45001:2027 Revision

The ISO 45001 standard is currently being revised and has reached the Committee Draft (CD) stage. The revision aims to further clarify existing requirements and strengthen their practical implementation. Key areas of focus include risk assessment, worker participation, diversity, the promotion of a preventive safety culture and evidence of the effectiveness of implemented measures. Psychosocial health considerations, climate-related risks and new forms of work such as remote and hybrid work are also expected to receive greater attention.

Our experts continuously monitor the revision process and keep you informed at an early stage about relevant developments, transition periods and potential impacts on certified occupational health and safety management systems.

Why ISO 45001 Is Being Revised

Work environments and organizational structures have changed significantly in recent years. New ways of working, distributed responsibilities and increasing regulatory requirements present companies with new occupational health and safety challenges.

These developments require a more structured approach to identifying and assessing risks, including emerging risk areas such as psychosocial factors, climate-related impacts and new work environments. At the same time, employees must be more closely involved in safety-related processes, and organizations must be able to demonstrate that measures are not only defined but also implemented effectively.

The ISO 45001 revision addresses these developments. Its aim is to clarify existing requirements and strengthen their practical application. Based on the current status, no new structural elements are planned. Instead, the focus is on closer alignment between the management system, day-to-day practice and transparent, measurable results.

In addition, the revised standard remains compatible with the harmonized High-Level Structure (HLS) of ISO management system standards. This continues to facilitate integration with other management system standards, particularly ISO 9001 and ISO 14001.

The ISO 45001 revision is expected to place greater emphasis on the practical implementation and monitoring of requirements as well as evidence of their effectiveness. The aim is to further strengthen the link between defined processes, their actual application in day-to-day work and their evaluation during audits.

Key areas are::

Risk perspective and emerging topics: The structured identification, assessment and management of risks is expected to become increasingly important. In addition to traditional occupational health and safety risks, greater attention is likely to be given to psychosocial stressors, climate-related risks and new working conditions.
Worker participation: Employee participation is expected to receive even greater emphasis in the future. Organizations will likely need to clearly demonstrate how employees are involved in health- and safety-related processes and how their effective participation is ensured.
Remote and hybrid work: New ways of working, such as remote and hybrid work, are expected to be addressed more explicitly. Companies will need to extend their risk assessments to workplaces outside traditional business premises and establish appropriate protective measures.
Mental Health and Well-Being The revision is expected to place greater emphasis on mental health, safety and well-being. In this context, occupational health and safety is understood more broadly, extending beyond the prevention of workplace accidents and occupational diseases.
Climate Change: Climate-related requirements are expected to be included, comparable to the “Climate Amendment” to ISO 9001 and ISO 14001. These include considering climate-related risks such as heat, extreme weather events or poor air quality and integrating them into emergency management.
Management of Change: A dedicated section on the systematic management of organizational changes is expected to be added, comparable to Clause 6.3 of ISO 9001 and ISO 14001. The aim is to assess the potential impacts of changes at an early stage and manage risks effectively.
Effectiveness and Performance Evaluation: Demonstrating the effectiveness of implemented measures will become increasingly important. More stringent requirements are expected for performance evaluation, the use of meaningful metrics and clear evidence that measures are achieving their intended outcomes.

Overall, the revision aims to clarify the requirements and place greater emphasis on their effective implementation within organizations. Key priorities include the systematic management of occupational health and safety, the active participation of employees and clear evidence of continuous improvement.

Your Successful Transition

The ISO 45001 revision will affect many organizations with certified occupational health and safety management systems. Reviewing the expected changes at an early stage makes it possible to assess their potential impact on existing processes and plan any necessary adjustments in good time.

A structured approach supports organizations in reviewing risk assessments, strengthening worker participation and ensuring that the effectiveness of measures can be clearly demonstrated. With extensive experience in auditing management systems worldwide, DEKRA conducts independent audits and certification services that support organizations in assessing their systems against updated requirements and preparing for the transition.

Our Services at a Glance

ISO 45001:2027 revision insights: Overview of the current revision status and key developments, including emerging risk areas and new work environments.
Readiness check and gap assessments: Independent evaluation of existing systems, with particular focus on risk assessment, worker participation and effectiveness.
Targeted awareness sessions: Sessions explaining the expected changes and their practical implications.
Transition audits for ISO 45001 certification: After publication, our experts will conduct audits to align existing certifications with the revised standard.
Alignment of integrated management systems: Support in aligning ISO 45001 with related standards such as ISO 14001 or ISO 9001 within an integrated management system.