ISO 45001 checklist
This ISO 45001 checklist goes through all the requirements of the standard, clause by clause from clause 4 to clause 10. Use it to check whether you are ready for the certification audit, or as a basis for your own internal audit. You can obtain the full standard as NEN-EN-ISO 45001 from NEN . The official requirements are described by ISO . Would you like the explanation per clause first? Then read the requirements of ISO 45001.
Each line has a status column. Enter “Yes”, “Partly” or “No” so you can see at a glance where gaps remain. A line marked “Partly” or “No” is an action point before the audit.
How to use this ISO 45001 checklist
Go through the checklist clause by clause. Each requirement has a concrete question that you should be able to answer with evidence. If you mark “No”, you immediately know what still needs to be done. This checklist is a tool, not a replacement for the standard. For the hierarchy of controls and attention to worker participation, the difference often lies in the details.
Checklist clause 4: context
| Requirement | Question | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Internal and external issues | Have you written down the factors that affect your safety? | |
| Interested parties | Do you know who the interested parties are, including your employees? | |
| Scope | Is the scope of your system described and logically bounded? | |
| Management system | Is it clear which processes fall under the system? |
Checklist clause 5: leadership and worker participation
| Requirement | Question | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Leadership | Can top management demonstrate its involvement with evidence? | |
| Health and safety policy | Is there a policy that has been communicated and is available? | |
| Roles | Are tasks, authorities and responsibilities recorded? | |
| Worker participation | Are employees actively consulted, not just informed? |
Checklist clause 6: planning
| Requirement | Question | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Risks and opportunities | Have you determined both risks and opportunities for the system? | |
| Identifying hazards | Have all hazards been systematically mapped? | |
| Assessing risks | Has the risk been assessed and prioritised for each hazard? | |
| Legal requirements | Is your overview of legislation and regulations up to date? | |
| Objectives | Are the objectives measurable, with a plan and a responsible person? |
Checklist clause 7: support
| Requirement | Question | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Resources | Are people, time and money for safety available? | |
| Competence | Are employees demonstrably competent for their tasks? | |
| Awareness | Do employees know the policy and their contribution to it? | |
| Communication | Is it arranged what you communicate, when and with whom? | |
| Documented information | Is the documented information up to date and controlled? |
Checklist clause 8: operation
| Requirement | Question | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Operational control | Do measures follow the hierarchy (eliminate first)? | |
| Management of change | Do you assess the impact of changes in advance? | |
| Contractors and procurement | Do you set health and safety requirements for suppliers and contractors? | |
| Emergency situations | Do you have emergency plans and are they tested periodically? |
Checklist clause 9: performance evaluation
| Requirement | Question | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Monitoring and measurement | Do you measure proactive and reactive indicators? | |
| Compliance | Do you periodically check whether you comply with the law? | |
| Internal audit | Has an independent internal audit been carried out? | |
| Management review | Has top management formally reviewed the system? |
Checklist clause 10: improvement
| Requirement | Question | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Incidents | Are incidents and near misses investigated? | |
| Corrective actions | Do you address the cause, not only the symptom? | |
| Continual improvement | Do you demonstrably and continually improve the system? |
Auditors pay particular attention to worker participation and to a complete hazard inventory, including psychosocial risks. If you are “Partly” on those, start there.
Next step
Have you found gaps? Close them with the step-by-step plan or look deeper into the requirements per clause. Would you like a full overview of which documents and records you must keep? See the mandatory documents under ISO 45001. Ready for the real test? Read how the audit works.
Working further in practice
Do you see different years in a quote and in your standard document? Read the difference between ISO 45001:2018 and NEN-EN-ISO 45001:2023 before you fix the edition of your checklist.