Combining ISO 45001 with ISO 14001

Health and safety and environmental management often go hand in hand. Combining ISO 45001  and ISO 14001  in one system is therefore a logical step. Both standards follow the High Level Structure . On this page we explain how to approach this and what the benefits are.

Why combine ISO 45001 and ISO 14001?

ISO 45001 and ISO 14001 follow the same structure: the High Level Structure. This makes integration technically simple. There are also substantive reasons to combine them.

Many risks affect both areas. A leak of a hazardous substance is both a safety risk for employees and an environmental risk. A fire can lead to injuries and to emissions into the air. By looking at them together, you avoid assessing the same situation twice in separate ways.

The approach is similar. Both standards require you to identify risks and take measures. Both require emergency procedures. Both require monitoring and continual improvement. The method is the same, only the subject differs.

What can you share between ISO 45001 and ISO 14001?

The overlap is considerable. You can set up these elements once.

Context and interested parties

The context analysis can be integrated. You map the internal and external factors that are relevant to safety and the environment together. Interested parties often have expectations in both areas: employees want to work safely and in a sustainable organisation, and clients ask for products that are both safe and environmentally friendly.

Leadership and policy

Top management demonstrates commitment to both safety and the environment. You can write one integrated policy, or two separate policy statements that are managed together. You can combine the allocation of roles and responsibilities in a KAM coordinator or a similar function.

Risks and opportunities

The method for risk assessment is similar. You can set up one integrated risk register that assesses both safety risks and environmental risks. Opportunities for improvement can affect both areas.

Support

You can combine competence management, communication and document control. The competences you keep track of then cover both safety and environmental knowledge. The document control system is one system.

Emergency situations

Here the overlap is strongest. Emergency situations with a safety impact often also have an environmental impact. An emergency plan covers both. Firefighting, leak control and evacuation are procedures that protect both people and the environment.

Evaluation and improvement

Internal audits, the management review and the corrective action process can be fully integrated. One audit programme, one management review, one improvement process.

What is specific to each standard?

Specific to ISO 45001

Hazard identification focuses on hazards to people: physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic and psychosocial hazards. Worker participation is a core requirement. Incident investigation focuses on injury and ill health.

Specific to ISO 14001

The environmental aspects analysis focuses on interaction with the environment: emissions, discharges, waste, use of raw materials and energy consumption. Compliance obligations concern environmental legislation. The life cycle of products and services is a point of attention.

The KAM system

Many organisations combine ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 in a KAM system: quality, health and safety, environment. This is the most complete form of integration.

The benefits add up. One management system instead of three. One audit programme. One management review. One documentation structure. One improvement process.

In sectors such as construction, industry and logistics, a KAM system is common. It reflects the reality that quality, safety and the environment are connected in practice. A production error can lead to an unsafe product and to more waste.

The KAM coordinator

In an integrated system, one person is often responsible: the KAM coordinator. This role combines the roles of quality manager, prevention officer and environmental coordinator.

The KAM coordinator keeps an overview of the whole system, coordinates audits and improvement projects, reports to top management, and is the point of contact for certification bodies.

In smaller organisations this is often a part-time role. In larger organisations there may be a KAM department with specialists for each domain, led by a KAM manager.

Practical approach

If you already have one of the two

Do you already have ISO 14001? Then you extend it with the safety-specific elements: hazard identification focused on people, worker participation, and incident investigation for injuries.

Do you already have ISO 45001? Then you add the environmental elements: environmental aspects analysis, compliance obligations in the environmental field, and a life cycle perspective.

You already have the structure. You fill in the standard-specific parts within that structure.

If you start from scratch

Design an integrated system from the start. Begin with the common elements: context, policy, support and evaluation. Then develop the specific parts for both safety and the environment.

This is more efficient than implementing one standard first and extending it later. You avoid doing the same things twice.

The combined ISO 45001 and ISO 14001 audit

With an integrated system, you can combine the audits. One auditor or audit team assesses both standards.

The auditor must be qualified for both standards. With a KAM system covering three standards, this may be a team with different specialisms represented.

The saving in audit days is significant. For a medium-sized company:

Overlapping legislation

In the Netherlands, employment and environmental legislation are partly connected.

The Arbowet (Dutch Working Conditions Act)  regulates safety and health at work. The Activiteitenbesluit milieubeheer (Environmental Management Activities Decree)  regulates the environmental aspects of business activities. Both can apply to the same situations.

A company that works with hazardous substances deals with the PGS guidelines (PGS, Dutch publication series on hazardous substances), which cover both safety and environmental aspects. An integrated approach helps you comply with both.

The Nederlandse Arbeidsinspectie (Netherlands Labour Authority)  and environmental services (omgevingsdiensten) can both inspect your site. An integrated system gives you an overview and makes it easier to demonstrate compliance.

Synergy effects

An integrated system creates synergy that goes beyond efficiency.

Incident investigation becomes richer. An incident is looked at from both a safety and an environmental perspective. What were the consequences for people? What were the consequences for the environment? Which measures prevent both?

Improvement projects serve several goals. An investment in better extraction improves both the working environment and emissions. A switch to less hazardous substances is good for employees and the environment.

Emergency plans become more complete. You think about the protection of both people and the environment. A leak is contained to prevent both exposure and soil contamination.

Points of attention

Expertise

Safety and the environment are different fields of expertise. A KAM coordinator must understand both, or there must be good cooperation with specialists. Do not underestimate the knowledge required.

Different dynamics

Safety issues often require immediate action: a hazard must be addressed now. Environmental issues sometimes have a longer time horizon: reducing emissions is a process that takes years.

Make sure both get the attention they deserve. An integrated system must not mean that one subject overshadows the other.

Stakeholders

Employees are the primary interested parties for ISO 45001. For ISO 14001, external stakeholders such as local residents, environmental organisations and regulators are also important.

Make sure your communication is tailored to these different target groups.

Next step

Also read about combining ISO 45001 with ISO 9001 for the complete KAM picture, or look at the requirements of the standard.