The Eastern Cape Industrial and Business News provided an update in respect of safety standards within South Africa to serve as a reminder of the revised timeframe for the organisational changes required.

THE international standard for Occupational Health and Safety (OHSAS) has been replaced with SANS/ISO 45001: Occupational Health and Safety Management System Standard.

www.easterncapeindustrialnews.co.za/news/new-safety-standards-unpacked CAMPAIGN_2020_

In a recent webinar by the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS), clients and interested parties were given an overview of the changes and the deadline to migrate from OHSAS 18001 to SANS/ISO 45001.

All organisations that are certified to OHSAS 18001, will have to migrate to ISO 45001 by September 2021. The deadline was initially set by the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) for March 2021 and has been extended to September 2021 as a result of the delays experienced worldwide due to COVID-19.

“SANS/ISO 45001 is crucial for all organisations in South Africa as it provides the framework, processes and system for the management of all workplace hazards, health issues and incidents. The effective implementation of the performance based standard will reduce the number of fatalities and injuries in the workplace, and promote a healthier and happier workforce,” said Sadhvir Bissoon, Standards Executive at the SABS.

More information is available on www.sabs.co.za/