Difference Between ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 (With Table) 

When it comes to ISO, it can be described as a worldwide federation of standards bodies at the national level. It is a non-governmental that consists of standards through approx more than 160 countries, along with one standards body representation of each member country. For instance, the United States is represented by American National Standards Institute.  

For developing standards, the ISO has six stage processes namely, proposal, preparatory, committee, inquiry, approval, and publication stage. There are several ISO standards like ISO 9001, ISO 22000, ISO 13485, and many more. In this article, the chief aim is on differentiating ISO 14001 and ISO 45001. 

ISO 14001 vs ISO 45001 

The main difference between ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 is that to reduce pollution, energy consumption, and waste of an organization is the chief aim of ISO 14001. On the other hand, the standard of ISO 45001 is to offer a framework for managing safety and health responsibilities and also reduce workplace illness and injuries. 

The ISO 14001 standard aids to identify the objectives and determining the resources and processes needed to manage the impact on the environment. EMS or simply Environmental Management System helps to implement it. The benefits which it comprises are improved organizational decision making, improved customer satisfaction, and improved public profile. 

The ISO 45001 is standard at the international level for OH & S management system. In 2018, it was last updated and sets out the requirement for organization, mainly looking to implement a management system of OH & S. It also offers guidance for its usage in the environment on an everyday basis. 

Comparison Table Between ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 

Parameters of Comparison

ISO 14001

ISO 45001

Origin

In 1996

In March 2018

Creator

The International Organization for Standardization

By Kristian Glaesel

Manage

Environmental issues

Occupational Health and Safety concerns

Commitment

To the environment

To your employees

Covers

External environment

Internal environment

What is ISO 14001? 

ISO 14001 is a standard family linked to environmental management that mainly exists to aid organizations. It can one in three ways like minimize how their operations negatively affect the environment, comply with regulations, applicable laws, and other environmentally oriented requirements, and at last continually improve in the above. 

The ISO 14001 requirements are a fundamental part of the EMAS or simply European Union’s Economy and Audit Scheme. The EMAS’s material and structure are more demanding, mainly concerning legal compliance, reporting duties, and performance improvement. ISO 14001: 2015 is the present version of ISO 14001. 

The series of ISO 14001 it’s based on a voluntary approach to the regulation of the environment. The series comprises ISO 14001 standard which offers guidelines for the EMS’s improvement or establishment. With its predecessor namely, ISO 9000, the standard shares many common traits, it is the quality management’s international standard and served as its internal structure’s model.  

ISO 14001 is known as the management system standard of generic meaning that to any organization it is relevant seeking to manage and improve resources more effectively. It generally comprises companies with high risk to low-risk service organizations, single site to multinational large companies, and many more. 

What is ISO 45001? 

The ISO 45001 is an ISO administration system’s standard of OHS that was launched in March 2018. The ISO 45001’s objective is to reduce occupational diseases and injuries, comprising protecting and promoting mental and physical well-being. The standard has roots in OHAS 18001 regulations and conventions of the ILO and national standards.

As of March 2021, migration to ISO 45001 has been done by organizations and companies to hold on certification of validation, while the transition period has been broadening by ISO up to approx six months for organizations commonly affected by COVID-19. It accompanies the structure at a higher level of other ISO standards which makes it easier to integrate these standards.

In October 2013, the ISO 45001 was suggested at ISO. In 2013, the modeling of committee ISO/ PC 283 has been agreed upon and had direct standardization processes’ responsibility. When it comes to the drafting procedure, at least 70 countries put up with it. The committee, as well as preparation work, carried until December 2015.  

Further, in a second draft, it was revised, which was clarified and accepted into a final draft. The standard garnered favor’s vote approx 62, abstentions of nine, and at last four votes against Turkey, India, and France. In March 2018, the standard was finally published.

Main Differences Between ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 

  1. ISO 14001 has provisions concerning the management and identification of environmental aspects. On the contrary, ISO 45001 comprises controls of social factors influencing employees like work hours, workload, and even bullying.  
  2. The key elements included in the ISO 14001 add management review, implementation, and operation, checking, environmental policy, and corrective action. In contrast, performance evolution, support, improvement, the context of the organization, and worker participation are some of the key elements of ISO 45001.  
  3. The benefits of using ISO 14001 are reduced waste, legal compliance, competitive advantage, reduced insurance costs and increased reputation with consumers. On the other hand, consistency, managerial oversight improvement, trust increase, individual safety improvement, and preventive risk assessment are some of the benefits of ISO 45001.  
  4. ISO 14001 sets out of the environmental management system’s criteria and can be certified to. t also maps out a framework that an organization or company can follow. On the flip side, ISO 45001 specifies OH & S management system’s requirement and also gives its usage guidance.  
  5. The chief aim of ISO 14001 is to reduce pollution, energy consumption, and waste of an organization. Meanwhile, the standard of ISO 45001 is to reduce workplace illness and injuries and offer a framework for managing safety and health responsibilities. 

Conclusion 

It can be concluded that both ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 are two of the ISO which can be described as a worldwide federation of standard bodies at the national level. The origin of ISO 14001 can be traced back to 1996. On the contrary, the origin of ISO 45001 can be traced back to March 2018. When it comes to commitment, ISO 14001 has made a commitment to the environment.   

Meanwhile, ISO 45001 has made a commitment to your employees. The creator of ISO 14001 was the international organization for standardization or simply ISO. In contrast, Kristian Glaesel is the creator of ISO 45001. The management of ISO 14001 is done on environmental issues, while occupational health and safety concerns are the management done by the ISO 45001. 

References  

  1. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1467-6486.00370
  2. http://ur.aeu.edu.my/id/eprint/747