ISO 45001: Understanding the Organization and its Context

Understanding the Organization and its Context

• Clause 4.1 of ISO 45001:2018 requires a high-level understanding of key issues that can affect OH&S positively and negatively within the organization.
• Internal and external issues can influence OH&S Management System, and must be identified to understand the operating environment.

Internal and External Issues

• Internal issues include:
  • Organization's activities, products, services, strategic direction, and capabilities (people, knowledge, processes, systems)
  • Health and safety conditions
• External issues include:
  • Cultural, social, political, regulatory, financial, economic, natural, and competitive issues
  • International, national, regional, or local issues

Documenting Internal & External Issues

• Use a Context & Interested Parties Matrix to document internal and external issues relevant to the organization's operational purpose and strategic direction.
• Describe the processes used to identify internal and external issues and reference objective evidence, including examples of these issues.

Examples of Organizational Issues

• Health and safety conditions capable of affecting or being affected by the organization
• External issues: cultural, social, political, regulatory, financial, economic, natural, and competitive issues
• Internal issues: organization's activities, products, services, strategic direction, and capabilities (people, knowledge, processes, systems)

Reviewing and Updating Issues

• Information can be obtained via interviews with relevant Top Management in relation to the organization's context and strategic direction.
• Collate evidence to provide assurance that the organization is regularly reviewing and updating its external and internal issues.

Helpful Documented Information

• Business plans and strategy reviews
• Competitor analysis
• Economic reports from business sectors or consultant's reports
• SWOT analysis for internal issues
• PESTLE analysis for external issues
• List of external and internal OH&S issues and conditions
• OH&S action plans and objectives
• Annual reports
• Minutes of meetings (Management review and, e.g. design review minutes)
• Process maps, tables, spreadsheets, mind mapping diagrams

Learn about Clause 4.1 of ISO 45001:2018, which requires understanding key issues affecting OH&S within an organization. This includes internal and external issues and their interaction.