Rescue 2 achieves ISO 45001:2018
Rescue 2 achieves ISO 45001:2018 accreditation.
Rescue 2 are proud to announce ISO 45001:2018 certification as a new addition to their existing suite of accreditations.
ISO 45001 is a new global standard for occupational health and safety. Rescue 2’s Head of Business Operations Louise Grant says: “Working in an accreditation heavy environment and having previously achieved ISO 9001, applying for ISO 45001 was the natural next step. As a leader in rescue provision and contractor management, we need to ensure that our working systems are robust and exemplary. This certification confirms our commitment to working to stringent health and safety standards from an external accreditation provider. “
Why did we decide to go through the application process?
- It puts our business as industry leaders
By implementing the most up-to-date occupational health and safety standard – ISO 45001, which is an internationally recognised accreditation, it sets us apart from our competitors.
- Increases trust
By demonstrating that we are active in facilitating continuous improvement for our employees’ morale, safety and performance, it develops a deeper trust and holds us socially accountable for our staff’s well-being. We continue to be transparent and promote our corporate social responsibility which projects a positive image of our business to our clients and future employees.
- Consistency means efficiency
ISO 45001 (along with our ISO 9001 standard) gives our organisation the foundations of best practice by having strong, consistent policies, procedures and processes which means the organisation is more efficient across the board.
- Costs
By simply implementing ISO 45001, we hope it provides a platform to attract lower insurance premiums as it proves the organisation is performing strong due diligence in managing and protecting their employees and risks.
- Improves individual safety as well as organisational
ISO 45001 has been widely anticipated by the global business community as it addresses personal health and safety risks as well as physical.
- Improves managerial oversight
ISO 45001 ensures responsibility and ownership lies with top level management. By having the involvement of the leadership team and a clearly communicated process for identifying hazards, the occupational health and safety of employees continually improves over time.
- Preventative risk and hazard assessment
Implementing ISO 45001 helps us prevent risks as opposed to reacting to them once they are detected by others and to also make time to look at opportunities. Our internal auditing system provides an ‘early warning system’ to help us spot potential threats to health and safety and continually review them.
- Looking forward to increasing our return on investment (ROI)
By implementing ISO 45001, we are increasing the efficiency of our teams, we are being more effective in what we do and also workplace injury reduces. This improvement in productivity and general employee safety will also have a positive impact on the insurance premiums for our organisation.
What was involved in the process?
Scope Document
The Scope Document is a requirement of the Standard and provides a clear definition of who we are and what CQS need to audit; it defines the boundaries of control required within our systems and is important that it covers everything that we want included within it.
Health and Safety Policy
As part of the ISO 45001:2018 Standard (as well as a legal obligation for companies with more than five employees) a Health and Safety Policy is required to be established, implemented and maintained – we needed to ensure that it is current and applicable to our business
The Health and Safety Policy needs to include:
- A commitment to the Health and Safety of employees and interested parties
- A framework for setting Health and Safety Objectives
- A commitment to the relevant legal requirements and other requirements
- A commitment to eliminate hazards and reduce Health and Safety Risks
- A commitment towards continual improvement of your Health and Safety Management system
- A commitment to the consultation and participation of employees
Master Risk Register
Based on the processes and activities carried out by our organisation we needed to think about the hazards and consider the risks associated with each of those processes and activities. The Risk Register collates this information and identifies how we mitigate them, focussing on the major risks.
Identify Our Health and Safety Objectives
As part of the ISO 45001 Standard, Health and Safety Objectives are required to be established, implemented and maintained.
We thought about the following factors when creating Rescue 2's Health and Safety Objectives:
- Are they consistent with the Health and Safety Policy?
- Are they measurable or capable of a form of performance evaluation?
- Do they take into account any applicable requirements, results of Risk Assessments and Opportunities, consultation of employees?
- How can you monitor performance against them?
- How will you communicate them to employees?
- How will you update them?
Management Review
We have ensured that all areas of Health, Safety and Wellbeing are reviewed on a regular basis – we have added the topic to every agenda so they are specifically addressed in every team and management meeting – recorded and acted upon. We have set up a number of Committees (Welfare, Health and Safety and Fire Safety) that all members of staff are asked to join and contribute to. We also hold meetings with our Associates to gather their input.
The Future
Rescue 2 are committed to upholding the standards set out in ISO 45001 by conducting constant reviews and continued collaboration with staff and teams to ensure they have the correct training, communication channels and resolutions. In addition, we will continue to gather evidence, conduct audits and follow the ‘Plan – Do – Check-Act’ methodology.
