AS/NZS 4801

Occupational Health & Safety Management System Standard

About AS/NZS 4801

This Australian and New Zealand Standard specifies the requirements for an occupational health and safety management system (OHSMS), to enable an organisation to formulate a policy and objectives taking into account legislative requirements and information about hazards or risks. It applies to those hazards or risks over which the organisation may exert control and over which it can be expected to have an influence. It does not state specific OHS performance outcomes.

Important note about AS/NZS 4801 and ISO 45001

In October 2018, Standards Australia published the new ISO Occupational health and safety management systems standard as AS/NZS ISO 45001:2018 following discussions with industry and regulators in Australia and New Zealand. Later in 2019, as many of Australian businesses turn to AS/NZS ISO 45001, Standards Australia (SA) officially classified AS/NZS 4801:2001, Occupational health and safety management systems as “available superseded”. This means the Standard has been officially superseded but remains available because it is referenced in existing Australian legislation and regulations.

Since January 2020, GCC provide new OHS certification according to ISO 45001, however clients can maintain AS/NZS 4801 certificates beside ISO 45001
certificate, if AS/NZ 4801:2001 is still called up in legislation/regulation and it will continue to be recognised for those schemes e.g. E-Waste, CAAR until the regulator/scheme owner amends its requirements.

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The major differences between AS/NZS 4801 and ISO 45001

There are many differences between two standards, but the main change is that ISO 45001:2018 concentrates on the interaction between an organisation and its business environment while AS/NZS 4801 was focused on managing OHS hazards and other internal issues. The other differences are:
– ISO 45001 is process-based – AS/NZS 4801 is procedure-based
– ISO 45001 is dynamic in all clauses – AS/NZS 4801 is not
– ISO 45001 considers both risk and opportunities – AS/NZS 4801 deals exclusively with risk
– ISO 45001 includes the views of interested parties – AS/NZS 4801 does not
– ISO 45001 requires worker participation in the development, implementation and maintenance of the organisation’s safety management system – AS/NZS 4801 does not
– ISO 45001 places emphasis on outsourcing- AS/NZS 4801 does not
These points represent a significant shift in the way health and safety management is perceived.
OHS is no longer treated as a “stand alone” but must be viewed within the perspective of running a sound and sustainable organisation.

Learn more about ISO 45001 here.

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Occupational Health & Safety