The decision to launch an accreditation institute is due in large part to the adoption of the ISO 45001 standard for occupational health and safety management systems (OHSMS).
It took significant international coordination to arrive at ISO 45001, which many consider to be the most significant safety and health standard in the past 50 years. More than 60 countries, many of which have their own OHSMS standards, participated in the development of this global standard. The adoption of 45001 provides, for the first time, a global safety management system standard for organizations to which organizations can be certified. The ASSP Certification & Accreditation Institute offers that opportunity.
ISO 45001 provides a framework from which OHS objectives can be effectively managed. Just as ISO 9000 and ISO 14000 have provided consensus solutions to questions of quality management and environmental protection in the global marketplace, ISO 45001 will help drive solutions for improving worker safety.
The creation of the institute further drives the evolution of workplace safety and health worldwide. The program certifies an applying organization based on recognized voluntary national and international consensus standards. The institute is partnering with an accredited third-party registrar, Orion, to carry out the audits, verify the results of the assessment and issue a certification mark when all requirements are met.