Today we are celebrating World Day for Safety and Health at Work

Keeping safe and healthy in the workplace is important at any time, but even more so in times like these. Therefore, today World Day for Safety and Health at Work is dedicated to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as to the challenges faced by the employees and employers on a global level. The theme of this year’s World Day for Safety and Health at Work is “Stop the pandemic: Safety and health at work can save lives”, and it is particularly significant at the moment when the employees are gradually returning to their offices and stop working from home.

The first and only International standard dealing with occupational health and safety at work, ISO 45001 (SRPS ISO 45001:2018), contains agreed good practice, i.e. guidance and a framework to reduce work-related risks, protect health and increase safety at work. However, when referring to the workplace health, it is not just limited to physical safety and well-being. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, stress, increased fear and anxiety are very present among the people all over the world, and all that can be reduced by a friendly and favourable working environment. It is for that reason that the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is working on a new standard that will be complementary to ISO 45001.

The refered standard is ISO 45003, Occupational health and safety management – Psychological health and safety in the workplace – Guidelines. It will provide guidance on the requirements of ISO 45001 with respect to managing psychological health and safety risks within an OH&S management system. It will also include a number of adverse circumstances that can affect psychological health, ineffective communication, excessive pressure, poor leadership and organizational culture.

ISO 45003 is expected to be published sometime in 2021.