ISO 45003 Psychological Health & Safety in the Workplace – Guidance TC 283 Meeting, Dallas Texas USA 8 March 2019

What is it? ISO 45003 Psychological health and safety in the workplace – Guidelines “Guidelines” in the title confirms it is not a “requirements” standard. Provides guidance on managing psychosocial risk within an occupational health and safety (OH&S) management system. Therefore, organizations are not able to certify against this guidance standard. Identifies ISO 45001: 2018 Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems – Requirements with Guidance for Use as a foundation document, which this guidance standard cross-references throughout.

How will it benefit users? While national standards and toolkits have been developed in recent years, ISO 45003 will be the first international standard dealing with psychological health and safety in the workplace. The credibility of a global standard will encourage more organizations to address this important issue. Guidance will be provided on how large and small organizations can manage workplace psychosocial risk by identifying the primary risk factors and determining what would improve the working environment. ISO 45003 is expected to be published by mid-2021.

What information will it provide? ISO 45003 will provide guidance to organizations on: how to identify the conditions, circumstances and workplace demands that have the potential to impair the psychological health and wellbeing of employees; how to identify primary risk factors and assess them to determine what changes are required to improve the working environment; and how to identify and control work-related hazards and manage psychosocial risk within an occupational health and safety (OH&S) management system.

Preparing for implementation? Review current arrangements and competence against this guidance standard. Consult the workforce and identify areas for improving the management of psychosocial risk. Develop and communicate an implementation and review plan.

Further information: ISO TC 283 website: ISO TC 283 on ISO Online Technical Committee's website for more information.

Technical Committee ISO TC283 Working Group 2 Convenors:  Norma McCormick (SCC) Stavroula Leka (BSI)