Update: New health and safety standard delayed

Update 20 June 2016: The new international standard for occupational health and safety, ISO 45001, has been delayed again, following a decision from the elected committee to publish a second draft version. The move means the Draft International Standard version two will be released early next year, with the final standard more likely to be released in June 2017.

Original story (25 May 2016):

The new international standard for occupational health and safety ISO 45001 has been delayed after national standard bodies narrowly rejected the latest draft, with over 3,000 comments submitted during the ballot period.

As a result, the committee responsible for developing the standard will need to review the feedback and issue a new draft. This setback means the standard will now be more likely released in early 2017.

CQI interim head of member services Richard Green is heavily involved with the standard reviews. He said: "With over 2.3 million work related deaths each year, the pressure is on to deliver a truly international occupational health and safety standard. ISO 45001, however, has struggled at each and every stage of its development, primarily as a result of the conflicting interests of its key stakeholders.

"The extent to which workers should be involved in the design and operation of an organisation’s operational health and safety management system remains contentious, with business and labour organisations’ views lying at opposite ends of the spectrum. I suspect this delay will not surprise anyone who is closely involved with the standard’s development."

The national bodies, which make up the ISO committee elected to work on the Draft International Standard, voted 71 per cent for the draft and 28 per cent against. A minimum of 75 per cent for and a maximum of 25 per cent against the draft is required for the DIS to pass.