ISO 45001

How do health and safety legal requirements work for SMEs?

SMEs must still comply with health and safety law, but the measures they take should be proportionate to the size and risks of the business. This usually involves understanding the main legal duties, identifying key hazards, carrying out suitable and sufficient risk assessments, implementing controls and keeping simple records.

Frameworks like Garek 10 help SMEs connect legal requirements to practical procedures, roles and checks so compliance becomes part of normal management rather than a separate activity.

Can we integrate ISO 45001 with our existing QMS?

Yes. ISO 45001 shares the same high-level structure as ISO 9001 and other management system standards, which makes integration straightforward. Common processes such as document control, competence, communication, internal audit and management review can be shared, while health and safety-specific elements such as risk assessments and controls are built into those processes.

The Garek 10 integration approach is designed to map these overlaps so one system supports quality, health and safety and other standards together.

Who needs ISO 45001 certification?

ISO 45001 certification is often sought by organisations with significant health and safety risks, those working on construction or engineering projects, or businesses whose clients and supply chains specify formal health and safety management requirements. Many SMEs also choose ISO 45001 to demonstrate that worker safety is managed in a structured, independently assessed way.

How much documentation is required for ISO 45001?

ISO 45001 requires enough documented information to show that hazards are identified, risks are controlled, and processes are working as intended. For SMEs, this usually means clear procedures for key activities, risk assessment records, training and equipment records, incident logs and review notes.

The Garek 10 Framework encourages lean documentation that reflects how work is really done rather than adding unnecessary paperwork.

How long does ISO 45001 implementation usually take for an SME?

Implementation times vary depending on size, risk profile and current health and safety arrangements, but many SMEs can move from initial review to audit readiness over a period of a few months.

Working from a structured model such as Garek 10 helps focus effort on higher-risk areas and priority processes rather than trying to address everything at once.

Will ISO 45001 disrupt our operations?

ISO 45001 can be implemented in a way that supports normal operations rather than disrupting them. Most changes involve clarifying responsibilities, improving risk controls, tightening checks around key activities and making sure information is captured consistently.

An integrated framework approach, like that used in Garek 10, builds these changes into existing processes so improvements are introduced in a planned and manageable way.

What role do workers play in ISO 45001?

Worker participation is central to ISO 45001. Employees should be involved in identifying hazards, suggesting improvements, reporting incidents and taking part in consultations and reviews.

Practical systems, such as those structured through the Garek 10 Framework, provide clear ways for workers to raise concerns, contribute ideas and see how their input is used in decisions about health and safety.