The new ISO 45001 international standard replaces OHSAS 18001 and sets out the requirements for organisations who wish to create and maintain a safe and healthy working environment. VolkerWessels UK achieved the certification following an independent assessment by business improvement company, BSI.

The new international standard is the first ISO in support of Occupational Health and Safety. It was developed to accommodate today’s business requirements, and is intended to help businesses that operate or trade internationally, to identify and manage occupational health and safety risks and hazards, working to a single international standard.

Adrian Shah-Cundy, corporate responsibility director for VolkerWessels UK, said: “This is the culmination of a programme of work which encompassed transitioning to new versions of the ISO standards 9001 and 14001, followed by the migration from OHSAS 18001 to ISO 45001, across our businesses.

“The staff involved in making this happen made the transition seem effortless, which is a testament to our focus on business operations. The highlevel structure of the new ISO standard will also help us plan our additional certifications to standards such as ISO 44001 Collaborative business relationships, ISO 22301 Business continuity, and ISO 27001 Information security. This was a superb piece of work by all involved, maintaining the sound foundation of our business systems.“