Objectives turn the occupational health and safety (OH&S) policy into something a team can work toward. A policy that promises to protect workers means little until someone sets a target, finds the resources and checks the result. An auditor therefore looks past the list of objectives and asks whether each one was planned, owned and followed up. This guide is for auditors working to ISO 45001:2018 and for anyone preparing for the CQI (Chartered Quality Institute) and IRCA (International Register of Certificated Auditors) ISO 45001 Lead Auditor course.

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What does ISO 45001 require for OH&S objectives?

It requires the organization to set OH&S objectives at relevant functions and levels and to plan how to achieve them.

Clause 6.2.1 of ISO 45001:2018 asks for objectives that are consistent with the OH&S policy and measurable where practicable or capable of performance evaluation. They must take account of applicable requirements, the results of the risk and opportunity assessment and the results of consultation with workers. They must also be monitored, communicated and updated as appropriate. Clause 6.2.2 then asks the organization to plan how to achieve them. Always check the exact wording in the current standard. Our guide to the role of top management in ISO 45001 explains who owns the policy behind the objectives, and our guide to how an ISO 45001 audit works shows where this check sits in an audit.

What makes a good OH&S objective?

A good objective is linked to the policy and the risks, measurable where practicable, owned by someone and updated when things change.

The table turns the requirements into audit questions. Use it to judge a single objective.

An objective with no measure is a wish, not a target.

What must the plan to achieve objectives contain?

It must say what will be done, with what resources, who is responsible, when and how results are evaluated.

Clause 6.2.2 also asks the organization to decide how the actions will be integrated into its business processes. An objective with no plan rarely moves. Look for a plan that names an owner, a date and an indicator, and that shows how the work fits into normal operations instead of sitting on the side. Our guide to continual improvement in ISO 45001 shows how achieved objectives feed improvement.

How do you plan an audit of OH&S objectives?

Ask for the objectives register, the plans and the latest progress reports, and pick a sample to trace.

Request the objectives, the action plans and the last one or two progress reports. Choose objectives of different kinds, such as one linked to a high risk, one linked to a legal requirement and one that came from worker consultation. Plan to meet the person who owns the objectives and at least one owner of an action. Our ISO 45001 audit plan and checklist guide shows how to build this into your checklist, and our guide to the documents required for an ISO 45001 audit helps you decide what to read first.

What evidence should you collect?

Collect the objectives register, the action plans, progress records and proof that people were told.

Remember that a comment is a lead, and you confirm it with a record or an observation. Our guide to how to interview workers in an ISO 45001 audit shows how to ask the questions.

How do you interview people about objectives?

Ask the owner how an objective was set and what has been done, then ask workers what they know.

1. Ask top management how the objectives connect to the OH&S policy.
2. Ask the objective owner to show the plan and the latest progress.
3. Trace one action from the plan to evidence that it was done.
4. Ask for a missed target and what the organization did about it.
5. Ask workers or their representatives whether they were consulted and what they know about the objectives.

Our guide to worker consultation and participation in ISO 45001 explains why workers should help set objectives, and our guide to auditing management review in ISO 45001 shows where progress on objectives is reviewed.

What gaps do auditors commonly find in OH&S objectives?

Common gaps are vague objectives, no plan, no owner, no measure and objectives that never change.

• Vague objectives. “Improve safety” with no measure or date.
• No plan. The objective is stated but nobody planned the work.
• No owner. Nobody is accountable for the result.
• Not linked to risk. Objectives ignore the biggest hazards.
• Never updated. The same objectives run for years while the business changes.

Treat these as prompts, not conclusions, and confirm each one with evidence before you raise a finding. Our guide to auditing OH&S monitoring in ISO 45001 covers how progress is measured, and our guide to auditing evaluation of compliance in ISO 45001 covers the neighboring part of performance evaluation.

Frequently asked questions

Where 3FOLD Training fits

3FOLD Training is a CQI IRCA Approved Training Partner (ATP 6039853), licensed by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) in Dubai. The ISO 45001 Lead Auditor course is delivered as 40 hours of Virtual Instructor Led Training (VILT), with learning management system (LMS) access for class recordings and mock exams, and you can check the next available batch on the course page. We prepare you for the exam; CQI and IRCA examine and certify. Before you book, read what you need in our eligibility guide.