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Peter Turner MA (Law), P.G.D, Eng (Hons), CMIOSH

Guide to ISO 45001 Plan-Do-Check-Act

March 2019

Watch this short video guide to how to use the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle (PDCA). It is also known as ISO 45001. This video will go through every stage, and it introduces the importance of adding ISO 45001 into your company's context. The guide also outlines the role of senior management.
 
ISO 45001 is a leading health and safety management system. The NEBOSH General Certificate offers key philosophies and protocols showcased within ISO 45001.
 
Watch this quick guide below.

From the guide, we can begin to understand the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle more clearly. For more concentrated, analytical information on the Plan-Do-Check-Act process, read our practical guide.
 
Here is a little snippet.
 
PLAN
 
This stage covers two key issues: planning for implementation and policy. It is all about the P’s –Planning and Policy.
 
Planning for implementation means identifying where we are now and then identifying where we want to be. For example, we could be looking at introducing a new piece of equipment into our workplace. So what should we be considering at this stage?
 
DO
 
The 'Do' stage looks at three key areas:

  1. Profiling the health and safety risks
  2. Organising
  3. Implementing your plans


CHECK
 
This is a crucial stage. Once we have implemented our plan, we need to ensure that it is working effectively. To achieve this, we need to Measure Performance.
 
Good quality performance monitoring will help us identify problems, understand why the issues arose, and understand what changes are necessary to resolve the problems.
 
ACT
 
This is where we evaluate our health and safety performance. This will determine whether the essential principles of our plan and policy are being implemented correctly. It will also identify any improvements that can be made to improve our performance.
 
Key Takeaways
 
One of the most prominent philosophies this system provides is how effective planning and pre-emptive thinking can help every facet of a company. The high-level structure of this system is developed and endorsed by the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO).
 
One of the most beneficial outcomes is how easier it is to combine management topics into a single management system. It provides industry-leading techniques and will benefit any business environment. 

Click the button below for more information on how the Plan-Do-Check-Act can radically improve your functionality.

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