ISO 45001:2018 (OHSMS) Lead Auditor Course

ISO 45001:2018 (OHSMS) Lead Auditor Course

Every day, more than 7,600 people lose their lives due to work-related accidents or occupational diseases, equating to over 2.75 million deaths annually. In addition to the human cost, occupational injuries and illnesses create a significant burden on organisations through reduced productivity, staff absenteeism, early retirement, compensation claims, and rising insurance costs.

ISO 45001:2018 was developed to address these challenges by providing organisations with a structured framework to manage occupational health and safety risks, improve performance, and create safer working environments.

Course Overview

The ISO 45001:2018 (OHSMS) Lead Auditor Course is designed to provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of occupational health and safety management systems and the skills required to audit them effectively.

The course focuses on the requirements of ISO 45001:2018 and the practical application of auditing principles, enabling participants to plan, conduct, report, and follow up audits in line with international best practices.

Topics Covered

Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems

  • Principles of health and safety management systems
  • Elements of an effective occupational health and safety management system
  • Objectives of occupational health and safety management
  • Moral, legal, and financial need for health and safety management systems

ISO 45001:2018 Standard

  • Definition and scope of ISO 45001:2018
  • Benefits of adopting ISO 45001
  • Development of occupational health and safety management system standards
  • Key changes introduced in ISO 45001:2018

ISO 45001:2018 Clauses

  • Introduction to ISO 45001:2018
  • Clause 4 – Context of the organisation
  • Clause 5 – Leadership and worker participation
  • Clause 6 – Planning
  • Clause 7 – Support
  • Clause 8 – Operation
  • Clause 9 – Performance evaluation
  • Clause 10 – Improvement

Structure and Audit Framework

  • Structure of ISO 45001:2018
  • High Level Structure (HLS)
  • Plan–Do–Check–Act (PDCA) model
  • Internal audit principles
  • Internal audit programme development

Transition and Comparison

  • Comparison between OHSAS 18001:2007 and ISO 45001:2018
  • Conversion process and transition timeline

Target Audience

  • Managers responsible for occupational health and safety management
  • HSE and QHSE professionals
  • Internal auditors and compliance personnel
  • Consultants involved in management system implementation
  • Individuals seeking structured knowledge of occupational health and safety management systems

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

  • Conduct audits based on ISO 45001:2018 requirements
  • Support continual improvement of occupational health and safety performance
  • Identify and evaluate legal and other compliance requirements
  • Assist organisations in achieving their OH&S objectives
  • Understand the role of organisational context, leadership, and risk-based thinking in OH&S management

Assessment Method

  • 50 Multiple-choice questions (MCQs)
  • 10 True or False questions
  • 2 Short essay questions
  • Assessment duration: 2 hours

Certification

Participants who successfully complete the course will receive a Certificate of Attendance and continuing education credit hours in health and safety management, supporting professional development across safety, compliance, and risk management roles.

Essential FAQs – ISO 45001:2018 (OHSMS) Lead Auditor Course

1. What is the ISO 45001:2018 (OHSMS) Lead Auditor Course?
The ISO 45001:2018 (OHSMS) Lead Auditor Course is a professional training programme designed to develop competence in auditing Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems according to ISO 45001 requirements. It focuses on both technical knowledge and practical audit skills.
2. Why is ISO 45001:2018 important for organisations?
ISO 45001:2018 helps organisations prevent work-related injuries and ill health, comply with OH&S legal requirements, and improve safety performance through a structured management system approach.
3. Who should attend the ISO 45001 Lead Auditor Course?
This course is suitable for HSE officers, safety managers, QHSE professionals, internal auditors, consultants, engineers, supervisors, and individuals responsible for occupational health and safety systems.
4. What knowledge will I gain from this course?
Participants gain in-depth understanding of ISO 45001 clauses, hazard identification, risk control, legal compliance, audit planning, audit execution, reporting, and follow-up activities.
5. Does the course cover all ISO 45001:2018 clauses?
Yes. The course covers all clauses from Context of the Organisation (Clause 4) through Improvement (Clause 10), explained from an auditor’s perspective.
6. What auditing guidelines are followed?
The course follows internationally recognised audit principles based on ISO 19011 guidelines, including audit planning, evidence collection, interviewing techniques, and audit reporting. Learn more from the ISO official website .
7. Is previous safety experience required?
Prior OH&S experience is helpful but not mandatory. The ISO 45001 Lead Auditor Course is structured to support both experienced professionals and those developing audit competence.
8. How does ISO 45001 integrate with other ISO standards?
ISO 45001 follows the High Level Structure (HLS), allowing integration with ISO 9001 (Quality) and ISO 14001 (Environmental) management systems.
9. What is meant by risk-based thinking in ISO 45001?
Risk-based thinking requires organisations to identify hazards, assess risks and opportunities, and apply controls to prevent injuries and improve OH&S performance.
10. How is worker participation addressed in ISO 45001?
ISO 45001 emphasises consultation and participation of workers in hazard identification, risk assessment, and decision-making related to occupational health and safety.
11. What assessment method is used in this course?
Assessment usually includes multiple-choice questions, true or false questions, and short written responses to evaluate understanding of ISO 45001 and auditing concepts.
12. How long is the ISO 45001 Lead Auditor assessment?
The assessment duration is typically two hours, allowing sufficient time to demonstrate knowledge of OH&S auditing principles and ISO 45001 requirements.
13. What roles can I pursue after completing this course?
This course supports career progression into roles such as OH&S auditor, safety manager, compliance officer, consultant, and integrated management system auditor.
14. Is this course suitable for integrated management systems?
Yes. The ISO 45001 Lead Auditor Course is suitable for professionals working with integrated systems combining ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001.
15. Where can I learn more about related ISO courses?
You may also explore our ISO 9001 Lead Auditor Course and ISO 14001 Lead Auditor Course to build a complete auditing skill set.