ISO 45001 protects people. ISO 14001 protects the planet. Both share Annex SL structure and integrate seamlessly into an Integrated Management System (IMS) alongside ISO 9001.
Any organisation with worker safety obligations — construction, oil & gas, manufacturing, healthcare.
Any organisation with measurable environmental impact — manufacturing, services, public sector.
All ten dimensions head-to-head:
| Aspect | ISO 45001 | ISO 14001 |
|---|---|---|
| Subject | Worker health and safety | Environmental impacts |
| Replaces | OHSAS 18001 (retired 2021) | ISO 14001:2004 / older |
| Hazard concept | Hazard → risk → control hierarchy | Aspect → impact → control |
| Worker consultation | Mandatory clauses 5.4 and 7.4 | Not specified |
| Legal compliance | Workplace H&S laws | Environmental laws |
| Key process | Hazard ID + risk assessment | Aspect ID + impact evaluation |
| Best for | High-risk operations, contractors | Manufacturers, services, construction |
| Common combo | Often with 9001 + 14001 (IMS) | Often with 9001 + 45001 (IMS) |
| Audit days | 4–6 (100 staff) | 4–6 (100 staff) |
| Cost (SME) | £5k–£12k | £5k–£12k |
Choose ISO 45001 if you have construction, manufacturing or field-based workers; if your contracts demand H&S certification; or if you need to retire legacy OHSAS 18001.
Choose ISO 14001 if regulators or customers ask for environmental certification; if you want to demonstrate carbon, waste or emissions stewardship.
The IMS combination of 9001 + 14001 + 45001 is the most common multi-standard implementation worldwide. All three share Annex SL so documentation can be largely unified.
Yes — OHSAS 18001 was retired in March 2021. Existing certificates have expired. All H&S certification is now ISO 45001.
Yes — both use Annex SL’s 10-clause structure, so your manual, document control, audit, and management review processes can be unified.
A hazard is a source of harm to people (45001). An aspect is an interaction with the environment (14001) that may have an impact (positive or negative).
Both standards have free interactive gap-analysis tools — no sign-up, no install.