Alstom, first company to get the ISO 45001 Occupational health and safety management certification in Spain

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Alstom is the first company in Spain to receive the ISO 45001: 2018 Occupational Health and Safety management certification. This certification, issued by the National Entity Accreditation (ENAC www.enac.es), has been granted after an intense audit carried out by Det Noske Veritas- DNV GL - Business Assurance Company.

The new ISO 45001:2018 published in March 2018 by the International Organisation for Standardisation body (ISO), confirms excellence and good practices in Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems. This new standard puts special emphasis on prevention systems and on the companies´ global commitment for the development of a culture of prevention and continuous improvement in this field. For this reason, it bases its focus on prevention management as well as on the co-participation of workers and managers in guaranteeing safer and healthier working environments. This new norm goes beyond health and safety traditional topics, making also reference to broader issues, such as labor welfare.

The new ISO 45001 standard replaces the previous OHSAS 18001:2007 standard, currently the most widespread for Health and Safety at Work management. The ISO body has introduced a 3-year transition period for companies to upgrade their certifications. Alstom is the first one to be certified in the Spanish market and is also one of the first globally.

According to Laura Lázaro, Alstom EHS Manager in Spain, "This certification places Alstom in the highest international standards for Safety and Health at Work management. Being the first company to obtain the ISO 45001 certification in Spain makes us feel proud, and shows our firm commitment to apply the best practices in occupational health and safety ".

Obtaining ISO 45001 guarantees that the company has implemented, among other requirements, a high-level structure with an adequate context analysis, as well as a clear focus on risks and opportunities for Workers Health and Safety management. Among Alstoms strengths " the top management leadership and commitment should be underlined, promoting a safety culture that is widely extended to workers and contractors," says Ana del Rio, Chief Auditor of the ISO 45001 audit in DNV GL. "Without any doubt, obtaining this ISO 45001 certification is a differentiating element in the market," she adds.