What is AS/NZS 4801?

AS/NZS 4801:2001 is an Australian and New Zealand standard for Occupational Health & Safety systems. We are JAS-ANZ accredited to provide certification to this standard. AS/NZS 4801 outlines the requirements for your organization to develop efficient safety systems. It shows interested parties and stakeholders your organization is committed to the safety of workers and providing a safe work environment. It is an important sign of your business' capability to reduce costs through preventing workplace injury and illness. AS 4801 is the most widely recognized OH&S standard in Australia. It is applicable to organisations of all sizes, industries or products and services it offers. Find out more on what AS/NZS 4801 is with our Trade Secrets here.

How to create an AS/NZS 4801 system?

Your system has to meet the minimum requirements before you can be certified. Here, we outline the steps to creating your occupational health and safety management system for certification. 1. Understand the intent of AS/NZS 4801. Read through the standard and familiarise yourself with the terminology. 2. Understand the requirements set out in AS/NZS 4801. Develop your management system according to the standard. For more information on this, have a look at our Trade Secrets. 3. Perform a gap analysis to identify how ready you are to become certified. This will highlight any areas that need further development. Have a look at our AS/NZS 4801 PDF Gap Analysis Checklist here. 4. Undergo the process of Certification. We will need to evaluate your organization to ensure you are compliant to AS/NZS 4801 with a Best Practice Assessment. Find more information on the process here.

Is AS/NZS 4801 still current?

ISO 45001 is the new Occupational Health & Safety standard. ISO 45001 is newly released and will replace AS/NZS 4801, as this standard will be withdrawn. ISO 45001 is an internationally recognized standard, compared to AS/NZS 4801, which is widely recognized in Australia and New Zealand Both standards outline the requirements of an OH&S management system to ensure worker safety and provide a safe work environment. They are influential indicators that an organization has measures in place to reduce workplace injury and illness.

How much does it cost to get AS/NZS 4801 certified?

The cost to assess your management system against AS/NZS 4801 requirements vary significantly based industry, size and scope of operations. 1 - 5 employees, no additional services - $6,000 The certification industry is highly regulated. As part of our regulated requirements we need to get an understanding of your company before we can provide you with a quote. Once we have some details we may be able to discount this price significantly. Please contact us to find out more information.

What does it mean to be AS/NZS 4801 certified?

When you are certified to AS/NZS 4801, you are able to show interested parties, stakeholders and customers that you have met the requirements set out in AS/NZS 4801:2001. AS/NZS 4801 shows you are actively working to reduce risks that exist in the workplace, and therefore reduce workplace related injury and illness. This can provide significant cost savings as you can reduce employee sick leave, compensation and insurance.

What are the requirements of AS/NZS 4801?

The AS/NZS 4801 standard that provides the requirements to become certified. These requirements are broken down into clauses that provide the structure for your management system. The clauses are OHSMS Requirements (clause 4), which goes into detail regarding the OHS Policy (4.2), Planning (4.3), Implementation (4.4), Measurement and evaluation (4.5), and Management Review (4.6).

How to get certified to AS/NZS 4801?

1. Gap Analysis (optional): The process begins with an optional gap analysis to evaluate your OH&S system against each clause of AS/NZS 4801:2001. 2. Stage One: The mandatory first step is an assessment of your management system documentation to evaluate it against the standard, including policies, processes, management review records, scope and context. It sets the basis for Stage Two. 3. Stage Two: The stage two assessment is the final step of the initial certification process. To achieve certification, we need to check that the documented requirements of the standard are implemented across the business. We visit your offices and sites, as well discuss your system with relevant people in your business. 4. Certification: Once your stage two assessment is verified and the process is complete, a 'Statement of Certification' is issued, confirming compliance with the relevant standard.​ This certification is valid for a three-year period from the date of issue. Surveillance assessments will need to be performed on a regular basis to maintain your certification. Contact Us with any questions you may have, or to find out more about the certification process.

Why is AS/NZS 4801 required?

AS/NZS 4801 is required to show customers, suppliers and stakeholders that you have idenitified, mitigated and controlled safety risks, and you are committed to providing a safe workplace. To become certified to AS/NZS 4801:2001, companies need to undergo evaluation against the standard, and need to have ongoing surveillance audits to ensure ongoing compliance.

What is AS/NZS 4801 training?

AS/NZS 4801 training can be used to understand the underlying meaning of the standard, so you can develop a safety management system that can then be audited and assessed against AS/NZS 4801. For more information on AS/NZS 4801 training, visit our Training Academy here.

What are the benefits of being AS/NZS 4801 certified?

AS/NZS 4801:2001 allows organisations to provide evidence of managing OH&S risks and hazards in the workplace to ensure the wellbeing of workers. AS/NZS 4801 provides numerous benefits and opportunities, including:

• Tender for work - Declare conformance with the standard and tender for work, including government contracts​ and large corporate jobs.
• Provide evidence for stakeholders - Enhance your reputation by providing formal recognition of your management processes to customers and interested stakeholders.
• Legal compliance - Provide evidence your organisation meets regulatory requirements, as AS/NZS 4801 instructs that your organisation must meet legal obligations.
• Reduce workplace related injury or illness - By managing OH&S hazards and risks you can reduce workplace related injuries and illnesses, creating cost savings in worker sick leave and sometimes insurance premiums.
• Create evidence of due diligence if an incident occurs - Minimise the risk of legal action from worker's compensation, liability​ claims and provide evidence should an incident occur.
• Create your marketing advantage - Create a competitive advantage and marketing opportunity as certification can be a key differentiator in today's challenging marketplace.

How can I transfer my existing ISO 4801 certification?

You can transfer your current AS/NZS 4801 certification to Best Practice seamlessly. We will continue your current certification schedule, contact us for an obligation free quote. Why Best Practice?

• We work to understand your business
  We provide meaningful observations. It's more than just compliance or non-conformance for us.
• We provide you with support services
  We help grow and continually improve your business with training, webinars, YouTube videos and our industry magazine, Certified.
• We have no hidden fees
  Our rates are all inclusive and transparent. We don't have any hidden reporting, travel or preparation fees.

What does ISO 45001 replace?

ISO 45001 will replace OHSAS 18001, the world’s former reference for workplace health and safety. Organisations already certified to AS/NZS ISO 45001:2018, and AS/NZS 4801:2001 will have three years to comply with the new ISO 45001 standard, although certification of conformity to ISO 45001 is not a requirement of the standard. Standards Australia also recently announced that AS/NZS 4801:2001 was superseded but was being maintained as a reference for regulatory purposes.