This article contains paid-for content created in collaboration with Lanes Group.
National drainage and wastewater specialist Lanes Group has achieved ISO 45001, the world’s first global ISO standard for occupational health and safety.
The transition was undertaken during the COVID-19 lockdown which required the business to undergo 11 online audits, comprising of 23 days of remote site visits by teams of up to three auditors at a time.
Members of the Lanes management team used their handheld smart mobile devices to stream live video footage of depots, offices and even work sites, to allow the auditors to view health and safety compliance and interview colleagues in a safe manner.
The new ISO 45001 certification applies to all 40 of Lanes’ operational sites, strategically located across the UK, including specialist divisions dedicated to utilities, rail and insurance.
ISO 45001, launched in 2018, covers a broader range of business processes than OHSAS 18001 and has been designed to integrate with the quality standard ISO 9001 and environmental standard ISO 14001 which Lanes already hold.
Lanes Operations Director Kevin Moon said: “Achieving the ISO 45001 standard across our entire operational network demonstrates our commitment to ensuring the highest standards of occupational health and safety for our workforce and those we work for and around.
The requirements to achieve ISO 45001 certification are laid out in seven key clauses: organisational context, leadership and participation, health and safety planning, support, operational control, performance evaluation, and having a process of continuous health and safety improvement.
Lanes Group Health, Safety, Environment and Quality Manager Paul McParland said: “We want to test our health and safety systems and procedures against the highest standards, which is why achieving ISO 45001 is so important to us.
