On 14 October 2026, Smithers published a briefing titled “What the Draft ISO 45001:2027 Update Means for Employers in 2026”, aimed at organisations that hold or plan to hold an occupational health and safety certificate. Smithers says the revision began in May 2024, that publication is scheduled for 2027, and that the final text has not yet been released. For a quality or OHS manager, the practical question is not whether the standard will change, but how much of the change is already visible in the drafts and what it does to the next audit cycle.
Reading the drafts clause by clause is more useful than reading headlines, because auditors will test clauses, not themes. SGS provides the most detailed reading of the DIS and describes the overall change as moderate, yet broader than the recent ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 revisions. The existing management system framework stays, and the new material is layered onto it, which is why the safest assumption for a current certificate holder is evolution rather than rebuild.
What the sources have recorded
Context and leadership (Clauses 4–5): climate-related impacts and worker diversity are considered, and well-being is added to leadership, policy and consultation (SGS).
Planning and support (Clauses 6–7): broader hazard identification, documented risk assessment methods and results, and a new “Planning of changes” clause numbered 6.3 (SGS).
Operation (Clause 8): new clauses on occupational health (8.1.3), return to work (8.1.4) and externally provided processes (8.1.6), which replaces the existing procurement clause (SGS).
Definitions (Clause 3): new terms for work-related well-being, disability and external provider, and a substantially revised risk definition (SGS).
SGS cautions that requirements and clause numbering may change before publication.
Because the operational clauses are where most nonconformities are found, it helps to translate the new material into audit questions. A return-to-work clause invites an auditor to ask what happens to a worker coming back after injury or illness, and an occupational health clause invites questions about exposure monitoring and health surveillance beyond safety incidents. The clause on externally provided processes shifts the conversation about contractors from purchasing records to actual control of work performed on your site, a point that matters for any organisation that relies on outsourced labour.
| Draft clause (SGS, subject to change) | Likely audit question | Evidence to prepare |
|---|---|---|
| 6.3 Planning of changes | How do you assess OHS impact before a process, site or staffing change? | Change records with a documented OHS risk check |
| 8.1.3 Occupational health | How do you manage health hazards, not only injuries? | Exposure assessments, health programme records |
| 8.1.4 Return to work | What is the process for workers returning after injury or illness? | A short documented process and case examples |
| 8.1.6 Externally provided processes | How do you control OHS risks created by contractors and suppliers on site? | Contractor controls beyond the purchase order |
Timing is the second half of the audit plan. SQS lists the DIS consultation as 16 June to 8 September 2026, the Final Draft International Standard (FDIS) as no earlier than the end of 2026, and publication as no earlier than April 2027, while stressing that these dates may change. Both SGS and SQS anticipate a three-year transition period, and DQS expects two to three years, although SGS notes that no deadline is confirmed. Smithers adds the commercial stakes: organisations that do not complete the transition within the deadline would lose their ISO 45001 certification, which could affect contracts, bidding and stakeholder trust.
The rules for converting certificates are set by accreditation bodies, and here SQS is specific. It states that Global ACI, formerly IAF, will publish binding guidelines that have not yet been released, and it lists the usual milestones measured from publication: accreditation bodies ready to assess at 6 months, certification bodies declaring transition capability at 9 months, certification body transition completed at 12 months, no new or initial ISO 45001:2018 certifications at 18 months, and all 2018 certificates ceasing at 36 months. For an organisation planning an initial certification in 2027, the 18-month marker matters more than the 36-month one, because it decides which edition the first audit will use.
Since several milestones fall inside normal surveillance cycles, the efficient approach is to fold transition checks into audits you already run. SQS notes that customers can update their certification documents during regular surveillance or recertification audits, although assessing the changed requirements will take some additional effort. That points to a plan built around your own cycle instead of a separate transition project, as the steps below illustrate.
Build a clause-level gap register
List the draft clauses reported by SGS, mark each as covered, partly covered or missing, and record the evidence you already hold. Label it as based on the DIS and subject to change.
Add change planning to your OHS risk process
Make sure organisational, process and staffing changes trigger a documented OHS check, since the draft adds a dedicated planning-of-changes clause.
Define return-to-work and occupational health practices
Write a short, usable process for workers returning after injury or illness, and review how health hazards, not only injuries, are assessed and monitored.
Review how contractors are controlled on site
Move beyond purchase-order records to evidence of control: induction, supervision, shared-site risk assessments and performance review.
Place transition checks inside your audit calendar
Ask your certification body which edition applies at your next surveillance or recertification and add readiness items to internal audit and management review.
Two caveats keep this plan honest. First, most of the sources are certification bodies that also sell transition services, and their descriptions of the draft are their own interpretation; DQS, for example, highlights terms such as “psychological risk” and “resilience”, which do not appear in the SGS summary. Second, DEKRA expects targeted additions and clearer documentation rather than a complete overhaul for organisations with an existing system. Treat the clause table as a rehearsal for the likely themes, confirm every reference against the FDIS, and spend the intervening months strengthening evidence of effectiveness, which is useful under either edition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ISO 45001:2027 published yet?
No. SQS lists publication as no earlier than April 2027, and notes that the dates may change. The DIS consultation ran from 16 June to 8 September 2026.
How long will certificate holders have to transition?
SGS and SQS anticipate a three-year transition period after publication, and DQS expects two to three years. SGS notes that no deadline has been confirmed.
Which new clauses appear in the draft?
SGS reports new clauses on planning of changes (6.3), occupational health (8.1.3), return to work (8.1.4) and externally provided processes (8.1.6), and warns that numbering may change.
Do organisations need to rebuild their OHS system?
Not according to DEKRA, which expects targeted additions or clearer documentation for organisations with an existing management system, especially in psychosocial and climate-related risk.
Where should we start?
Start with a gap register against the draft themes and your existing evidence. Arafar Nusa is ready to help turn that register into a readiness plan that fits your organisation.
Want to Know How Ready Your OHS System Is?
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