MAY 1st: OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND THE STRATEGIC VALUE OF THE ISO 45001 AUDITOR
May 1st is International Workers’ Day: an opportunity to celebrate the right to work, but also to firmly reaffirm the importance of safety in every workplace.
This issue is so vital that it has a dedicated global day: April 28th marked the World Day for Safety and Health at Work, promoted by the International Labour Organization (ILO) to raise awareness among governments, businesses, and workers about the importance of preventing injuries and occupational diseases. A call to collective responsibility and urgent action.
INAIL data updated to the first eleven months of 2024 are clear:
- Injury claims totaled 543,039, showing a slight increase of 0.1% compared to the same period in 2023.
- Fatal injury claims reached 1,000, rising compared to previous years.
- Occupational disease claims increased by 21.7% compared to 2023, amounting to 81,671 cases.
These figures demand a stronger commitment to prevention, training, and the implementation of concrete tools to protect workers.
Among these tools, certification according to UNI ISO 45001 stands out as a strategic and effective lever: a joint study by Accredia and INAIL (data from 2017–2021) has already shown that certified companies recorded an average reduction in accidents of 22.6% and a 29.2% decrease in accident severity. In high-risk sectors such as chemicals, incident reduction peaked at 40.9%.
The Central Role of the Occupational Health and Safety Auditor
In this virtuous process, the role of the Auditor/Lead Auditor for Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems is becoming increasingly central.
Being a certified Auditor means:
- Rigorously assessing compliance with regulatory requirements;
- Promoting a safety-first culture within the company;
- Contributing concretely to reducing workplace risk.
The certifications issued by RICEC International—a national and international body accredited by Accredia—represent a distinctive mark and a competitive advantage for professionals and for organizations investing in real, not just formal, safety.
A Future of Certified Safety
In a changing world of work that presents new challenges in protecting people, focusing on certified management systems and qualified Auditors is no longer optional—it is a strategic choice.
A choice that protects, adds value, and builds the future.
Safety is never a cost: it’s an investment in life.
