You will be aware of the significance of being able to identify and, consequently, eradicate any potential nonconformities if your company uses an ISO 45001:2018 system. Since a nonconformity is described as a "failure to meet requirements," which can include approved standards, rules, or laws, it is clear that any nonconformities in an ISO 45001 system that are left unchecked could be harmful to the health and safety of your employees. What precisely is a nonconformity, and how can one be recognised?
The following are some of the primary indicators of nonconformities:
- Incorrect use of protective equipment
- Incorrect compliance with legal standards
- Incorrectly carrying out regular operating procedure
Three Techniques for Finding a Nonconformity
Businesses need a strong safety culture today, and not just because ISO 45001 and other safety standards require it. Employee engagement, productivity, and brand reputation will all increase with a strong safety culture that eliminates nonconformities and enhances worker well-being. As a result, it is crucial to implement procedures that aid in identifying and reducing nonconformity risks through the use of a strong CAPA management process and to prevent future occurrences.
A three-pronged approach would be as follows:
- Investigation of Incidents: Any incident should be fully investigated, and root cause analysis must be performed to pinpoint the causes, some of which may be attributable to nonconformity.
- Periodic Audit: Internal audits conducted regularly will assist in locating nonconformities and other possible dangers to worker safety.
- Worker Feedback: It's crucial to get opinions from employees regarding potential safety hazards on the premises or at the job site because they are the experts and are likely to have first-hand knowledge of near misses and other observations that are vital to enhancing the security of the workplace.
Following the identification of the nonconformities, remedial and preventive actions should be implemented, the findings of the analysis of root causes should be shared with the stakeholders, and the processes should be followed and monitored to make sure the preventive measures are working.
The following steps are suggested for the efficient eradication of nonconformity:
- Once the root cause has been determined, CAPA should be initiated.
- All pertinent personnel should be informed of the nonconformity's specifics, its core cause, and any changes to the current processes.
- KPIs should be monitored and measures should be set up to measure the effectiveness of CAPA.
- ISO 45001 Documentation of the nonconformity lifespan is necessary.
- It is important to perform management reviews to assess how well the safety management program adheres to the ISO 45001 standard and to close any gaps.
Eliminate, Communicate, and Monitor Nonconformity
Nonconformities, whether governed by regulations or laws, are covered in more detail in the article before this one. Recommendations to make sure you comply with regulatory standards or simply errors in your process must be addressed, communicated, and continually checked. Your ISO 45001 system must also be formally documented to be considered compliant. Consequently, the following steps need to be taken:
- The root cause should be addressed before choosing the corrective approach, including involvement from stakeholders as necessary.
- It is important to communicate and give them a chance to respond. Always keep in mind that if a process change is intended to eliminate a key non-conformity, it is crucial that all staff members are informed of the change, comprehend it completely, and sign off to confirm that they agree with it.
- Until there is a high degree of assurance that there won't be another recurrence a time of monitoring and measuring should be decided upon and implemented.
- The entire procedure must be formally recorded. This can also help you establish a history in your ISO 45001 system, allowing you, for instance, to consider previous problems while preparing for an internal audit.
Source Link: https://iso45001procedure.wordpress.com/2023/09/25/how-to-deal-with-iso-45001-nonconformities/
