ISO 45001 certification of occupational health and safety management systems
We certify occupational health and safety management systems to ISO 45001 in Bulgaria under the established certification procedures of CERTIND S.A. The certificate you receive is accredited, internationally recognized and accepted worldwide without further checks. The audit is conducted in Bulgarian, and you will receive a tailored quote within two hours.
- AccreditationCERTIND S.A. · RENAR
- Auditin Bulgarian, at your premises
- Quotewithin 2 hours during business hours
The standard at a glance
What is ISO 45001?
ISO 45001 is the international standard that sets out the requirements for an occupational health and safety (OH&S) management system. It was developed to enable organizations to control and improve safe and healthy working conditions and to protect their employees from workplace accidents.
ISO 45001 is based both on the requirements of the standard itself and on the legislation that applies to the specific product or service an organization provides. Legal and regulatory requirements and continual improvement are two important aspects of the standard.
The standard is compatible with ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 and allows easy integration — with shared documentation and a combined audit. ISO 45001 replaced the British standard BS OHSAS 18001, which is why the two designations are often seen together.
It can be applied by any organization that wants to demonstrate its commitment to occupational safety and to manage and minimize the occupational health risks to its employees and to the people its activities are aimed at. The certificate is issued by an accredited body after an on-site audit and is often required in public procurement and when working at clients’ sites.
What the ISO 45001 system manages
- Hazards and risks — hazard identification, risk assessment and risk control for every workplace and activity.
- Legal requirements — applicable occupational health and safety legislation and other requirements the organization has committed to.
- Worker participation — consulting people and involving them in the decisions that affect their safety.
- Operational control — safe working rules, protective equipment and control over external contractors.
- Emergency preparedness — planned responses and drills for situations that put life and health at risk.
- Incidents and improvement — investigation of incidents and accidents, corrective and preventive actions, audits and management review.
A requirement of the standard
The hierarchy of risk control measures
ISO 45001 requires measures to be applied in a set order — from eliminating the hazard down to personal protective equipment. This is exactly what the auditor checks: whether you looked for the stronger measure before settling for the weaker one.
The strongest measure: the hazard disappears because the activity, substance or equipment is removed.
- A conveyor system instead of manual carrying
- Assembly at ground level instead of working at height
- Discontinuing a hazardous process
The hazard remains, but is replaced with a safer option — a material, process or piece of equipment.
- A water-based product instead of an organic solvent
- Lower-voltage tools
- A machine with lower noise and vibration
The hazard is isolated from people through design, guarding, ventilation or automation.
- Machine guards and interlocks
- Local exhaust and ventilation
- Collective fall protection — guardrails and nets
The hazard remains, but is managed through rules, signs and work organization.
- Safe work instructions and hot work permits
- Signs, markings and signalling
- Rotation, breaks and restricted access to areas
Protective equipment is used when the risk cannot be reduced sufficiently by the preceding measures — and it does not replace them.
- Helmets, goggles, ear defenders and gloves
- Safety footwear and workwear
- Respiratory protective equipment
The order is mandatory: the auditor expects to see why the stronger measure is not feasible before you accept the weaker one. Relying on protective equipment alone, without engineering and administrative controls, usually leads to a nonconformity.
Who does what
Safety is a shared responsibility
ISO 45001 assigns clear roles. The audit checks not only the documentation, but also whether people know their duties and carry them out in practice.
- is accountableTop management
- Takes responsibility for preventing accidents
- Provides resources and sets the policy
- Integrates safety into business decisions
- Reviews the system’s results
- apply the measuresTeam leaders
- Organize the safe execution of work
- Ensure instructions are followed
- Respond to hazardous situations and stop work when necessary
- Report incidents and propose measures
- take part and speak upWorkers
- Follow instructions and use protective equipment
- Report hazards, incidents and near misses
- Take part in risk assessment and suggest improvements
- Do not expose themselves to unjustified risk
- work to the same rulesExternal contractors
- Are briefed on the risks on site
- Follow the host organization’s rules
- Agree hazardous activities in advance
- Report incidents related to their work
The standard requires workers and their representatives to be consulted and to participate in safety decisions — this is one of the things the auditor checks through interviews on site.
NewNew designation of the Bulgarian edition
What BDS EN ISO 45001:2023 means
ISO 45001:2018 has been adopted as a European standard by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN). That is why EN is added to the Bulgarian designation: BDS ISO 45001:2018 has been withdrawn and replaced by BDS EN ISO 45001:2023. The requirements for the management system have not changed.
- ISO 45001:2018 publishedThe international standard replaces the British BS OHSAS 18001.
- Adopted as a European standardCEN adopts ISO 45001:2018 as a European standard.
- BDS EN ISO 45001:2023The Bulgarian Institute for Standardization (BIS) withdraws BDS ISO 45001:2018 and introduces the new Bulgarian designation.Now
- Updating the referenceDocuments that cite BDS ISO 45001:2018 are updated by the next surveillance or recertification audit.
References to ISO 45001:2018 do not need to be changed — the international ISO edition is the same. Details of the change and a table of designations can be found in the article ISO 45001 — occupational health and safety.
Key elements of the system
- Clause 6.1.2
Hazard identification
Identifying the hazards in every activity, workplace and situation, including work at other organizations’ sites.
- Clause 6.1.2
Risk assessment and control
Assessing health and safety risks and opportunities and planning the measures that reduce them.
- Clause 6.1.3
Legal requirements
Determining, and periodically checking, the applicable occupational health and safety legislation.
- Clause 5.4
Consultation and participation of workers
Workers take part in decisions about their safety and can report hazards and incidents.
- Clause 8
Operational control and emergencies
Rules for carrying out work safely, control over external contractors and readiness to respond to emergencies.
- Clause 10
Incident investigation and improvement
Investigation of incidents and accidents, corrective actions and continual improvement of the system.
- 1No new certification neededThe requirements of the standard have not changed, and your certificate remains valid.
- 2Check where the edition is citedPolicy, manual, procedures and records — look for references to BDS ISO 45001:2018.
- 3Update the referenceChange it to BDS EN ISO 45001:2023. The change can be made by the next surveillance or recertification audit.
How ISO 45001 certification works
The process is the same for every organization and follows ISO/IEC 17021-1, the international standard for certification bodies. Only the audit duration differs — it depends on the number of employees, the sites and the complexity of the activity.
The process in detail- 01 Enquiry and quoteYou describe your activity, number of employees and sites. You receive a quote with the scope, audit duration and price.within 2 hours during business hours
- 02 Contract and audit planOnce the contract is signed, we agree the dates, the scope and the audit team.dates that suit you
- 03 Stage 1 — readiness reviewThe auditor reviews the risk assessment, the legal requirements and the consultation with workers, and assesses whether the system is ready.documents, scope, readiness
- 04 Stage 2 — on-site auditThe work is checked on site — the condition of workplaces, the measures applied, safety briefings, investigated incidents and interviews with workers.in Bulgarian, at your premises
- 05 Corrective actionsIf nonconformities are found, you are given a deadline to correct them and submit evidence.only if needed
- 06 Decision and certificateAn independent certification decision and issue of the certificate by CERTIND S.A.recognized under IAF
What the price of ISO 45001 certification depends on
The price of the certificate is not fixed, because it is calculated from several factors, including the audit days your organization requires, which are determined under the mandatory document IAF MD 5.
ISO certification pricing- 01Number of employeesThe main factor — it determines the size of the audit. Part-time staff are counted too.
- 02Risks of the activityConstruction, manufacturing, work at height or with hazardous substances require a more thorough audit than office-based activities.
- 03Number of sites and locationsEach site is audited or checked on a sample basis — under the IAF MD 1 rules for multi-site organizations.
- 04System scopeWhich activities, sites and workplaces are covered by the certificate.
- 05Integrated systemWith simultaneous certification to ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001, the combined audit is usually shorter than three separate ones.
- 06The full three-year cycleIn addition to the initial audit, plan for the annual surveillance audits and recertification after three years.
A consultant to implement the system is a separate cost. A certification body cannot provide consultancy to the organizations it certifies — this is an impartiality requirement under ISO/IEC 17021-1.
Describe your activity, number of employees and sites — within two hours during business hours you will receive a quote with scope and price.
Exact quote within 2 hoursQuestions and answers
Frequently asked questions about ISO 45001
Answers to the questions our clients ask most often before certification.
What does an ISO 45001 certificate give you?
It provides independent proof that the organization manages occupational health and safety risks and fulfils its legal obligations. It supports the management and control of safety at work, improves the culture of safe working, reduces accident-related costs and enhances the organization’s reputation as a responsible employer. A certified system is also often required in public procurement and when working at clients’ sites.
How much does an ISO 45001 certificate cost?
The price depends mainly on the number of employees, the sites and the risks of the activity. That is why every quote is tailored. You will find a guide to prices and factors on the Pricing page, and you receive an exact quote within 2 hours of your enquiry.
How long does ISO 45001 certification take?
The overall timeframe depends mainly on how ready the system is: if the hazards have been identified, the risks assessed, and an internal audit and management review carried out, certification proceeds quickly. The audit takes place in two stages, and if nonconformities are found, time for the corrective actions is added.
How does ISO 45001 differ from BS OHSAS 18001?
ISO 45001 replaced BS OHSAS 18001. It follows the common structure of ISO management system standards and places greater emphasis on the role of management, worker participation and risk-based thinking. That is why it integrates easily with ISO 9001 and ISO 14001.
What does BDS EN ISO 45001:2023 mean for organizations that are already certified?
The designation of the Bulgarian edition is new, but the requirements have not changed. No new certification is needed — it is enough to update the reference in your documents if it cites BDS ISO 45001:2018, and this can be done by the next surveillance or recertification audit. References to ISO 45001:2018 do not need to be changed.
Do I need a consultant to get certified?
It is not mandatory — many organizations use consultants because they have the experience and qualifications needed to conduct the internal audit in line with the auditing standard ISO 19011:2026 — Guidelines for auditing management systems. The consultant must be independent of the certification body: the body that certifies you cannot provide you with consultancy on the same system. This is an impartiality requirement under ISO/IEC 17021-1.
How can I check whether an ISO 45001 certificate is accredited?
Check which body issued it and whether that body is accredited by an accreditation body that is a member of IAF. IAF (International Accreditation Forum) is a global network — an association of accreditation bodies, associations and certification bodies involved in conformity assessment. Accredited certificates can be checked in the international register IAF CertSearch. Certificates issued through us come from CERTIND S.A., accredited by RENAR under the IAF mark, and are published in this register. The database is publicly accessible.
Can I transfer my ISO 45001 certificate from another body?
Yes. Transferring a valid accredited certificate is a free-of-charge procedure — you pay only the agreed audit fee. The conditions and steps are described on the Certificate transfer page.
What language is the audit conducted in?
In Bulgarian, on site at your premises. The system documentation can be in Bulgarian.
Standards that combine with ISO 45001
ISO 45001 is built on the common structure of ISO standards and is compatible with ISO 9001 and ISO 14001. You can therefore implement them as an integrated management system — with shared documentation and a combined audit that takes less time than separate ones.
All standards
ISO 9001Quality managementThe most frequently combined standard — shared documentation and one integrated audit.To the standard 
ISO 14001Environmental managementTogether with ISO 45001, it covers the requirements in construction and manufacturing.To the standard 
ISO 39001Road traffic safetyFor organizations with a vehicle fleet and employees who are often on the road.To the standard 
ISO 50001Energy managementFor energy-intensive production and large buildings — control over energy consumption.To the standard
Useful articles on ISO 45001
All articles- 01ISO 45001What changed with BDS EN ISO 45001:2023?The new designation of the Bulgarian edition and what to do with your documents.
- 02BenefitsWhat are the benefits of implementing ISO 45001?For employees, for management, and with clients and contracting authorities.
- 03ISO 39001Safer roads through a management systemWhich organizations ISO 39001 is for and which road safety factors it covers.
- 04Integrated systemCertification to two or more standardsHow several standards are combined into one system and one joint audit.
ISO 45001 · Free quote
Ready for ISO 45001 certification?
Describe your activity, number of employees and sites — you will receive a quote with scope and price before you make any commitment.
- Quote within 2 hoursWith scope and price, during business hours.
- Audit in BulgarianOn site, by auditors who know your sector.
- Certificate under the RENAR and IAF marksRecognized by the accreditation bodies that are members of IAF.