ISO 45001 is the international standard for occupational health and safety (OH&S), primarily intended to protect employees and visitors from work-related accidents and illnesses. Organisations across the health care sector and beyond adopt this framework to create safer environments and systematically reduce on-the-job injuries. Achieving this credential requires a partnership with an accredited certification body. This list highlights top-rated choices to consider for this critical validation.

Why an ISO 45001 Certification Matters

Implementing this standard signals a serious dedication to the physical and mental well-being of a workforce.

  • Improved safety and reduced risk: ISO 45001 adoption reduces the likelihood of accidents or exposure to illness. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that the health and social care industries accounted for 562,500 work-related injuries in 2023, highlighting the urgent need for safety frameworks.
  • Enhanced regulatory and legal compliance: Staying up to date with OH&S laws lowers the risk of fines and ensures operations remain within legal bounds.
  • Increased organisational resilience: Communities trust organisations that verify their protocols through independent audits. In a health care context, this public commitment assures patients that the provider proactively worked to minimise risks during their treatment. Fewer incidents can also lead to lower insurance premiums and less operational downtime.
  • Boosted employee morale: Worker engagement is a cornerstone of the ISO 45001 framework. Employees who actively shape safety policies feel valued and protected, fostering a positive culture where staff look out for one another.

What Are the Top-Rated ISO 45001 Certification Bodies?

Five globally recognised and accredited certification bodies stand out for their integrity, technical expertise and comprehensive auditing processes.

1. NQA

NQA is a leading global certification body known for its distinctively client-focused philosophy. It brings extensive experience to high-stakes industries, such as aerospace, automotive and medical devices. This background enables its auditors to provide practical insights by understanding the unique pressures in complex sectors and tailoring the auditing process to deliver maximum value.

NQA prides itself on being a supportive partner rather than an examiner, aiming to assist companies in improving their OH&S management systems while achieving compliance. It emphasises a pragmatic auditing style that avoids unnecessary bureaucracy by focusing on what actually works to keep people safe in a real-world setting. Global reach is a key advantage for NQA clients, and a certificate from this body holds weight in international marketplaces.

2. Bureau Veritas

Bureau Veritas was founded in 1828 and is one of the most established names in the testing, inspection and certification industry, adding an immediate layer of credibility to any organisation that bears its mark. It serves a wide range of sectors and offers deep expertise in managing complex regulatory environments.

Modern businesses benefit from Bureau Veritas’ forward-thinking digital-first approach. It offers remote auditing solutions alongside traditional on-site visits. This flexibility proves valuable for organisations with distributed teams or strict access controls.

3. SGS

A known powerhouse in inspection, verification and certification, SGS is often recognised for its sheer scale and capacity to serve large, multinational corporations. Its global network of auditors and laboratories enables it to deploy resources rapidly, making it a strong candidate for health care networks with facilities spread across regions or countries.

SGS allows companies to bundle certification audits for multiple standards, such as combining ISO 45001 with quality or environmental standards. This integration simplifies the process and reduces the administrative burden on internal teams. The SGS brand carries weight globally, providing instant validation of a company’s commitment to safety and excellence.

4. TÜV Rheinland

TÜV Rheinland is based in Germany but commands high respect in the global engineering, manufacturing and technology industries. Its reputation is built on a rigorous, methodical approach to quality and safety assurance, through an auditing process that dives deep into a business’s operational realities.

Auditors from TÜV Rheinland focus heavily on the effectiveness of risk controls and the sustainability of safety measures, aiming to ensure that the OH&S system functions reliably under pressure. For organisations that seek technical excellence, this certification body presents a compelling option.

5. British Standards Institution

British Standards Institution (BSI) holds the distinction of being the world’s first national standards body. This unique history gives it a depth of expertise only a few can match. It played an instrumental role in the creation of OHSAS 18001, which served as the predecessor to the modern ISO 45001 standard.

Its approach empowers companies to embed excellence into their daily operations, and clients benefit from a comprehensive ecosystem of support. BSI offers training programs, certification services and specialised software tools to assist with compliance management. This holistic offering enables health care organisations to address challenges from multiple angles. Partnering with BSI goes beyond achieving a certificate. It signals a commitment to improving business performance and building resilience.

Aligning Safety Culture With the Right Partner

The goal in selecting a certification body is to build a safer workplace for staff and patients. Organisations should conduct due diligence to find a partner that aligns with their specific industry needs and corporate culture. The most compatible auditor is one who verifies compliance and drives an organisation’s continuous improvement in safety performance.