Safety beyond ISO 9001: Why ISO 45001 and ISO 14001 matter

When it comes to the supply of products, ISO 9001 is often the go-to health and safety standard that comes to mind. But while it's an essential and fundamental framework for quality management, it's also crucial to remember that safety and sustainability extend beyond quality control. 

 

Here, our lead business analyst Jack Crowther and HSEQ and lean manager Ali Karbani explain why Ardent prioritises two other ISO standards of equal importance: ISO 45001 and ISO 14001.

 

Safety and sustainability beyond ISO 9001

 

At Ardent, we have a strong moral, financial, and legal duty to manage the health, safety, and welfare of our people - and we’re proud to hold a great positive improvement culture that can be seen throughout the business. As well as this, we advocate for a life-cycle approach to sustainability through our entire process - from sourcing raw materials to manufacturing and ultimately disposing of products. There are two frameworks we follow to meet these standards:

 

  • ISO 45001: Occupational Health and Safety

ISO 45001 provides a framework for organisations to identify, control, and decrease the risks associated with health and safety within the workplace. As a company working across dozens of environments, from UK bus depots to the Port of Singapore, this standard helps us provide a safe and healthy environment for everyone at Ardent, including our office staff, engineers, visitors, and production team.

 

  • ISO 14001: Environmental Management

As we move towards a more sustainable future, ISO 14001 helps Ardent minimise its environmental impact. From waste management to installing solar panels on our manufacturing facility, this standard ensures we’re not only building safer products, but also protecting the planet for future generations. Meeting the ISO 14001 standard also maximises our business efficiency by reducing waste and minimising our environmental impact - applying the PDCA (Plan Do Check Act) cycle to continually improve. This has allowed us to manage waste streams, including using electric vehicles and renewable energy.

 

Why go beyond ISO 9001 to include other standards?

 

  1. Improves product quality more sustainably. Both ISO 45001 and ISO 14001 provide Ardent with frameworks to improve and innovate products while improving processes, with safety and the environment at the heart of our decision making.

 

  1. Data-driven decision-making. ISO 9001 requires Ardent to collect and analyse our data and processes. This data-driven approach enables informed decision-making and helps identify areas for improvement, including further standards.

 

  1. Transparency with our people and clients. Ardent is continually monitoring and improving its health and safety performance. Regular auditing and reporting allow us to maintain the highest standards and protect our people, and the businesses we support.

 

At Ardent, we uphold a vision where every individual not only starts their work in a secure manner, but also continues to remain safe, in optimal health and free of injuries while at work - ready to arrive home in a safe manner. Through our risk-based approach, we gain insights to develop and apply practical strategies, fostering a proactive set of safety standards aimed at mitigating accidents before they have a chance to happen.



To learn more about our full-circle servicing and monitoring for the businesses we support, get in touch with our expert team.