An Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Management Officer — also referred to as an SGA Officer under ISO 45001 — is the person responsible for implementing, maintaining, and continually improving a company’s occupational health and safety management system (OHSMS). If your organization is working toward ISO 45001 certification, or simply wants to build a more structured approach to workplace safety, understanding this role is essential.
In this guide, we break down the exact tasks, required competencies, appointment process, and how this role differs from a general safety officer.
What Is an OHS Management System (ISO 45001)?
An Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSMS) based on ISO 45001:2018 is an internationally recognized framework that helps organizations systematically identify, control, and reduce workplace risks. The standard uses the term Safety and Health at Work (SHW) Management System, which is functionally equivalent to what most organizations call an occupational health and safety management system.
Beyond protecting employees, a well-functioning OHSMS drives tangible business results: fewer workplace accidents, lower absenteeism, reduced sick days, and smoother operational processes. The OHS Management Officer is the central person who makes this system work day to day.
Not sure how ISO 45001 fits into your organization’s structure? Our ISO 45001 Occupational Health & Safety Consulting service helps you build and certify a system that actually works — without unnecessary complexity.
Core Tasks of an OHS Management Officer (ISO 45001)
The specific responsibilities of an OHS Management Officer vary by company size and industry, but the core duties under ISO 45001 are clearly defined:
1. Developing and Implementing the OHSMS The officer designs and rolls out the occupational health and safety management system in line with ISO 45001 requirements — establishing processes for identifying and controlling workplace hazards from the ground up.
2. Risk Assessment and Hazard Identification Regular risk assessments are a cornerstone of the role. The officer conducts systematic evaluations to detect potential hazards, then develops appropriate measures to minimize those risks and improve overall workplace safety.
3. Planning and Conducting Internal Audits The OHS Management Officer plans and carries out internal audits of the management system to verify ongoing compliance with ISO 45001. They identify improvement opportunities, drive corrective actions, and are present during external certification audits as well. If internal audit capacity is a challenge for your organization, our Internal Audits & External QMR Services can fill that gap with experienced external support.
4. Employee Training and Safety Awareness Employees must be regularly trained and sensitized on occupational health and safety topics. The officer develops training programs, organizes sessions, and fosters a company-wide culture of safety awareness.
5. Developing Work Procedures and Safety Guidelines The officer creates work instructions and guidelines to ensure all operational processes incorporate health and safety considerations — including hazard control procedures, emergency response plans, and requirements for personal protective equipment (PPE).
6. Monitoring System Performance Continuous monitoring of the OHSMS is essential. The officer tracks key performance indicators (KPIs) and safety metrics, prepares regular performance reports, and recommends improvements to optimize workplace safety over time.
7. Stakeholder Collaboration The role requires close cooperation with internal and external parties: senior management, employees, workplace safety committees, occupational physicians, employers’ liability insurance associations, and other relevant stakeholders.
8. Driving Continual Improvement The officer identifies opportunities for improvement, conducts assessments, analyzes system performance data, and supports the implementation of measures to continually raise safety standards — a core principle of ISO 45001.
How Are Risk Assessments and Hazard Identification Carried Out?
Risk assessment is one of the most technically demanding aspects of the role. In practice, the officer follows a structured process:
- Understand the work context — the nature of activities, working conditions, employee profiles, and relevant legal requirements.
- Identify all potential hazards — through on-site observations, employee interviews, accident report reviews, or other suitable methods.
- Evaluate the risk associated with each hazard — assessing both the likelihood of occurrence and the potential severity of impact on employee health and safety.
- Set risk criteria — for example, the severity of possible injuries, frequency of exposure, or other relevant factors specific to the organization.
- Develop and implement control measures — applying the hierarchy of hazard controls: elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, and PPE.
- Monitor effectiveness — regularly reviewing whether implemented measures are producing the intended results and whether the risk situation has changed.
The exact procedures will vary depending on company-specific requirements and the nature of the work environment. This structured approach is closely aligned with the risk-based thinking principles also found in ISO 9001, making it a mindset that translates across management systems.
Required Competencies of an OHS Management Officer
To effectively fulfill the demands of ISO 45001, an OHS Management Officer needs a combination of technical knowledge and interpersonal skills:
Specialist Knowledge A solid understanding of occupational health and safety principles and the specific requirements of ISO 45001 — including its concepts, terminology, and methods.
Legal Knowledge Familiarity with the relevant laws, regulations, and regulatory requirements in the field of occupational health and safety.
Risk Management Experience Practical competence in identifying workplace hazards, assessing their impact, and developing risk reduction measures — including conducting risk assessments and verifying that control measures are implemented and effective.
Audit and Monitoring Skills The ability to plan and execute internal audits, evaluate results objectively, and apply sound audit methodology. Understanding what auditors look for during external certification audits is equally important — for a broader overview of this, see our guide on what an auditor does, their tasks, and job profile.
Communication and Training Skills Strong communication abilities to effectively convey health and safety requirements and foster a culture of safety awareness across all levels of the workforce.
Project Management Skills The capacity to plan, organize, and manage the OHSMS as an ongoing project — coordinating objectives, tasks, resources, and timelines.
Leadership and Teamwork The ability to collaborate across departments and with diverse stakeholders, and to lead by example in championing workplace safety culture throughout the organization.
Need support building these competencies within your team? Our Quality Management Training programs cover the core skills management system officers need to be effective from day one.
How Is an OHS Management Officer Appointed?
The appointment process can take different forms depending on the organization’s structure and available resources:
- Internal appointment — a company designates an existing employee who already has the relevant expertise and competencies in occupational health and safety.
- External recruitment — if a company lacks suitable internal candidates or needs specific technical expertise, it may hire externally.
- Dual-role assignment — an existing employee takes on the OHS Management Officer role alongside their current position, provided they have the relevant knowledge and capacity.
Regardless of how the appointment is made, the selected person must have the necessary authority, resources, and management support to carry out their duties effectively. This is a point ISO 45001 auditors actively look for — the officer cannot drive change without organizational backing.
Many companies also consider working with an external consultant during the implementation phase, particularly when building the system from scratch or preparing for a first certification. Our ISO 45001 Occupational Health & Safety Consulting service is designed specifically for this — providing expert guidance without the overhead of a full-time hire.
OHS Management Officer vs. Safety Officer: What’s the Difference?
These two roles are often confused. Here’s a clear breakdown:
| OHS Management Officer (ISO 45001) | Safety Officer (General) | |
|---|---|---|
| Standard reference | Specifically aligned with ISO 45001 | Not tied to a specific standard |
| Primary focus | Planning, implementing, and maintaining a structured OHSMS | Day-to-day safety work at the operational level |
| Key activities | System management, audits, risk assessment, KPI monitoring | Hazard identification, employee training, accident investigation |
| Requirements | ISO 45001 knowledge required | No specific normative requirements |
It is entirely possible for one person to fulfill both roles if their responsibilities and the company’s needs align — but the distinction matters when it comes to accountability under ISO 45001. For organizations managing multiple standards simultaneously, it is also worth understanding how ISO consulting differs from what a certification body does, as the roles of consultants and auditors are equally distinct.
ISO 45001 and Environmental Management: A Natural Pairing
Many organizations that pursue ISO 45001 certification also implement ISO 14001 (Environmental Management) around the same time, since both standards share the same high-level structure (Annex SL) and integrate efficiently into a single management system. If this is relevant to your organization, our guide on ISO 14001 explained simply is a practical starting point.
Qualifications and Training for the Role
A qualified OHS Management Officer typically needs training covering three areas:
- Normative knowledge — a thorough understanding of ISO 45001:2018 and its requirements
- Internal audit competence — the skills to plan and conduct internal audits according to the standard
- System management expertise — the ability to maintain and continuously develop the OHSMS over time
Training is available in various formats: in-person seminars, live virtual sessions, or self-paced e-learning — making it accessible regardless of location or schedule.
What Does ISO 45001 Certification Actually Cost?
One of the first practical questions organizations ask is what the full cost of implementation and certification looks like. This varies significantly by company size, industry, and whether you’re building the system from scratch or upgrading an existing one. For a transparent breakdown, see our ISO 45001 pricing guide.
How Sternberg Consulting Supports Your ISO 45001 Journey
Whether you are building an OHSMS from scratch, preparing for ISO 45001 certification, or developing an internal OHS Management Officer, Sternberg Consulting provides expert guidance tailored to your industry and organizational structure.
We support you through every stage — from initial gap analysis and system implementation to internal audits, document preparation, and certification readiness.
