Workplace health and safety isn’t just a legal requirement, it’s a core part of protecting your people, maintaining productivity, and building trust with clients. ISO 45001, the international standard for Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems (OHSMS), provides a structured approach to preventing incidents and creating a safer work environment.
For many organisations, the question is not whether ISO 45001 is valuable, but how much it costs and what’s involved in achieving certification. This page will explain the full cost picture, helping you plan your cost of certification effectively and maximise the return on your safety investment.
In Australia, workplace incidents cost billions annually in lost productivity, compensation claims, and reputational damage. Certification under ISO 45001 demonstrates not just compliance, but a commitment to continuous improvement in safety, a message that resonates with employees, regulators, and clients alike.
It can also:
ISO 45001 certification in Australia typically ranges from AUD 6,000 to AUD 55,000, depending on the organisation’s size, complexity, and existing safety systems.
The final price depends on factors such as:
Evaluates your current safety management system against ISO 45001 requirements, identifying compliance gaps and potential hazards.
Includes safety policies, emergency response plans, training records, and hazard reporting systems.
May involve safety management software, incident reporting systems, and worker training sessions.
Conducted to assess readiness before the external certification audit. Can be done internally or outsourced.
Formal two-stage audit verifying your compliance with ISO 45001.
Covers annual audits and continuous improvement activities to keep certification active.
The final price depends on factors such as:
If you already have ISO 9001 or ISO 14001, combine audits to save time and money while reinforcing a holistic approach to quality, environment, and safety.
Start with certifying the areas that present the greatest safety risks, then expand the scope over time. This reduces initial costs while addressing your most critical hazards first.
Train safety officers or supervisors to conduct regular in-house audits. Not only does this reduce consultant fees, but it also fosters a stronger safety culture.
Make ISO 45001 part of regular business processes rather than a separate compliance task. This keeps your organisation audit-ready and reduces last-minute preparation costs.
Track incident reports, near misses, and hazard observations to identify trends. Investing in targeted improvements often results in measurable cost savings, such as fewer lost-time injuries and lower insurance premiums.
Cost efficiency in occupational health and safety is about maintaining consistency. Once certified:
At Sustainable Certification, we understand that ISO 45001 certification is about more than passing an audit, it’s about safeguarding lives, reducing operational risks, and supporting a sustainable workplace culture. With over 15 years of experience in certification services, we have helped businesses in construction, manufacturing, logistics, and many other industries turn compliance requirements into strategic safety assets.
If you’re ready to protect your workforce, meet compliance obligations, and gain a competitive advantage, it’s time to talk with experts who can guide you through ISO 45001 from start to finish.
Anywhere from AUD 6,000 for small, low-risk businesses to over AUD 50,000 for large, high-hazard operations, depending on size, scope, and existing systems.
Audit costs generally cover gap analysis, internal audits, external audits, site inspections, document review, and recommendations for improvement (see anatomy of an audit).
Yes, annual surveillance audits, safety system updates, refresher training, and hazard re-evaluations are essential to maintaining compliance and keeping your workforce safe.
Yes, Small businesses can reduce incidents, lower insurance premiums, and strengthen tender applications, often seeing a return on investment within the first certification cycle.
Most organisations complete certification in three to six months, depending on readiness, resource availability, and scope.
Absolutely. Integration with other management systems such as ISO 9001 or ISO 14001 can save time, reduce costs, and create operational synergies.