ISO 45001:2018 online
ISO 45001 without audit: certificate by online self-assessment
You receive the ISO 45001 certificate without an auditor visiting your site. You answer 34 yes/no questions online, SICE reviews the result, and the certificate follows within 4 hours after you pass and pay. It suits businesses that need proof of their occupational health and safety management for customers and tenders.
01: Self-assessment
How does the self-assessment replace the on-site audit?
In the classic route an auditor visits your premises, reads your documents and talks to your staff. At Zertify you work through the requirements yourself: 34 yes/no questions on your occupational health and safety management system, answered online at a time that suits you.
The assessment has two parts, and both count.
- 14 mandatory questions
- These are requirements of ISO 45001:2018 itself. All 14 must be answered yes.
- 20 further questions
- At least 14 of these must be answered yes for the assessment to pass.
- Review by SICE
- SICE reviews every assessment before the certificate is issued.
The method rests on honest answers. Nobody inspects your machine guarding or your first-aid cabinet on site, so the certificate confirms what you state, checked by SICE. Answer yes only where you could show the evidence if a customer asked for it.
02: Scope
What does an ISO 45001 certificate without audit confirm?
It confirms that your business has assessed itself against ISO 45001:2018, met the requirements set by the assessment, and that SICE has reviewed the result. The certificate is issued by G6 Agency AG under licence from SICE.
Every certificate carries a number and a QR code on the PDF. A customer scans the code and lands on a public verification page. Each year a short online re-audit confirms that your status still holds.
The certificate does not replace your duties as an employer. It documents a management system. Preventing accidents on the shop floor remains your daily work.
The standard asks for several things, among them:
- Hazard assessment
- Identify hazards and assess the risks before an accident happens.
- OH&S policy
- Senior management sets a policy with a commitment to prevention.
- Worker consultation
- Workers are consulted and involved in decisions that affect their safety.
- Hierarchy of controls
- Remove the hazard first. Substitution, technical measures, organisation and personal protective equipment follow in that order.
- Emergency preparedness
- The response to emergencies is planned before one occurs.
- Incident investigation
- Incidents are investigated and lead to corrective actions.
03: Suitable companies
Which companies suit certification without an on-site audit?
Typical users have physical hazards at work: manufacturing and production, construction and trades, logistics and transport, the chemical industry and healthcare. Most are small or medium-sized businesses.
The certificate fits when a supplier questionnaire asks for ISO 45001, when a tender lists it as a criterion, or when a purchasing department wants proof of a safety management system before placing an order. It also gives structure to your safety work ahead of a customer audit.
Read the wording of the requirement first. If a customer expressly demands an on-site audit by a certification body, the classic route is the one to take. The guide on certification routes compares both.
04: Comparison
ISO 45001 without audit or with audit: time and cost compared
The two routes differ in how the evidence is gathered, and that drives both time and price.
| Criterion | Zertify | Classic route |
|---|---|---|
| Basis | Online self-assessment with 34 yes/no questions, reviewed by SICE | Document review and on-site audit by an auditor |
| On-site visit | None | Yes, at one or more sites |
| Time to certificate | Within 4 hours after passing and payment | Indicatively several weeks to a few months |
| Cost | CHF 699 in the first year, then CHF 469 per year including the online re-audit | Indicatively CHF 3,000 to 10,000 in the first year, depending on size and number of sites |
| Yearly check | Short online re-audit, included in the yearly fee | Surveillance audit, usually on site |
The figures for the classic route are indicative and vary with company size and certification body. Ask for two or three quotes before you compare.
05: Zertify
How does Zertify issue the ISO 45001 certificate?
Start with the free self-assessment for ISO 45001. If you pass, you pay and receive the certificate within 4 hours. You do not need an account to buy.
The price is CHF 699 (€699) in the first year, then CHF 469 (€469) per year including the yearly online re-audit. The certificate is valid for 3 years. Prices include 8.1% Swiss VAT for customers in Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
Billing runs as an automatic yearly subscription. You can cancel at any time in your customer account, effective at the end of the current year, and the certificate then ends with the paid year. If you book two standards you get 20% off, with three or more 30%, also on the yearly fee.
06: Preparation
What should you prepare before you start the assessment?
The 14 mandatory questions are easier to answer with the documents on your desk. Gather these first.
Hazard register
List the hazards at each workplace and the risk you assigned to each.
Signed policy
Have the OH&S policy approved and signed by senior management.
Consultation of workers
Know how workers are involved, for example through safety meetings or elected representatives.
Emergency plan
Keep the plan, the escape routes and the emergency contacts at hand.
Incident log
Record accidents and near misses together with the actions you took.
If an answer would be no, close that gap first and take the assessment afterwards.
07: FAQ
Questions about ISO 45001 without audit
08: Guide
Related pages
Check where your safety management stands
Answer 34 yes/no questions on ISO 45001 and see whether you pass.
Free and without registration.