ISO 45001:2018 Lead Auditor Course

Overview

About this course

What You'll Learn

Course objectives

By completing this course, learners will be able to:

• Understand what a management system is and how an Occupational Health and Safety Management System operates within an organization.
• Understand the purpose, structure and intended outcomes of ISO 45001:2018, including the relevant changes introduced through Amendment 1:2024.
• Understand important OHS management system and auditing terminology, including hazards, risks, opportunities, interested parties, audit criteria, audit evidence, audit findings, conformity and nonconformity.
• Understand the purpose of management system auditing and distinguish between first-party, second-party and third-party audits.
• Understand the basic ISO certification process and the roles of organizations, certification bodies and accreditation bodies.
• Understand and apply the principles and audit process described in ISO 19011:2026 at a functional level.
• Interpret the requirements of ISO 45001:2018 within different organizational and industry contexts.
• Understand what objective evidence is and determine whether available evidence demonstrates conformity with audit criteria.
• Use interviewing, observation, document review, record review and sampling techniques to gather and verify audit evidence.
• Follow audit trails and connect information obtained from different processes, departments and sources.
• Identify, evaluate and clearly document audit findings and nonconformities based on objective evidence.
• Plan, conduct, report and follow up an ISO 45001 OHS management system audit.

On Completion

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the course, learners should be able to:

• Learning Outcome 1 Understand Management Systems and OHSMSExplain what a management system is, how an Occupational Health and Safety Management System works, and how the different elements of an OHSMS interact to manage OH&S risks and improve performance.
• Learning Outcome 2 Understand ISO 45001:2018Explain the purpose and structure of ISO 45001:2018 and interpret the requirements of Clauses 4 to 10, including the climate-change considerations introduced through Amendment 1:2024, within practical organizational contexts.
• Learning Outcome 3 Understand Management System AuditingExplain the purpose of an audit, important auditing terminology, the principles of auditing, different types of audits, and the roles and responsibilities of the people involved in an audit.
• Learning Outcome 4 Understand ISO CertificationExplain, at a functional level, how management system certification works, including the relationship between organizations, certification bodies and accreditation bodies and the purpose of Stage 1, Stage 2, surveillance and recertification audits.
• Learning Outcome 5 Plan an ISO 45001 AuditEstablish audit objectives, scope and criteria; review relevant information; identify areas of audit focus; develop an audit plan; prepare audit questions; and determine appropriate audit trails and sampling approaches.
• Learning Outcome 6 Conduct an ISO 45001 AuditApply appropriate interviewing, observation, document review, record review and sampling techniques to gather and verify objective evidence during an OHS management system audit.
• Learning Outcome 7 Evaluate Audit Evidence and Identify NonconformitiesCompare objective evidence against applicable audit criteria, distinguish conformity from nonconformity, recognize when evidence is insufficient, and develop clear and evidence-based audit findings.
• Learning Outcome 8 Report and Conclude an AuditDevelop audit conclusions, communicate findings during closing meetings, prepare clear audit reports and understand the principles of corrective-action review and audit follow-up.

The Curriculum

What the course covers

From understanding OHS management systems to planning, conducting and reporting an audit.

1. 01

   OHS Management Systems & ISO 45001

   Explore how an OHS management system works, the Plan-Do-Check-Act approach and ISO 45001:2018 requirements, including Amendment 1:2024. Cover leadership, worker participation, risk controls, performance evaluation and continual improvement.

2. 02

   Auditing Fundamentals

   Understand audit types, terminology, roles and responsibilities. Explore auditor ethics, independence and competence, alongside evidence-based and risk-based auditing principles.

3. 03

   ISO Certification & Third-Party Auditing

   Understand the roles of certification and accreditation bodies and the certification journey, from Stage 1 and Stage 2 audits to surveillance and recertification.

4. 04

   Audit Planning

   Define audit objectives, scope and criteria. Review organizational information, map processes and prepare audit plans, questions, sampling approaches and audit trails.

5. 05

   Conducting an Audit

   Gather and verify evidence through interviews, observation and document review. Follow audit trails, assess evidence sufficiency and manage communication, time and challenges, including remote and hybrid audits.

6. 06

   Audit Findings & Nonconformities

   Evaluate evidence against requirements and distinguish facts from assumptions. Write clear, supported nonconformities and understand classifications, observations and opportunities for improvement while maintaining auditor impartiality.

7. 07

   Reporting & Follow-Up

   Develop audit conclusions, communicate findings at closing meetings and prepare clear, confidential reports. Review corrective actions, evaluate their effectiveness and follow findings through to closure.

How You're Assessed

Assessment

Your Credential

Certification

Questions

Frequently asked