Exploring the Principles of ISO Standards - Engagement of People
Introductions
A core tenet of effective ISO management systems is the engagement of people. Employees at all levels contribute significantly to an organization’s capacity to deliver consistent results, manage risks, and drive continual improvement. The ISO standards developed under the Annex SL framework emphasize the necessity of competency, awareness, communication, and active participation in all aspects of the management system.
Whether you're implementing ISO 9001 (Quality Management), ISO 14001 (Environmental), ISO 45001 (Occupational Health & Safety), or ISO 27001 (Information Security), empowering and engaging your workforce is non-negotiable for system success.
🔹 Building an ISO Training Program for Employees
📌 Why It Matters:
Competence and awareness are explicitly required in all major ISO standards. Training programs must ensure employees understand their roles, are technically competent, and are aware of the implications of their activities on compliance and performance.
📖 ISO Requirements:
- ISO 9001:2015 (Clause 7.2) – Requires determining necessary competence and taking action to acquire it.
- ISO 14001:2015 (Clause 7.2) – Mandates that personnel performing tasks that could impact the environment are competent.
- ISO 45001:2018 (Clause 7.2) – Adds a health and safety context to training and competence.
- ISO 27001:2022 (Clause 7.2.2) – Focuses on awareness of information security risks, policies, and responsibilities.
✅ Best Practices:
- Conduct training needs analysis linked to job roles and risks.
- Develop onboarding programs focused on ISO system awareness.
- Offer ongoing training through e-learning, workshops, and toolbox talks.
- Track and evaluate training effectiveness through competence assessments.
- Integrate scenario-based simulations for safety and information security drills.
📖 Reference Links:
- ISO 9001 Training & Awareness Requirements
- ISO 45001 Competency Requirements
- ISO 27001 Awareness & Training
🔹 Encouraging Employee Participation in Quality, Safety, Environmental & Risk Management
📌 Why It Matters:
Engaged employees are more likely to contribute innovative ideas, report nonconformities, and participate in risk reduction and process improvements. ISO frameworks advocate for worker consultation and participation, not only in implementation but also in ongoing maintenance and review of the system.
📖 ISO Requirements:
- ISO 9001:2015 (Clause 5.1.1 & 5.2) – Leadership must engage people and communicate the quality policy.
- ISO 14001:2015 (Clause 5.4 & 7.4) – Requires communication and engagement for environmental objectives.
- ISO 45001:2018 (Clause 5.4 & 5.1) – Requires consultation and participation of workers in decision-making processes.
- ISO 27001:2022 (Clause 5.3) – Involves defining and communicating information security roles and ensuring staff awareness of threats and responsibilities.
✅ Best Practices:
- Implement employee suggestion schemes for quality or sustainability improvements.
- Conduct cross-functional risk assessments with team participation.
- Involve frontline staff in internal audits and incident investigations.
- Use surveys and feedback tools to capture worker concerns.
- Establish safety and quality committees with employee representatives.
📖 Reference Links:
🔹 Aligning Workforce Development with ISO Requirements
📌 Why It Matters:
Workforce development strategies aligned with ISO requirements ensure that organizations have the skills, capacity, and adaptability to manage evolving risks and opportunities. This alignment also supports succession planning and business continuity.
📖 ISO Requirements:
- ISO 9001:2015 (Clause 7.1.2 & 7.3) – Ensure necessary resources and promote awareness of how individual work contributes to quality objectives.
- ISO 14001:2015 (Clause 6.1.2 & 7.2) – Requires competence for managing environmental aspects and compliance obligations.
- ISO 45001:2018 (Clause 6.1.2.2 & 7.3) – Focuses on identifying hazards and ensuring worker preparedness.
- ISO 27001:2022 (Annex A.6.3 & A.7.2.2) – Emphasizes periodic training and ensuring security competencies are maintained.
✅ Best Practices:
- Align development programs with strategic business and ISO objectives.
- Develop competency frameworks linked to ISO clause requirements.
- Create individual development plans (IDPs) for key roles.
- Use performance management systems to monitor ISO-related performance metrics.
- Incorporate resilience, crisis management, and business continuity into workforce training.
📖 Reference Links:
🔹 Conclusion
Engagement of people is more than a principle—it’s a prerequisite for any ISO-certified management system to function effectively. By investing in employee training, participation, and development, organizations can:
✔ Improve quality and operational performance.
✔ Reduce health, safety, environmental, and security risks.
✔ Foster a culture of ownership and accountability.
✔ Enhance compliance and audit readiness.
✔ Strengthen resilience and adaptability in the face of change.
Leadership’s role in supporting and promoting this engagement cannot be overstated. As ISO continues to evolve, businesses must prioritize their people as the core drivers of performance, innovation, and compliance.
Stay tuned for the next instalment in our "Exploring the Principles of ISO Standards" series, where we discuss the importance of “Process Approach” in ISO compliance! 🚀
Would you like guidance on implementing these strategies in your ISO management system? Let’s connect! 🚀
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🔍 Explore ISO Standards: ISO.Org