EMCOR UK is the first organisation in the world to be certified against BSI’s new scheme based on the ISO standard for psychological health and safety

EMCOR UK is proud to announce that it is the first organisation globally to be certified against BSI’s new scheme which is based on the international standard ISO 45003 – the first global standard providing practical guidance on managing psychological health and safety in the workplace. 

The new standard - ISO 45003: 2021 Occupational health and safety management – psychological health and safety at work – Guidelines for managing psychosocial risks was published in June 2021 and gives guidance for managing psychosocial risks and provides recommendations to organisations on how to prevent work-related psychological ill health. To achieve this certification, a rigorous and independent assessment is carried out by BSI to ensure that the scheme has been successfully implemented.

BSI, in its role as the UK National Standards Body, published the international guidance on psychological health and safety and managing psychosocial risks. Psychosocial hazards are increasingly recognised as major challenges to health, safety and wellbeing. The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted ways of working and created new challenges for employees and organisations. The impact of psychosocial risks can include increased costs due to absence from work, reduced ability to work effectively and increased staff turnover. Effective management can help eliminate or mitigate these risks and can enhance employee engagement, performance and productivity improving organisational resilience.

Keith Chanter, CEO of EMCOR UK, said: “We are delighted to be the first organisation globally to have been certified against this highly relevant psychological health and safety scheme as it demonstrates our absolute commitment to building an organisational culture that fosters a safe and positive working environment in which all our colleagues can thrive. Our purpose is to create a better world at work and a key element is our responsibility, as employers, to protect and promote the physical and psychological health of our colleagues.”

Jonathan Gawthrop, Executive Director Wellbeing Sustainability & Assurance, said: “We were audited on all 10 clauses of the international standard to ensure we operate a framework which conforms to BSI’s psychological health and safety at work scheme and ISO 45003. We are proud that our long-term wellbeing strategy has been tested against international standards ensuring we are compliant with our value, People Who Care, whilst also ensuring our commitment is not merely a tick box exercise and that opportunities for continuous improvement are identified.”

Hayley Farrell, Wellbeing Manager for EMCOR UK, commented: “We recognise the critical importance of supporting mental wellbeing in the workplace and in January we launched our Mental Health Charter to encourage colleagues to discuss mental health. Our long-term wellbeing strategy takes a proactive and sustainable approach to employee health and this outstanding achievement reflects the robust structure we have in place to identify and manage mental health risks and our drive to create parity between mental and physical safety.”

Hannah Clark, Client Manager for BSI, said: “One of the really positive things about this job is being able to work closely with clients where the passion for the subject matter shines. This was very much the case with EMCOR UK and their approach to psychosocial risk management. The audit demonstrated an effective and systematic approach to the management of psychosocial risk, with feedback received from the staff highlighting the presence of a supportive, inclusive environment where staff can not only grow and develop, but also feel safe in discussing their personal and professional issues.”

The ISO committee, made up of experts from 40 countries, developed this international standard to be practical and easy to understand for every organisation. ISO 45003 is written to help organisations using an occupational health and safety management system, based on ISO 45001 Occupational Health and Safety, but is also useful for organisations that haven't yet implemented an occupational health and safety management system. It is applicable to organisations of all sizes and in all sectors for the development, implementation, maintenance and continual improvement of healthy and safe workplaces.