'We're looking to make real improvements' says Troy Winters as team focuses on DEI and well-being
Troy Winters (pictured right), CUPE's senior health and safety officer, is spearheading the global effort to update ISO 45001, the leading international standard for occupational
health and safety management systems. His appointment as convener of the working group, comprised of experts from various countries, marks the first time a representative from the labour movement has taken on this key leadership role. Winters is guiding a three-year project to revise the standard, with changes aimed at better addressing diversity, inclusion, and worker well-being.
“We’re looking to make real improvements in how workplaces manage health and safety risks, and part of that is ensuring that we recognize the diversity of today’s workforce,” says Winters. His team is considering a range of new guidelines that would provide clearer directions for organizations to account for various factors such as age, gender, and other demographic differences in their health and safety programs.
The ISO 45001 standard, originally published in 2018, provides a framework for managing occupational health and safety risks. It’s adopted in over 160 countries and impacts millions of workers. However, Winters notes that the original standard lacks specificity when it comes to diversity and inclusion. “When ISO says ‘consider the diversity of the workers in the workplace,’ that’s a fine statement, but what does it really mean in practice? How do organizations audit that?”
To address this, Winters and his team are working to clarify how companies should evaluate the diversity of their workforce, giving concrete examples. “For instance, when it comes to age, we’re asking companies to think about their older workers. Do they need different safety protocols? How about younger workers? What about everyone in between?” Winters explains, adding these considerations are key to ensuring health and safety policies are truly comprehensive and effective.
Another major focus of the revision is well-being. Winters acknowledges that this area has become more prominent in recent years, particularly with the rise of psychological health as a critical workplace concern. “We’re exploring how to incorporate the concept of well-being into health and safety systems, beyond just preventing injuries and illnesses,” says Winters. He references ISO 45003, which deals with psychological health, and notes that integrating well-being into ISO 45001 would encourage employers to take a more holistic approach to workplace safety.
The process for updating ISO 45001 is meticulous and involves multiple layers of review. “Right now, we’re working on the first draft of the revised standard, which we’ll present to committee experts for feedback. Once we have a working draft, we’ll send it out to the global standards development organizations for their input,” Winters explains. This stage is expected to take about six months to a year. After gathering feedback from around the world, the working group will make further revisions, with the final version of the standard expected by 2027.
One of the challenges Winters’ team faces is ensuring the revised standard applies to workplaces globally, across different cultures and legal frameworks. “In Canada, for example, we have laws that require workplaces to provide menstrual products. In other countries, this isn’t even on the radar,” says Winters, noting that the working group must strike a balance between pushing for progressive changes and recognizing regional differences in workplace practices.
In addition to remote collaboration, Winters emphasizes the importance of in-person meetings. Earlier this month, the working group held its first face-to-face session in El Salvador, the first since the COVID-19 pandemic. “Meeting in person allowed us to dive deep into the issues and conduct a workshop with local health and safety practitioners. We got a lot of valuable feedback,” Winters shares.
Looking ahead, Winters is optimistic about the impact these changes will have. “We’re aiming to produce a standard that doesn’t just tick boxes, but actually improves workers’ lives. The more specific and actionable we can make the guidelines, the better they will serve health and safety professionals around the world.”
He encourages Canadian health and safety professionals to get involved through the Canadian mirror committee, which allows them to participate in the ongoing standards development process. “If this work interests you, I’d love to see more people join the conversation. Canada is a leader in this space, and there’s a lot of important work still to be done,” Winters encourages.
