ROLE OF ISO 45001 IN ENHANCING WORKPLACE SAFETY IN MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES

Occupational diseases, occupational health and safety (OHS) have become a very important issue in manufacturing. Manufacturing facilities have complicated gear, dangerous materials, and risky procedures, therefore it's important to have good safety management systems in place. The international standard for Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems (OHSMS), ISO 45001, gives a methodical way to find hazards, evaluate risks, and put in place safety measures to make the workplace safer. This study investigates the function of ISO 45001 in improving worker safety within manufacturing sectors.The research employs a descriptive and analytical design, utilising both primary and secondary data sources. Structured questionnaires and interviews with safety managers, supervisors, and workers in chosen manufacturing units were used to collect primary data. Secondary data came from industry publications, safety audit records, and earlier research projects. To see how well ISO 45001 was put into practice, we looked at safety performance indicators such the accident frequency rate, severity rate, near-miss reporting, and following safety rules.The study's results show that manufacturing companies that are ISO 45001 certified have much better workplace safety outcomes than those who are not. There was a clear drop in occupational accidents, better danger identification, more worker participation, and better compliance with laws and rules. ISO 45001 also helped create a positive safety culture by encouraging continuous improvement, making employees more aware of safety issues, and getting management to care about occupational health and safety.The study finds that ISO 45001 is very important for improving safety in the workplace in manufacturing businesses. Following the standard correctly not only lowers the chances of work-related injuries, but it also makes the organisation more efficient and long-lasting. The study shows how important it is to add ISO 45001 to current management systems in order to make safety gains that last. Keywords: ISO 45001, health and safety at work, safety in the workplace, safety management system, and preventing accidents in the manufacturing industry