The draft that I've seen doesn't attempt to define every word or phrase, just those that may have particular meaning in the context of the standard.

But you are right, there's no formal definition of 'ill-health', nor indeed of 'injury'. An OH&S policy is 'to prevent work-related injury and ill health ...' and I guess those words are judged not to require any ISO-specific definition? But it's an interesting point you make.

Jay and Imwaldra,

Thank you for your replies.

Ill health in OHSAS 18001 is a "identifiable, adverse physical or mental condition arising from and/or made worse by a work activity and/or work-related situation."

The definition was important as for a long time there was resistance of employers agains the prevention of "mental ill health", as this also touches the ways how employers can deal with their employees.

In some European countries within the last two years mental and physical health explicitely were put on the same lavel in the occupational safety laws of these countries. For example, in Austria and germany the loss of what was clause 3.8 (ill health) in OHSAS 18001 can now be compensated by reference to safety laws (even though there still are enforcement issues).

But perhaps the OHSAS 18001 clause 3.8 didn't go into ISO 45001 in order to get acceptance from regions where employers (and governments) are used to exert strong pressure on workers. In these regions making mental health a subject of OH&S may lead conflicts with traditional leadership methods. Making rules mor international can lead to lower standards. I think that this is what happened here.

I know of a big 30000 employee compaly with several OHSAS 18001 certified sites. In that company "mental health" only is an issue in Germany and Austria (driven by works councils who had experienced internal auditors as members who referred to the law and to OHSAS 18001). Interestingly, only in Japan it was (as it should be) the management which initated improvements in the OS&H management of mental health. In Indonesia, China and Malaysia there is almost no protection against occupational mental ill health. The sites are certified, but workers learn about OHSAS 18001 only as a standard for managing phsical health and fostering the cleanliness of workplaces. You also can forget about consultations with employees (clause 4.4.3.2 in OHSAS 18001). The sites got certified nevertheless.

"incident:
occurrence arising out of or in the course of work that could or does result in death, injury or ill health (regardles of severity)"
would be closer to OHSAS 18001. The employee side lost the improvements which they achieved when OHSAS 18001:1999 became OHSAS 18001:2007.