Clause · 4.2 · Stakeholders

ISO 45001 Stakeholder Analysis: A Practical Guide to Compliance & Engagement

How to Identify & Engage Stakeholders for ISO 45001 Success

SafetyRatios·1 February 2025·6 min read

Understanding stakeholder needs and expectations is a fundamental requirement of ISO 45001. Together with understanding organisational context, stakeholder analysis forms the foundation for designing an effective occupational health and safety (OH&S) management system.

Before organisations can analyse stakeholder needs, they must first identify who those stakeholders are. Once identified, their expectations, influence, and potential impact on safety objectives can be assessed and integrated into the design of the OH&S system.

This article introduces a structured approach to stakeholder analysis using the MOVER framework, a method designed to guide organisations through the stages of identifying, analysing, engaging, and refining stakeholder relationships within ISO 45001 systems.

Step 1: Mapping Stakeholders

The first stage of stakeholder analysis involves identifying and categorising all stakeholders that may influence or be influenced by the organisation's OH&S objectives. A useful starting tool is an Input-Process-Output (IPO) analysis, which maps the organisation’s operations and helps identify who interacts with each stage.

Once identified, stakeholders can be visualised using tools such as stakeholder maps, onion diagrams, or PESTLE analysis to understand where they sit within the operational environment.

Step 2: Observing Stakeholder Characteristics

After mapping stakeholders, organisations must analyse their behaviour, expectations, motivations, and influence. This stage focuses on gathering insights into stakeholder interests and how their actions may affect OH&S performance.

Methods such as surveys, interviews, power-interest matrices, and SWOT analysis can be used to understand stakeholder priorities and potential conflicts.

Step 3: Validating and Engaging Stakeholders

The validation stage tests whether assumptions about stakeholders are accurate. Engagement activities such as consultations, meetings, and feedback mechanisms help confirm stakeholder expectations and identify gaps between assumptions and reality.

Tools such as RACI matrices, communication plans, and influence diagrams can support structured stakeholder engagement and clarify roles within the OH&S system.

ISO 45001 stakeholder analysis using the MOVER framework

Step 4: Evaluating Stakeholder Impact

Stakeholder influence changes over time. Organisations must therefore monitor how stakeholder behaviour affects safety performance and adjust strategies accordingly.

Regular reviews, audits, and SWOT assessments can help evaluate how stakeholder relationships evolve and how those changes affect risk management strategies.

Step 5: Repeating the Stakeholder Analysis Cycle

The final stage of the MOVER framework emphasises continuous improvement. Stakeholder relationships must be periodically reassessed to reflect organisational growth, regulatory changes, or shifts in operational environments.

By repeating the analysis cycle, organisations ensure that their OH&S systems remain responsive to stakeholder expectations and capable of adapting to new risks and opportunities.

When implemented effectively, stakeholder analysis strengthens ISO 45001 compliance while improving collaboration, transparency, and long-term safety performance.

BySafetyRatios InsightStudio

Step 1: Mapping Stakeholders

Step 2: Observing Stakeholder Characteristics

Step 3: Validating and Engaging Stakeholders

Step 4: Evaluating Stakeholder Impact

Step 5: Repeating the Stakeholder Analysis Cycle

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