Louth County Council Achieves ISO 45001 Occupational Health and Safety Certification
Louth County Council has achieved certification to I.S. ISO 45001:2018, the internationally recognised standard for Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems, following a successful assessment by the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI).
ISO 45001:2018 provides organisations with a framework to create safer workplaces by identifying and managing risks, preventing work-related injuries and ill health, and supporting continual improvement.
The certification, awarded by NSAI in June, provides Louth County Council with independent verification that its health and safety management practices meet international best-practice standards and that robust systems are in place to protect employees and support safe service delivery across a diverse range of operational and administrative functions.
As part of the certification process, Louth County Council underwent a comprehensive assessment of its Occupational Health and Safety Management System by the NSAI. Maintaining certification requires ongoing external audits and regular reviews to ensure compliance with the requirements of the standard and to demonstrate continual improvement in health and safety performance.
The accreditation covers a broad range of Council services, including Roads, Housing, Libraries, Facilities Management, Environment, Planning and Regeneration, Corporate/HR, Community and Enterprise, IT and Finance.
It builds upon Louth County Council's existing ISO 45001 certification for Fire Service operations and demonstrates a strong organisational commitment to employee wellbeing, risk management, and continuous improvement.
Welcoming the announcement, Cllr Dolores Minogue, Cathaoirleach of Louth County Council, said:
"A safe and healthy workplace is fundamental to the delivery of effective public services, and this certification recognises the strong culture of safety that has been developed across Louth County Council."
Jerome Lambe, Head of Safety, Louth County Council, said:
"Achieving ISO 45001 certification is a significant accomplishment for the organisation and reflects the ongoing commitment to improving our Safety Management System.
"It is the culmination of a considerable body of work across the Council and demonstrates the commitment of staff at all levels to embedding health and safety into our day-to-day operations and service delivery.”
David Conway, Chief Executive of Louth County Council, described the award as a major organisational achievement, saying:
"Achieving certification to ISO 45001 is a significant milestone for the organisation and a strong reflection of the sustained commitment to maintaining and improving our Safety Management System.
“This accreditation is an incredibly positive development and provides clear assurance of the high standards being applied across the organisation. It demonstrates our commitment to good governance, continuous improvement, and to developing and valuing our staff, all of which are key priorities in Louth County Council's Corporate Plan 2024-2029. By supporting a safe and healthy working environment, we are also strengthening our capacity to deliver high-quality public services to the people of County Louth.
“I would like to thank Jerome Lambe, Head of Safety, his Safety Team members Jim Campbell and Debbie McAreavey, Finbar Gethins, Senior Executive Officer, Human Resources, and Joanna Kelly, Acting Director of Services, HR, Corporate and Community Delivery, for their work in reaching this important milestone."
The certification builds on Louth County Council's broader commitment to excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement in service delivery. The Council also holds ISO 50001 certification for energy management, reflecting its commitment to best practice across a range of organisational functions.
As a result of the certification, Louth County Council is now listed on the NSAI Certified Company Search and is entitled to use the NSAI ISO 45001 Certification Mark and the IQNET Certified Management System mark, providing further recognition of its commitment to workplace health and safety.
The achievement aligns closely with the ambitions set out in Louth County Council's Corporate Plan 2024-2029 and reflects the Council's commitment to good governance, staff wellbeing, and the delivery of high-quality public services for the people of County Louth.