ISO 39001: Road traffic safety (RTS) management systems

ISO 39001 is an international standard focused on road traffic safety. It provides guidelines

for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and improving an organization’s RTS management system.

The scope of ISO 39001 encompasses an organization’s ability to:

• Identify and assess road traffic safety risks.
• Define road traffic safety objectives and action plans
• Implement and operate programs and procedures to achieve these objectives
• Monitor and measure the effectiveness of these programs
• Review and improve the RTS system

Any organization that interacts with an RTS can implement ISO 39001, whether they are directly involved in transportation, road construction, vehicle manufacturing, or another related field.

Organizations that often use the ISO 39001 standard include:

• Governmental organizations. Such as departments of transportation, road authorities, traffic police, and agencies responsible for road infrastructure, regulations, and safety
• Transportation companies, Such as logistics companies, trucking companies, bus operators, and taxi services
• Construction companies. Involved in road construction, maintenance, and repair
• Fleet operators. Companies that manage a fleet of vehicles, including delivery services, rental car companies, and corporate fleets
• Manufacturers. Companies involved in the manufacturing of vehicles, vehicle parts, and road safety equipment
• Emergency services. Such as ambulance services, fire departments, and police departments that respond to road accidents

To obtain ISO 39001 certification, an organization needs to develop and implement a RTS management system in line with ISO 39001 standards, document its processes, conduct internal audits, and then undergo an external audit by an accredited certification body.

After certification, yearly audits are typically carried out within the organization to ensure continual adherence to the ISO 39001 standard.

ISO 39001 certifications are typically valid for three years, although this may vary depending on the certification body.

Implementing ISO 39001 offers several benefits to organizations. Some key advantages include the following.

Implementing ISO 39001 may pose several challenges to laboratories and organizations. These include the following.

Here are a few tips for preparing for an ISO 39001 certification:

• Familiarize yourself with the ISO 39001 standard
• Read the ISO 39001 startup guide
• Define clear road safety objectives and performance targets that are aligned with the ISO 39001 standard
• Perform a skills gap analysis to determine the skills your organization needs to implement and adhere to an RTS management system

For more information and guidance on ISO 39001 certification, you can refer to the following resources:

International Organization for Standardization (ISO). The ISO 39001 page on the official ISO website provides the ISO 14001 standard document, news updates, and additional resources.

Accredited certification bodies. To pursue ISO 39001 certification, you can reach out to accredited certification bodies that offer certification services in your region. These bodies have the expertise to guide you through the certification process. You can find a list of accredited certification bodies on the website of the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) or contact your local accreditation body.

Industry skills matrices. AG5 offers free, industry-specific skills matrices dedicated to transportation, logistics, engineering, and much more. You can use them to identify, track, and manage skills related to ISO 39001 certifications in your organization.

• ISO
•  International Accreditation Forum (IAF)

(Sourced checked 21.3.2024)