Implementing the ISO 45003 standard: An approach combining implementation teams and a facilitated planning process

• Six regional Australian organisations trialled an ISO 45003 implementation approach. • The approach combined implementation teams with a facilitated planning process. • All organisations developed tailored, evidence-informed implementation plans. • Stakeholders found the structured process helpful and engaging. • Early planning and committee use may strengthen future implementations. This paper describes a novel approach to implementing the ISO 45003 Psychological Health and Safety at Work Standard using an adaptation of a health guideline implementation strategy. The implementation planning approach used a combination of implementation teams and a facilitated implementation planning process to assist organisational stakeholders develop a plan for implementing ISO 45003. Six organisations from a regional part of Australia participated in a case study research project. A total of 29 semi-structured interviews were conducted with implementation team members, at two different time points, to understand their experience of participating in the implementation planning approach. The three central themes that emerged from the semi-structured interviews were related to engagement with the implementation planning approach, the strategic composition and influence of implementation teams and standard versus project related approach to implementing change. The approach was effective in assisting organisational stakeholders to produce tailored and evidence informed plans for implementing the ISO 45003 Standard. Future improvements, such as the use of planning committees could further enhance the approach.