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ISO 45010 and the future of workplace safety: Why menstrual products should be standard in modern work environments
ISO 45010 and the evolution of occupational health & safety: Workplace health and safety is evolving rapidly. Where ISO 45001 established the foundations for safety and risk management, ISO 45010 provides more detailed guidance on how workplaces can become inclusive, sustainable, and health-promoting.
ISO 45010 is a guiding standard currently being developed as a complement to ISO 45001. Although it has not yet been formally published by ISO, many organisations and experts already use it as a practical framework within their systematic work environment management.
Crucially, ISO 45010 also highlights the importance of recognising the needs of employees who menstruate, needs that have long been overlooked in workplace safety discussions.
In today’s occupational health and safety efforts, where organisations work to meet ISO 45001 requirements while following broader guidance from ISO frameworks, access to menstrual products at work is becoming an increasingly important part of a safe and equitable environment. For many employers, providing free menstrual products is now seen as a natural element of workplace hygiene standards and welfare facilities.
As the competition for talent grows, health, well-being, and inclusive hygiene solutions become central components of HR and workplace strategies. This creates an opportunity to strengthen employee well-being and compliance with safety standards, without requiring large investments.
What Is ISO 45010 and why is it relevant today?
Short definition: ISO 45010 is a guiding standard that outlines how organisations can practically work to fulfil ISO 45001. It supports systematic work environment management (SAM) and clarifies how workplace hygiene, welfare facilities, and health needs should be integrated into risk assessments and planning.
The standard supports internal audits, risk analyses, and improvement work in line with the PDCA cycle, making occupational health and safety more systematic, inclusive, and effective.
Key focus areas include:
- Proactive risk management
- Accessibility and equity
- Continuous improvement
- Employee engagement
Although ISO 45010 does not mention specific products, it emphasises that employers must identify all factors affecting health, safety, and work ability, even those historically considered taboo, such as menstruation.
Equality and accessibility in workplace safety
Creating a safe and inclusive workplace involves more than preventing accidents. It also requires identifying subtle barriers that create inequality for example, a lack of access to menstrual products.
When menstrual products are missing, a crucial part of workplace hygiene standards is also missing, something HR teams are increasingly prioritising. Menstrual product access is directly connected to Swedish frameworks such as the Discrimination Act, the national Systematic Work Environment Management (SAM), and workplace hygiene requirements.
No employee should have to rush home due to an unexpected menstrual emergency. Having the right products available reduces stress and interruptions. Just like a lack of soap, plasters, or first aid, it affects both the psychosocial and physical work environment.
Menstrual products as part of an inclusive and safe workplace
Providing free menstrual products at work is one of the most cost-effective measures for strengthening occupational health and safety and meeting the intent behind ISO 45001 and ISO 45010.
Research shows that lack of menstrual products affects:
- productivity
- well-being and job satisfaction
- the psychosocial work environment
- stress levels
- loyalty and retention
- perception of employer care
Menstrual products are a small intervention with a big impact and, just like soap and toilet paper, they should be a natural part of the workplace hygiene standard.
How access to menstrual products supports ISO 45010 compliance
Menstrual products can be directly linked to several core elements of ISO 45010:
Identification of health-related needs
Menstrual-related needs are recurring and must be included in needs assessments and risk analyses.
Risk reduction and emergency preparedness
Stress and leakage without products available impact work ability and the overall work climate.
Equity and non-discrimination
ISO emphasises the importance of removing barriers that create unequal conditions. Menstrual products provide a concrete and cost-effective solution.
Workplace culture and leadership
Providing menstrual products signals care, inclusiveness, and modern leadership.
Continuous improvement and follow-up
Menstrual product access can be integrated into SAM and monitored through routines, data, and action plans.
How employers can integrate menstrual products into their OH&S management system
When menstrual products are included in workplace hygiene standards, systematic safety work is strengthened and it becomes easier to demonstrate compliance during audits.
Organisations can start by:
- Mapping needs and identifying risks
- Updating policies and workplace procedures
- Implementing a solution, such as Herbox dispensers
- Communicating internally to reduce stigma
- Documenting and following up according to the PDCA cycle
Sustainable systems like Herbox simplify administration, documentation, and ongoing optimization.
Checklist: How to meet ISO 45010 in practice
- Does the work environment support all employees?
- Are basic hygiene standards ensured across all facilities?
- Is menstruation identified as a relevant workplace factor?
- Is there a policy for hygiene and welfare equipment?
- Is access to menstrual products guaranteed when needed?
- Is the solution sustainable, cost-effective, and easy to administer?
Organisations that have implemented accessible menstrual products
More and more workplaces, from offices to industrial sites are integrating menstrual products into their safety work. External auditors frequently highlight the initiative as a strong example of inclusive workplace practices and a practical application of ISO 45010 principles.
Organisations that have adopted these solutions report:
- fewer work interruptions
- reduced indirect costs
- improved well-being
- faster onboarding
- higher retention
- stronger employer branding
Frequently asked questions about ISO certifications (FAQ)
Laws and ISO standards require employers to ensure a safe and equitable work environment. Menstruation is a predictable factor affecting health and work ability, meaning menstrual products should be included in workplace hygiene and welfare facilities in accordance with SAM, the Discrimination Act, and ISO 45001/45010.
Workplace hygiene equipment should include soap, toilet paper, first aid, sanitation solutions and menstrual products. For an inclusive and modern work environment in line with ISO 45001/45010, menstrual products are a natural part of hygiene standards.
When menstrual products are available, stress, anxiety, and interruptions decrease. This strengthens employee well-being, creates psychological safety, and shows that the employer values everyone’s needs.
Access reduces interruptions, early departures, and productivity losses. It is a low-cost measure that saves time, lowers indirect costs, and supports a more efficient workday.
They ensure equal conditions for all employees, reduce barriers and stigma, and support the employer’s responsibility to provide a modern, fair work environment in line with ISO standards.
Start by mapping needs and including menstrual products in policies and hygiene routines. Then choose a controlled, low-administration solution such as mechanical delay-dispensing systems. This ensures simple, cost-effective implementation aligned with ISO 45001/45010
Herbox has years of experience helping workplaces implement standardised, reliable systems for menstrual products, with thousands of dispensers installed. We are a trusted partner throughout the entire process.
Conclusion: Menstrual products - A natural part of the future work environment
ISO 45010 points the way toward inclusive, sustainable workplaces. By providing menstrual products, employers not only meet the intent of the standard they also demonstrate care, modernity, and responsibility for the everyday needs of all employees.
Menstrual products are a small measure with a big impact, proving that the work environment of the future is both strategic and compassionate.
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