
ISO 45001 Internal Auditor Exam – Sample MCQs for Preparation
Preparing for the ISO 45001 Internal Auditor exam can feel like learning to ride a bike uphill—with no training wheels. But don’t worry—you’re not alone! One of the best ways to prepare is to practice sample MCQs that mirror the real exam. This article gives you not just the “what,” but the “how” of tackling the ISO 45001 Internal Auditor exam confidently.
What is ISO 45001?
Purpose of ISO 45001
ISO 45001 is an international standard for Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems (OHSMS). Its goal? To reduce workplace injuries and illnesses while promoting worker well-being. It provides a systematic framework for managing health and safety risks.
Key Components of ISO 45001
- Context of the organization
- Leadership and worker participation
- Planning (including risk-based thinking)
- Support (resources, competence, communication)
- Operation
- Performance evaluation
- Improvement
Who Should Take the ISO 45001 Internal Auditor Exam?
This exam is designed for professionals who want to conduct internal audits based on ISO 45001. Whether you’re a safety officer, quality manager, or part of an integrated management team—this credential validates your auditing skills.
Why MCQ Practice Matters for the Exam
Let’s face it—memorizing clauses alone won’t cut it. The exam tests your real-world application skills. Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) help:
- Sharpen clause comprehension
- Build confidence under exam pressure
- Identify weak areas for revision
Exam Structure of ISO 45001 Internal Auditor
Duration and Format
- Format: Multiple Choice (mostly), True/False, and Scenario-based questions
- Duration: 60–90 minutes
- Questions: Typically 30–50 questions
- Mode: Online or Offline (depends on the training provider)
Passing Criteria
- Most training bodies set 70% as the passing mark. That’s roughly 21/30 correct answers if you’re given 30 questions.
Tips to Prepare for the Exam
Understand ISO 45001 Clauses
Each clause has its own purpose. Study clauses 4 to 10 thoroughly. Know the difference between risk and hazard, and how opportunities tie into planning.
Know Common Audit Terminology
Terms like non-conformance, corrective action, audit evidence, and continual improvement are the bread and butter of audit exams.
Practice Time Management
Don’t spend 10 minutes on one question. You’re not writing a thesis! Keep a steady pace.
Sample ISO 45001 Internal Auditor MCQs
MCQs on General Requirements
Q1. What is the main objective of ISO 45001?
a) Improve product quality
b) Enhance customer satisfaction
c) Prevent work-related injuries and ill health
d) Increase market share
Answer: ✅ c) Prevent work-related injuries and ill health
Q2. Which clause outlines “Context of the Organization”?
a) Clause 5
b) Clause 4
c) Clause 6
d) Clause 7
Answer: ✅ b) Clause 4
MCQs on Leadership and Worker Participation
Q3. Who is responsible for demonstrating leadership and commitment in ISO 45001?
a) Internal Auditor
b) Top Management
c) Health and Safety Officer
d) Line Supervisor
Answer: ✅ b) Top Management
Q4. Worker consultation and participation are required under which clause?
a) Clause 6
b) Clause 8
c) Clause 5.4
d) Clause 7.5
Answer: ✅ c) Clause 5.4
MCQs on Planning
Q5. Risk and opportunity assessment is part of which clause?
a) Clause 5
b) Clause 6.1
c) Clause 4.3
d) Clause 7.2
Answer: ✅ b) Clause 6.1
Q6. Which is NOT a planning requirement under ISO 45001?
a) Emergency preparedness
b) Risk assessment
c) Opportunity identification
d) Employee leave policy
Answer: ✅ d) Employee leave policy
MCQs on Operation and Emergency Preparedness
Q7. Emergency preparedness and response is addressed under:
a) Clause 8.1
b) Clause 8.2
c) Clause 8.3
d) Clause 9.1
Answer: ✅ c) Clause 8.2
Q8. Which of the following is an operational control?
a) Annual bonus
b) PPE usage
c) Social media policy
d) Internet access rights
Answer: ✅ b) PPE usage
MCQs on Performance Evaluation
Q9. Internal audit requirements are found in:
a) Clause 10
b) Clause 9.2
c) Clause 7.1
d) Clause 4.1
Answer: ✅ b) Clause 9.2
Q10. Management review is conducted:
a) Every month
b) Annually by law
c) At planned intervals
d) Only during audits
Answer: ✅ c) At planned intervals
🧠 ISO 45001 Internal Auditor Exam – 50 Sample MCQs
1–5: Context of the Organization (Clause 4)
1. Which clause addresses “Understanding the needs and expectations of workers and other interested parties”?
a) Clause 4.1
b) Clause 4.2 ✅
c) Clause 4.4
d) Clause 5.2
2. The term “scope of the OH&S management system” is found in:
a) Clause 5.1
b) Clause 6.2
c) Clause 4.3 ✅
d) Clause 7.1
3. What should be considered when determining the scope of the OH&S management system?
a) Legal requirements
b) Organizational boundaries
c) External and internal issues
d) All of the above ✅
4. Clause 4.4 refers to:
a) Leadership and commitment
b) Hazard identification
c) OH&S management system ✅
d) Internal audit
5. Interested parties may include all except:
a) Workers
b) Suppliers
c) Government bodies
d) Personal friends ✅
6–10: Leadership and Worker Participation (Clause 5)
6. Top management must:
a) Avoid responsibilities
b) Delegate all OH&S tasks
c) Demonstrate leadership and commitment ✅
d) Only attend annual meetings
7. The OH&S policy must be:
a) Confidential
b) Displayed only in the boardroom
c) Available to all interested parties ✅
d) Written in legal language only
8. Clause 5.4 focuses on:
a) Emergency response
b) Management review
c) Worker participation and consultation ✅
d) Risk assessment
9. One of the responsibilities of top management is to:
a) Approve vacation plans
b) Ensure availability of resources ✅
c) Manage petty cash
d) Set dress codes
10. Worker participation must be:
a) Encouraged but optional
b) Limited to managers
c) Based on rank
d) Enabled and supported ✅
11–15: Planning (Clause 6)
11. Clause 6.1.1 requires organizations to:
a) Identify all legal holidays
b) Understand risks and opportunities ✅
c) Create payroll reports
d) Develop employee recognition programs
12. Which is not a hazard?
a) Sharp tools
b) Slippery floors
c) Employee training ✅
d) Chemicals
13. Planning must include:
a) Hazard identification
b) Risk assessment
c) Legal compliance
d) All of the above ✅
14. Objectives must be:
a) Vague
b) Documented ✅
c) General
d) Avoided
15. What does clause 6.3 refer to?
a) Operational controls
b) Change management ✅
c) Outsourcing
d) Performance evaluation
16–20: Support (Clause 7)
16. Which of the following is not a form of documented information?
a) SOP
b) Verbal order ✅
c) Policy
d) Work instruction
17. What is essential to ensure competence?
a) Certificates only
b) Experience only
c) Education, training, and evaluation ✅
d) Job title
18. ISO 45001 requires communication to be:
a) Random
b) Accurate and timely ✅
c) Once a year
d) Only upward
19. Clause 7.5 relates to:
a) Communication
b) Competence
c) Documented information ✅
d) Emergency planning
20. Internal communication should:
a) Be controlled by IT
b) Exclude safety topics
c) Include relevant OH&S info ✅
d) Avoid discussing risks
21–25: Operation (Clause 8)
21. Operational planning must include:
a) Legal requirements
b) Risks and hazards
c) Controls
d) All of the above ✅
22. Which is a method of control in operations?
a) Wearing PPE ✅
b) Ignoring risks
c) Skipping inspections
d) Avoiding documentation
23. Emergency preparedness and response is under which clause?
a) 8.1
b) 8.2 ✅
c) 9.1
d) 10.2
24. Procurement control includes:
a) Ignoring safety records
b) Choosing cheapest vendor
c) Verifying suppliers’ OH&S practices ✅
d) Unsupervised deliveries
25. Outsourced processes must be:
a) Out of OH&S scope
b) Unregulated
c) Controlled by the organization ✅
d) Ignored
26–30: Performance Evaluation (Clause 9)
26. Clause 9.1.1 refers to:
a) Management review
b) Monitoring, measurement, and analysis ✅
c) Training
d) Emergency planning
27. Internal audits must be:
a) Unscheduled
b) Performed annually only
c) Conducted at planned intervals ✅
d) Done by marketing
28. Audit findings must be:
a) Destroyed after 30 days
b) Documented and communicated ✅
c) Shared on social media
d) Hidden
29. Management review inputs include:
a) Sales data
b) Audit results ✅
c) Social media analytics
d) Stock prices
30. Performance indicators must be:
a) Secret
b) Random
c) Relevant to OH&S objectives ✅
d) Infrequent
31–35: Improvement (Clause 10)
31. The organization must take action to:
a) Hide nonconformities
b) Promote non-compliance
c) Eliminate the cause of nonconformities ✅
d) Blame others
32. Continual improvement focuses on:
a) Keeping the status quo
b) Going beyond compliance ✅
c) Punishing employees
d) Ignoring feedback
33. What must happen after a nonconformity?
a) Do nothing
b) Close the issue quietly
c) Take corrective action ✅
d) Change managers
34. Clause 10.3 deals with:
a) Preventive action
b) Communication
c) Continual improvement ✅
d) Training
35. Root cause analysis is required for:
a) Awards
b) Planning audits
c) Investigating nonconformities ✅
d) Celebrations
36–40: General Terms and Definitions
36. What is a “hazard”?
a) A planned event
b) A potential source of harm ✅
c) A safe activity
d) An office tool
37. What is “risk”?
a) The result of a nonconformity
b) A missed opportunity
c) The combination of likelihood and consequence ✅
d) A bonus system
38. What is an “incident”?
a) Always results in injury
b) A planned procedure
c) An unplanned event that may result in harm ✅
d) A regular meeting
39. Nonconformity means:
a) Full compliance
b) Deviation from a requirement ✅
c) Good performance
d) Perfect process
40. Corrective action is taken to:
a) Celebrate success
b) Avoid documentation
c) Eliminate nonconformities ✅
d) Confuse auditors
41–45: Auditor-Specific Questions
41. What is the first step in an audit?
a) Interview the CEO
b) Audit planning ✅
c) Write nonconformities
d) Perform root cause analysis
42. Audit evidence must be:
a) Based on feelings
b) Verified opinions
c) Objective and verifiable ✅
d) Assumptions
43. Audit findings can be:
a) Observations
b) Conformities
c) Nonconformities
d) All of the above ✅
44. An internal audit is done by:
a) External consultants
b) Competent individuals from the same organization ✅
c) Vendors
d) Clients
45. The purpose of an audit is to:
a) Punish staff
b) Remove employees
c) Evaluate compliance and effectiveness ✅
d) Increase product cost
46–50: Real-World Application
46. If PPE is not used, it is a:
a) Reward system
b) Minor observation
c) Nonconformity ✅
d) Legal compliance
47. Workers report a near miss. What’s the next step?
a) Ignore it
b) Punish them
c) Record and analyze it ✅
d) Cancel work
48. Legal requirements are reviewed under which clause?
a) Clause 9
b) Clause 6.1.3 ✅
c) Clause 5.2
d) Clause 8.1
49. What supports a strong safety culture?
a) Ignoring workers
b) Punishing reports
c) Active leadership commitment ✅
d) Reducing training
50. Document control ensures:
a) Documents are hidden
b) Obsolete documents are still used
c) Only latest versions are available ✅
d) Documents are emailed to anyone
Answer Key with Explanations
Each answer above includes the correct choice and aligns directly with ISO 45001 clauses. This reinforces both memory retention and clause application skills—key for real audits and passing your exam.
Final Revision Advice
- Revise clauses 4 to 10 multiple times
- Practice 50+ MCQs from different sections
- Use clause-based flashcards for daily revision
- Simulate exam conditions for practice tests
Conclusion
The ISO 45001 Internal Auditor Exam doesn’t have to be intimidating. Think of it as a checkpoint—not a roadblock. With steady preparation and MCQ practice like the ones above, you’ll cruise through the exam with confidence. Remember, knowing the clause is half the battle—applying it is the win!
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FAQs
Q1. Is ISO 45001 Internal Auditor certification valid internationally?
Yes! It’s recognized globally across various industries.
Q2. Can I take the exam online?
Absolutely. Many providers offer virtual assessments post-training.
Q3. How many attempts are allowed if I fail the exam?
Usually, 2–3 attempts are included, but check with your training provider.
Q4. Do I need work experience to take this exam?
Not necessarily, but prior exposure to ISO systems or health and safety practices helps.
Q5. What’s the best way to study for the exam?
Understand clauses, practice MCQs, and review real-world audit examples.