Building a strong health and safety culture in a business

A strong health and safety culture is essential for any company in the UK. Not only does it ensure compliance with regulations such as the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, but it also reduces workplace accidents, improves productivity, and enhances employee morale.

Building a robust safety culture requires commitment from leadership, employee engagement, and continuous improvement. It takes time and patience too, and needs support and involvement of everyone.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to creating a safer workplace and a strong safety culture in your business.

Leadership Commitment and Accountability

A strong safety culture starts at the top. Senior management must demonstrate a genuine commitment to health and safety by:

• Setting clear safety policies – Develop a written health and safety policy that aligns with HSE (Health and Safety Executive) guidelines.

• Leading by example – Managers should follow safety protocols, wear PPE, and participate in safety training.

• Allocating resources – Invest in safety equipment, training, and risk assessments.

• Holding regular safety meetings – Discuss safety performance, incidents, and improvements.

• Appointing a dedicated Health and Safety Manager or team and / or use a competent external consultant to oversee compliance and initiatives.

Employee Involvement and Training

Employees are the backbone of safety culture. Engage them by:

• Providing regular training – Ensure all workers understand hazards, emergency procedures, and safe operating practices.

• Encouraging reporting – Create an open environment where employees feel comfortable reporting hazards without fear of blame.

• Involving workers in safety committees – Let employees contribute to safety discussions and improvements.

• Recognising safe behaviour – Reward employees who follow best practices or suggest safety improvements.

• Encouraging them to take ownership of initiatives and their ideas

• Conducting Toolbox Talks (short safety briefings) before shifts to reinforce key messages.

Risk Assessment and Hazard Control

Workplace environments have inherent risks (e.g., machinery, chemicals, manual handling). Mitigate them by:

• Conducting thorough risk assessments – Identify hazards and implement control measures (elimination, substitution, engineering controls, PPE).

• Implementing safe work procedures – Standardise safe methods for high-risk tasks (e.g., lockout/tagout for machinery maintenance).

• Regularly inspecting equipment – Ensure machinery is well-maintained and meets PUWER (Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations) standards.

• Use 5S methodology (Sort, Set in order, Shine, Standardise, Sustain) or similar methods to maintain an organised and hazard-free workplace.

Clear Communication and Safety Signage

Effective communication prevents accidents.

• Use clear safety signs – Display mandatory, warning, and emergency signs as per the Safety Signs and Signals Regulations 1996.

• Provide safety manuals and posters – Reinforce key messages in break rooms and workstations.

• Use digital tools – Implement apps or dashboards for real-time safety alerts and incident reporting. A near-miss reporting system can help identify risks before they cause harm.

Continuous Improvement and Monitoring

A safety culture is not static—it requires ongoing effort.

• Conduct regular audits– Check compliance with safety policies and identify gaps.

• Review incident reports – Analyse accidents to prevent recurrence.

• Benchmark against industry standards – Compare safety performance with similar companies.

• Update policies as needed – Adapt to new regulations or changes in operations.

• Use KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) like accident rates, training completion, and audit scores to track progress.

• Consider implementing a health and safety management system to a Standard, for example to ISO 45001.

Mental Health and Wellbeing Support

Health and safety isn’t just about physical risks—mental health matters too.

• Promote work-life balance – Avoid excessive overtime and stress.

• Provide Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) – Offer counselling and support services.

• Train managers to recognise signs of stress – Early intervention prevents burnout.

• Introduce mental health first aiders to support staff.

Building a strong health and safety culture in a UK manufacturing company requires leadership commitment, employee engagement, risk management, clear communication, and continuous improvement. By embedding safety into daily operations, you not only comply with legal requirements but also create a productive, motivated, and accident-free workplace.

So how do you start?

• Conduct a safety culture survey to assess current attitudes.

• Develop a 12-month safety action plan with measurable goals.

• Train managers and staff on behavioral safety techniques.

• Use external experts to help you.

A safe workplace is a successful workplace—start strengthening your safety culture today!

Check out our online training courses to help you build a strong safety culture. In particular, you may want to look at our IOSH Approved Managing Safety®️, Working Safely and Behavioural Safety courses.