What should be on your health and safety radar for the year ahead?
Health and safety priorities continue to evolve. From developments in international standards and the growing focus on psychological health to emerging technologies and occupational health risks, safety leaders need to look ahead and consider what could affect their organisations and people. Many of these themes, from psychosocial risk and wellbeing to occupational health and new technologies, are also areas of greater emphasis in the draft revision of ISO 45001.
As you review the past year and plan for 2027, here are five important questions worth asking.
1. Are we ready for the next evolution of ISO 45001?
ISO 45001, the international standard for occupational health and safety management systems, is being revised for the first time since its publication in 2018. The draft revised standard went out for international consultation between June and September 2026, and publication is expected in 2027, with a transition period for certified organisations likely to be three years. While the final changes are not yet confirmed, organisations should be reviewing how effectively their current arrangements operate and preparing to assess any developments.
Consider whether your management system supports effective leadership, worker participation, risk management and continual improvement.
Ask yourself: Do we have a clear understanding of our current position and a practical way to identify and prioritise any gaps when the revised standard is published?
2. Are we managing psychosocial risks, or simply promoting wellbeing?
Psychological health and safety is becoming an increasingly important part of workplace health and safety. ISO 45003 complements ISO 45001 by providing guidance on managing psychosocial risks, including work-related stress, excessive workloads, poor workplace relationships, lack of support and organisational change.
Wellbeing initiatives have their place, but organisations also need to consider the working conditions and organisational factors that can affect people's psychological health.
Ask yourself: Are we actively identifying and managing risks arising from how work is designed, organised and experienced, or are we relying too heavily on individual wellbeing initiatives?
3. Are we keeping pace with emerging risks, technology and changing work patterns?
Artificial intelligence, automation, new technologies and evolving working arrangements are changing how organisations operate. While these developments bring opportunities, they can also introduce new health and safety considerations.
Safety leaders need to understand how these changes could affect their people, workplaces and existing risk management arrangements.
Ask yourself: Are we anticipating the health and safety implications of new technologies and changing work patterns, or are we reacting once problems emerge?
4. Do we understand our occupational health risks as well as our safety risks?
Preventing workplace injuries remains essential, but protecting people from longer-term occupational health risks deserves equal attention. Exposure to hazardous substances, dusts, noise, vibration and other hidden hazards at work can have lasting consequences for workers' health.
Organisations should consider whether their controls are effective, whether exposure is properly monitored and whether occupational health is sufficiently embedded in their wider health and safety strategy.
Ask yourself: Are we doing enough to identify, monitor and prevent occupational ill health, or is our approach still weighted towards preventing immediate accidents and injuries?
5. Can we demonstrate that our health and safety arrangements work in practice?
Having policies, procedures and management systems in place is one thing. Understanding whether they are effective in practice is another.
Safety leaders need confidence that responsibilities are understood, workers are engaged, risks are properly controlled and lessons from incidents and near misses are translated into meaningful improvements.
Independent reviews and assurance can help organisations understand where their arrangements are working well and where further attention may be needed.
Ask yourself: If we looked beyond our policies and paperwork today, could we demonstrate how effectively our health and safety arrangements are working across the organisation?
What's next for your organisation?
The year ahead presents opportunities to strengthen health and safety management, address emerging risks and create healthier, safer workplaces. But knowing where to focus your attention is not always straightforward.
Come and meet British Safety Council at SHW Live Manchester, stand F68 on 9 and 10 February 2027.
We'll be exhibiting at the show and hosting a dedicated ‘Ask the Expert’ drop-in clinic, where you can put your health and safety questions to our world-class experts.
Whether you're reviewing your management systems, looking at psychosocial risks, considering emerging challenges or simply want an independent perspective on your current arrangements, come and have a conversation with us.
Bring your questions. We'll bring the expertise.
Visit us on stand F68 at SHW Live Manchester, 9–10 February 2027.
Can’t make it to Manchester? Talk to our audit and consultancy team about an independent review of your arrangements.