What is HSG65?
HSG65, "Managing for Health and Safety," is the Health and Safety Executive's flagship guidance document on health and safety management systems. This comprehensive publication provides a framework that organisations of all sizes can use to develop, implement, and continuously improve their approach to managing workplace health and safety.
The current edition of HSG65 is built around the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) model, a recognised approach to management systems that aligns with international standards including ISO 45001 for occupational health and safety management. This framework provides a systematic, cyclical approach to identifying risks, implementing controls, monitoring performance, and driving continuous improvement.
HSG65 moves beyond simple compliance to advocate for a proportionate, risk-based approach where the level of management effort matches the level of risk. It emphasises that effective health and safety management requires genuine leadership commitment, meaningful worker involvement, and integration with overall business management rather than being treated as a separate, specialist function.
Who Needs This Document?
HSG65 is essential reading for anyone with responsibility for health and safety management:
Primary Audiences:
- Directors and senior managers with strategic responsibility for health and safety
- Health and safety professionals developing management systems
- Operations managers implementing safety programmes
- Business owners in SMEs seeking to establish effective systems
- Consultants advising organisations on safety management
Secondary Audiences:
- Line managers and supervisors implementing day-to-day safety management
- Safety representatives and committee members
- Auditors and inspectors assessing management systems
- HR professionals integrating safety into people management
- Quality managers (given parallels between quality and safety management)
The principles apply across all sectors and organisation sizes, though the document specifically addresses how to scale approaches appropriately for different organisations.
Key Topics Covered
HSG65 provides comprehensive coverage of health and safety management:
Leadership and Commitment
The guidance emphasises that effective health and safety starts with visible leadership commitment:
- Board-level responsibility and engagement
- Setting clear direction and priorities
- Providing adequate resources
- Demonstrating personal commitment
- Creating conditions for worker engagement
The Plan-Do-Check-Act Framework
Plan:
- Developing health and safety policy
- Setting objectives and targets
- Identifying hazards and assessing risks
- Planning for implementation
- Defining roles, responsibilities, and arrangements
- Allocating resources
Do:
- Implementing plans and risk controls
- Providing information, instruction, and training
- Establishing communication systems
- Managing contractors and supply chain
- Implementing emergency procedures
- Managing change
Check:
- Measuring health and safety performance
- Active monitoring (inspections, observations, audits)
- Reactive monitoring (incidents, ill health, complaints)
- Investigating incidents
- Benchmarking and comparing performance
Act:
- Reviewing performance against objectives
- Learning from monitoring and investigation
- Implementing improvements
- Updating risk assessments and procedures
- Reporting to leadership
Risk Profiling
The guidance covers understanding your organisation's risk profile:
- Identifying significant hazards and risks
- Understanding legal requirements
- Recognising high-consequence, low-probability risks
- Considering occupational health as well as safety
- Assessing risks across the full scope of activities
Organising for Health and Safety
HSG65 addresses the organisational elements needed for effective management:
- Clear roles and responsibilities at all levels
- Competence requirements and development
- Worker involvement and consultation
- Communication systems
- Documentation and records
Worker Involvement
A strong theme throughout is meaningful worker participation:
- Legal requirements for consultation
- Benefits of genuine engagement
- Methods for involving workers
- Role of safety representatives
- Creating an open reporting culture
Measuring Performance
Comprehensive coverage of performance measurement including:
- Leading indicators (proactive measures)
- Lagging indicators (reactive measures)
- Inspection and audit programmes
- Incident statistics and analysis
- Occupational health monitoring
- Benchmarking approaches
Proportionality
HSG65 emphasises proportionate approaches based on risk:
- Matching management effort to risk level
- Avoiding bureaucracy and paperwork for its own sake
- Focusing on what really matters for safety
- Scaling systems appropriately for organisation size
- Not gold-plating low-risk activities
Using This Guidance
Implementing HSG65 effectively involves the following approach:
Step 1: Leadership Commitment Secure genuine commitment from top management. Health and safety should be treated as a core business value, not a compliance burden. Leaders must visibly demonstrate this commitment.
Step 2: Profile Your Risks Develop a clear understanding of your organisation's significant health and safety risks. This shapes where management effort should be focused.
Step 3: Develop Policy and Plans Create a clear health and safety policy that reflects your risk profile. Develop plans and arrangements to implement the policy, focusing on significant risks.
Step 4: Organise Your Resources Ensure you have the right people, competencies, and resources in place. Define clear responsibilities. Establish systems for worker involvement.
Step 5: Implement Controls Put your plans into action. Implement risk controls, provide training, establish communication systems, and create a culture of safe working.
Step 6: Measure and Monitor Establish both proactive and reactive monitoring. Conduct regular inspections and audits. Investigate incidents thoroughly. Track performance indicators.
Step 7: Review and Improve Regularly review overall performance. Identify lessons and improvements. Update your approach based on what you learn. Report to leadership on performance and progress.
Step 8: Repeat the Cycle Health and safety management is continuous. The PDCA cycle repeats, driving ongoing improvement and maintaining effective control of risks.
Why It Matters
Implementing effective health and safety management is essential for multiple reasons:
Legal Compliance: The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 require employers to manage health and safety effectively. HSG65 provides a framework that demonstrates compliance with these duties.
Preventing Harm: Systematic health and safety management prevents injuries, ill health, and fatalities. Organisations with mature safety management systems consistently outperform those without them.
Business Benefits: Beyond preventing harm, good health and safety management delivers business benefits including:
- Reduced costs from accidents, ill health, and enforcement
- Improved productivity and reduced absence
- Better reputation and stakeholder confidence
- Enhanced ability to win contracts
- Improved staff morale and retention
Integration with Business Systems: The PDCA approach in HSG65 aligns with other management system standards (quality, environment). This enables integrated approaches and efficient management.
Regulatory Expectations: HSE expects organisations to have systematic approaches to managing risks. Following HSG65 guidance demonstrates meeting these expectations during inspections or investigations.
International Standards: For organisations seeking formal certification to ISO 45001, HSG65 provides a solid foundation. The frameworks are closely aligned, and implementing HSG65 principles facilitates later certification.
Proportionality: HSG65 helps organisations avoid both under-managing significant risks and over-managing minor ones. This proportionate approach ensures resources are focused where they deliver the most benefit.
By following HSG65 guidance, organisations can develop health and safety management systems that effectively control risks, meet legal requirements, and deliver real benefits for workers and the business.