Safety monitoring
Active and reactive surveillance of the workplace and the effectiveness of health and safety controls, used to identify hazards, assess risks and check compliance with standards before accidents occur.
Also known as
By jurisdiction
UK HSE
“safety monitoring”SharedMHSWR 1999 regulation 5 requires employers to plan, organise, control, monitor and review preventive and protective measures. Monitoring includes active monitoring (checking standards are being met) and reactive monitoring (investigating accidents and near misses). HSE guidance describes both types.
Irish HSA
“safety monitoring”SharedThe Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, section 8, requires employers to manage and conduct work activities safely, which encompasses monitoring. HSA guidance recommends active monitoring (workplace inspections, equipment checks) and reactive monitoring (accident investigation).
US OSHA
“safety monitoring”SharedOSHA does not use safety monitoring as a regulatory term. Monitoring requirements exist in specific standards such as 29 CFR 1910.95 (noise monitoring), 1910.1025 (lead) and HAZWOPER (air monitoring). The OSHA Safety and Health Management System Guidelines recommend monitoring as a programme element.
Practitioner note: Active monitoring checks controls before harm occurs; reactive monitoring counts harm after it. A programme built only on incident statistics is reactive by definition.