Blog Post: Prevention first with worker support

Duncan Spencer, Head of Advice & Practice, IOSH
23 January 2026
Principle: Prevention

The most important principle in occupational safety and health (OSH) is prevention. Wherever possible, hazards should be eliminated or the risk of an accident reduced to a level where the likelihood of harm is minimised. It sounds simple in theory – but in practice, it requires coordination, good judgement and collaboration.

In many countries, effective prevention depends on a whole system working together.

For example:

• governments set minimum legal requirements
• regulators provide guidance on appropriate control standards
• industry defines what good practice looks like
• employers conduct risk assessments that consider actual risks and workplace circumstances
• employers and workers work together to control

This collective competence helps ensure that decisions about risk control are proportionate. If a risk is considered worth taking to achieve business benefit, it should be controlled to a tolerable level – where the cost or effort of further risk reduction would be disproportionate to the remaining risk or to the additional benefit gained.

A practical example

Consider a small carpentry business that occasionally uses a grinding machine to sharpen chisels. It is reasonable to fit a guard over most of the spinning grindstone to protect workers from debris. However, a small opening is still required so the chisel can be applied to the wheel.

Purchasing a fully enclosed, automated sharpening system would be disproportionate given the size of the business, the cost of the equipment and the low frequency of use.

So how do we justify when to stop adding controls? It is easy to become overly cautious, building layers of controls that add unnecessary complexity.

Risk assessment is the answer

A good risk assessment should do more than record findings.

It should:

• explain why the task is necessary
• outline the business benefit
• provide a clear rationale for the chosen controls

Worker involvement is essential. Workers experience hazards directly and understand how accidents could occur. They also know which controls are practical and which may create new difficulties. Worker safety representatives should be included in risk assessments and discussions about potential controls.

Where formal representatives are not appointed, employers still need a mechanism for meaningful worker consultation.

The value of trust and collaboration

Involving workers in assessing and controlling risk requires trust. Some employers worry workers will ask for more controls than needed. In reality, open discussion usually leads to practical, balanced solutions. Workers feel engaged and respected, and employers gain valuable insight into real‑world risks and workable controls.

A worker‑centred approach is increasingly seen as good practice and is closely linked to the global concept of decent work.