IOSH
Workplace health and safety responsibilities
A clear guide to who does what to keep workers safe
This page explains the main responsibilities of occupational safety and health (OSH) roles. You’ll learn how they support managers and workers to manage risk, improve wellbeing and promote a positive health and safety culture.
Effective occupational safety and health needs more than policy documents and procedures. It depends on people and on everyone understanding what they’re responsible for.
Clear roles and accountability help organisations manage hazards proactively, maintain legal compliance, and reduce the risk of accidents and ill-health. When responsibility is shared and understood across all levels, safety becomes part of how work gets done, not an afterthought.
Access to a competent OSH professional
All businesses should have access to a competent OSH professional. In some cases and countries this is a legal requirement. The OSH professional may be a full-time employee, contractor or consultant.
What does an occupational safety and health professional do?
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Identify and manage risk
Assess hazards, evaluate risks and implement controls to protect people.
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Provide expert health and safety advice
Use specialist knowledge to solve workplace safety and health issues and support decision-making.
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Develop safety systems and ensure compliance
Create and maintain safety policies, procedures and strategies that meet business needs, legal requirements and relevant standards.
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Promote safety awareness and culture
Deliver training, communicate key safety information, encourage reporting and support safe behaviours at all levels.
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Investigate incidents and drive improvement
Lead incident investigations, implement corrective actions, monitor performance through inspections, audits and KPIs, and support continuous improvement.
Responsibilities by role
These are examples of OSH roles and responsibilities in an organisation. These can vary depending on the type of work.
Summary
- Clear accountability is essential for effective management of OSH.
- OSH professionals provide expertise, policy development, incident investigation, and compliance assurance.
- Business leaders own OSH strategy, allocate resources, and demonstrate visible leadership.
- Managers translate policy into practice, track progress, and lead by example.
- HR teams support vulnerable workers, manage absence and RTW, and align policies.
- Workers must follow safety rules, use PPE correctly, report hazards, and engage in training.
- Building a positive OSH culture requires collaboration across all levels.
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Checklist
Use this guide to review leadership, management, and worker practices shaping safety performance.
- Is there a competent OSH professional?
- Are OSH policies current and communicated?
- Do leaders review OSH performance and set targets?
- Do managers resource and monitor OSH compliance?
- Is there a process to investigate incidents and fix issues?
- Are vulnerable workers identified and supported?
- Are workers trained, using PPE, and reporting hazards?
- Is health surveillance and return to work effective?
- Is there a learning, not blame, culture?
Frequently asked questions
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How do I decide who should take on each OSH responsibility in my organisation?
Roles should be assigned based on competence, authority and the level of influence each person has over work activities. Responsibilities must match job roles – not be added on without the right skills or capacity.
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What should I do if our organisation doesn’t have access to a qualified OSH professional?
You may need to appoint or contract a competent OSH practitioner, as many countries legally require this. External consultants can provide temporary or ongoing support.
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How can leaders and managers check that OSH responsibilities are actually being carried out?
Regular performance reviews, inspections, progress tracking and open conversations with teams help confirm that actions, training and controls are in place and working.
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What if workers don’t fully understand their OSH responsibilities?
Provide clear, practical guidance through training, toolbox talks and supervision. Reinforce expectations during team meetings and give real examples of what good practice looks like.
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How can HR, managers and the OSH team work together more effectively?
Consistent communication, shared records, aligned policies and early involvement in issues such as adjustments, health concerns or incident investigations help ensure a coordinated approach.
