Key Health, Safety and Quality Priorities Organisations Must Address in 2026

Organisations are operating in an environment where expectations around health, safety and quality continue to increase. Regulators expect stronger evidence of control and accountability. Employees expect safer and more supportive workplaces. Clients expect consistent, high-quality delivery.

The organisations that perform best are those that move beyond reactive compliance and focus on structured, proactive management systems.

Below are the key priorities leaders should be focusing on this year.

1. Proactive Risk Management Instead of Reactive Compliance

Risk management is no longer about responding after incidents occur. It is about identifying hazards early, implementing practical controls and reviewing performance on a regular basis.

Guidance from the Health and Safety Executive emphasises the need for organisations to demonstrate clear evidence of risk identification, control implementation and ongoing monitoring.

Practical actions include:

• Reviewing risk assessments to ensure they reflect real working conditions

• Assigning clear responsibility for control measures

• Tracking actions and closing them in a timely manner

• Encouraging near miss reporting and learning

A documented system is important, but it must reflect operational reality to be effective.

2. Integrating Mental Wellbeing Into Safety Management

Mental wellbeing is increasingly recognised as part of workplace risk management. Workload pressure, stress and fatigue can affect decision-making, increase error rates and contribute to incidents.

Organisations taking a proactive approach typically:

• Include psychosocial risks within risk assessments

• Provide mental health awareness training

• Encourage open reporting of workload concerns

• Monitor absence patterns and workload distribution

Integrating wellbeing into safety management supports both performance and long-term resilience.

3. Simplifying Quality Management for Practical Use

Quality management systems are sometimes viewed as administrative requirements rather than operational tools. However, frameworks such as ISO 9001 are designed to improve clarity, consistency and continual improvement.

When implemented effectively, quality systems should:

• Define clear processes and responsibilities

• Reduce duplication and inefficiency

• Improve customer satisfaction

• Strengthen supplier control

• Provide meaningful performance data

The most effective systems are simple, practical and aligned with how work is actually carried out.

4. Competence and Practical Training

Training is only valuable when it leads to confident and consistent action.

Many organisations are moving towards practical, scenario-based learning rather than theory-led sessions. Effective training should:

• Reflect real operational risks

• Reinforce reporting and escalation expectations

• Clarify individual responsibilities

• Support a clear competence framework

This helps demonstrate compliance while ensuring employees understand both the procedure and the reason behind it.

5. Digital Tools That Reduce Administrative Burden

Document control remains a common challenge. Risk assessments, registers, audits and corrective actions are often stored across multiple locations, making oversight difficult.

Centralised digital platforms improve visibility and consistency.

Systems such as MyBase allow

organisations to:

• Store documents securely in one location

• Track revisions and approvals

• Generate RAMS efficiently

• Monitor compliance registers

• Maintain a clear audit trail

Digital control reduces administrative effort while strengthening governance.

6. Integrating Safety and Quality for Stronger Governance

Leading organisations are moving away from managing safety and quality separately and instead adopting an integrated approach.

Integration helps to:

• Reduce duplication

• Align objectives and responsibilities

• Improve leadership oversight

• Strengthen internal auditing

• Support continual improvement

Integration is not about adding complexity. It is about connecting processes to improve visibility and accountability.

Looking Ahead: Building Systems That Support Performance

Health, safety and quality are no longer standalone functions. They are strategic enablers of performance, resilience and trust.

Organisations that invest in structured systems, competent teams and efficient digital tools are better prepared for evolving regulatory and operational expectations.

The key question is whether current systems are actively supporting the people who rely on them every day, or simply existing for compliance purposes.

If you are reviewing your health, safety or quality arrangements, it may be the right time to assess whether your systems are still fit for purpose.

Learn more about how Base Solutions supports organisations through:

Health and Safety Consultancy: www.basesolutionsltd.com/health-and-safety-consultancy

Quality Management Consultancy: www.basesolutionsltd.com/quality-management-consultancy

Digital compliance through MyBase:

www.mybaseonline.com