Essential Guide to Conducting a Health and Safety Gap Analysis in Your Organisation

Every organisation faces risks related to health and safety, but many do not fully understand where their weaknesses lie. A health and safety gap analysis helps identify these weak points by comparing current practices against legal requirements and best standards. This process reveals what your organisation is doing well and where improvements are needed to protect employees and meet regulations.

What Is a Health and Safety Gap Analysis?

A health and safety gap analysis is a systematic review of your organisation’s policies, procedures, and practices. It measures compliance with relevant laws, industry standards, and internal goals. The goal is to find gaps—areas where your organisation falls short—and then develop a plan to close those gaps.

For example, if your workplace lacks proper risk assessments for certain tasks, the gap analysis will highlight this deficiency. It also checks if training programs are up to date and if emergency procedures are clearly communicated.

Why Your Organisation Needs One

Many organisations assume their health and safety measures are sufficient until an incident occurs or an inspection reveals problems. Conducting a gap analysis proactively:

• Reduces risk by identifying hazards before accidents happen

• Ensures compliance with health and safety laws, avoiding fines and legal issues

• Improves employee confidence by showing commitment to their wellbeing

• Supports continuous improvement by setting clear targets for safety upgrades

  
  

For instance, a manufacturing company found through a gap analysis that machine guarding was inconsistent, leading to near-miss incidents. Addressing this gap reduced injuries and boosted productivity.

How to Conduct a Health and Safety Gap Analysis

Follow these steps to perform an effective gap analysis:

Gather Documentation

Collect all health and safety policies, risk assessments, training records, and incident reports.

Identify Standards and Regulations

List the legal requirements and industry standards that apply to your organisation.

Review Current Practices

Compare your documentation and workplace observations against these standards. Look for missing or outdated procedures.

Engage Employees

Talk to workers and supervisors to understand practical challenges and gather feedback on safety measures.

Document Gaps

Create a clear list of gaps, prioritising those that pose the highest risk.

Develop an Action Plan

Assign responsibilities, set deadlines, and outline steps to close each gap.

Monitor Progress

Regularly review improvements and update the gap analysis as needed.

Practical Tips for Success

• Use checklists tailored to your industry to ensure no area is overlooked.

• Involve a diverse team, including frontline staff, to get a full picture.

• Keep records of the gap analysis and action plans for audits and inspections.

• Train managers to recognise and report new risks as they arise.