BSI marks 125 years of shaping safer workplaces

‘125 ways standards shape the world’ highlights how voluntary, consensus-based standards – essentially agreed guidelines or ways of doing things – have been transformative for society, protecting consumers from harm, enabling compatibility between products made by different companies, and building confidence that products work as intended. In the workplace, that means everything from protecting physical safety to supporting mental health, wellbeing and inclusion. In fact, BSI has been commissioned by the UK Government to develop an employer-facing standard focused on a healthy working lifecycle, as part of plans to take forwards the recommendations from the Keep Britain Working review.

As understanding of health and wellbeing at work has evolved, so too has the role of standards. Traditionally focused on physical safety, standards have long helped protect workers from harm – from ensuring the effectiveness of personal protective equipment (PPE) to reducing risks in high-hazard environments. Today, that foundation remains critical, but there is growing recognition that workplace safety extends beyond the physical, to include psychological health, inclusion and overall wellbeing.

Standards provide clear, practical frameworks to help organisations respond to these challenges in a consistent and effective way. This includes the development of the world’s first standard on menopause and menstruation in the workplace, BS 30416, published in 2023. The standard provides practical guidance for employers to support those experiencing menopause, helping organisations create more inclusive workplaces and address one of the factors contributing to people leaving work earlier than planned. Its rapid uptake highlights the growing demand for structured, evidence-based approaches to employee wellbeing.

Alongside this, standards such as ISO 45003 are helping organisations like Luton Airport manage psychological health and safety at work, providing guidance on reducing stress, burnout and other psychosocial risks. More recently, BS 30480, the world’s first standard on suicide awareness and response in organisational settings, offers practical tools to help employers take proactive, compassionate action and support their people. It has been downloaded nearly 12,000 times since publishing six months ago.

Other health, safety and wellbeing stories featured in the collection include standards supporting inclusive workplace environments, improving the design and provision of PPE to better protect a diverse workforce, and helping organisations respond to vulnerability among customers and service users. Together, they demonstrate how standards are helping to build workplaces that are not only safer, but more inclusive, supportive and resilient.

Founded this week in 1901, BSI has played a foundational role in shaping the modern world, having evolved from developing the standards that underpinned the industrial revolution at the turn of the 20th century, to today providing a range of services from assurance, certification and training.

Anne Hayes, director of sectors and standards development at BSI, said: “As our understanding of health, safety and wellbeing at work continues to evolve, trust and consistency are more important than ever. Standards provide the foundation for that, helping organisations protect people, support wellbeing and create environments where individuals can thrive. By setting clear, consensus-based best practice, standards enable employers to build safer, more inclusive and resilient workplaces.”

Susan Taylor Martin, chief executive at BSI, said: “In an increasingly complex and uncertain world, standards, supported by testing and assurance, provide the consistency and trust that global markets depend on. They enable trade, strengthen supply chains, and help ensure products and services are safe and reliable.  

“As BSI marks its 125th anniversary, our focus is firmly on the future, helping provide trust in our digital world, protecting the environment, and helping organisations succeed. Working with our committee chairs and members, our partners across government, business, and civil society, we will continue to harness the power of standards to accelerate innovation and drive progress toward a fair society and sustainable world.”