A safety programme needs to work for the people using it. When FCC Environment recognised that its existing behavioural safety approach had become cumbersome and uneven in its effectiveness, it used that experience to design something simpler, with engagement at its centre.

The result was All Safe, a programme built around visible leadership, practical coaching and conversations between colleagues. In its submission to The SHE Show Inspiring Change Awards 2026, FCC Environment describes how the approach is being introduced across a diverse recycling and waste management business employing around 4,500 people in the UK.

All Safe grew from an honest review of the company’s earlier “Because…” programme. That approach encouraged managers to observe work, reinforce good practice and offer guidance on safer behaviours. Observations and safety performance data contributed to a monthly score for each site.

Although the programme helped in some areas, it did not suit every operation. FCC found that administration was burdensome and weaknesses in recording and metrics could give misleading impressions of performance. Participation weakened over time, and the company recognised the need for a fresh approach.

In April 2024, a working group brought together operational managers, health and safety specialists, safety representatives and heads of service, with senior leadership input. Their task was to simplify training, implementation and reporting while retaining the value of direct engagement. A pilot followed in October 2024, ahead of a phased rollout planned across 2025–2027.

The challenge was to create a programme relevant to very different working environments, from waste collection to processing facilities. FCC identified engagement as the common requirement: leaders needed to understand the work, employees needed opportunities to contribute, and both needed confidence to discuss concerns constructively.

Each site or contract begins with a kick-off meeting to examine its operations, safety performance and readiness. Local management and safety representatives help identify priorities, training needs and relevant workforce issues. The process also considers agency workers, resident contractors and client staff, with clients able to participate in training where appropriate.

Leadership and employee engagement tools from the Waste Industry Safety and Health forum help explore how visible leaders are, how involved employees feel and where perceptions differ. This gives the training a local focus and helps identify where further preparation or coaching may be needed.

Leadership training takes the form of a full-day interactive workshop. Managers and supervisors examine how their behaviour influences others, consider human factors and practise safety conversations through discussion and role-play. The emphasis is on developing the confidence and interpersonal skills to engage with people about the work happening around them.

Employees attend a shorter workshop, generally lasting around an hour, explaining the programme and their role within it. Sessions explore the relationship between behaviour and consequences, recognising complacency and challenging unsafe behaviour without conflict. Employee training follows leadership training, before an agreed local launch date.

Once the programme is operating, a digital conversation card records engagement, positive feedback and areas for improvement. Existing recognition channels and “You Said, We Did” communications support feedback. The health and safety team collates the information into quarterly reports covering themes, the frequency and quality of engagement, and changes in accident and hazard reporting.

By July 2026, FCC reported that 60 sites or contracts had been introduced to All Safe. Ninety managers and supervisors had undertaken leadership training, more than 850 employees had completed employee training, and 770 engagement or safety conversations had been recorded.

Early outcome data, covering participating sites and contracts up to 31 December 2025, showed a reported 9.2% decrease in workplace accidents and an 11.23% increase in hazard and near-miss reporting. These are encouraging early indicators. FCC noted that its 2026 dataset was not yet large enough to provide definitive findings, so those results should remain distinct from the later rollout totals.

Testimonials add a practical perspective. Feedback from Wrexham described training that prompted managers to reassess familiar risks and their own leadership approach. One manager reported seeing a change in a supervisor’s communication with staff. Feedback from Wiltshire highlighted greater confidence in addressing safety issues and the value of different ways to engage colleagues.

For the wider SHE community, All Safe illustrates the value of reviewing how a programme works in practice and acting when its processes become a barrier. Its continued development depends on making conversations useful, responding to concerns and helping local leaders sustain engagement as rollout progresses.

Based on FCC Environment’s submission and supporting materials for The SHE Show Inspiring Change Awards 2026. Programme progress and outcomes are as reported by the company in August 2026.