About us
What is SafeStart?
SafeStart is a training programme designed to reduce human error by addressing key human factors and helping people develop the skills, habits and awareness to respond safely - both at work and in everyday life.
Unlike traditional Behaviour-Based Safety (BBS) programmes that focus on observing and correcting behaviour, SafeStart targets the source of human error, working at a subconscious level to develop safer reflexes and automatic responses when it matters most.
Adopted by global leaders in
manufacturing,
logistics, process indrusties and many more
How SafeStart Works
At the individual level, SafeStart builds practical safety skills people can use in real time. It helps them recognise risk early, reset before mistakes happen, and develop safer behaviours that become second nature. Over time, these behaviours move from conscious effort to automatic response.
At the company level, SafeStart helps strengthen safety culture by creating a shared, practical language around safety. It does this through a structured skills journey focused on personal development, delivered in a proven, practical format:
- Onsite (instructor-led),
- Digital (app-based with YOUFactors),
or Hybrid (a mix of both).
The programme follows a clear process, starting with building buy-in across your organisation and shaping your rollout plan. It then moves into focused training and ongoing skill reinforcement, before long-term actions that make the change stick. This makes SafeStart easy to scale across teams and fully compatible with your existing BBS or safety systems.
Why Organisations Trust SafeStart?
Organisations trust SafeStart for one simple reason: it works.
Companies that implement it typically see a 30–50% reduction in injuries - and in some cases up to 70% - often within the first 18 months. These results are consistent because SafeStart addresses what most safety programmes overlook: the cognitive and subconscious causes of human error.
SafeStart focuses on what happens to the individual in the split second before a mistake occurs. It builds the skills, habits and reflexes that shape how people respond when attention drops or pressure increases. This is where most incidents begin - and where SafeStart makes a difference.
Who is SafeStart for?
Workplace safety isn’t limited to front line workers. While high-risk environments attract the most attention, serious incidents also affect people in other roles — including those who work remotely, spend time on the road or at client sites.
That’s why SafeStart is designed for everyone in your organisation, not just those on the shop floor. It helps employees build the skills and habits that become second nature, improving their ability to stay safe at work, on the road and at home.
Benefits of SafeStart
SafeStart does more than reduce injuries. It helps people stay present, look out for one another and go home safe—every day.
Reduces workplace injuries by up to 70%
Builds safer habits that become second nature
Strengthens your existing safety systems with proven human factors training
Extends safety beyond the workplace into families and everyday life
Creates a shared safety language everyone understands and uses
Creates a safety culture people believe in and carry with them
What are the SafeStart Concepts?
SafeStart is built around core concepts that help people recognise subconsciously when they’re more likely to make a mistake - and give them practical techniques and tools to avoid them.
The Four States That Increase Risk
SafeStart identifies four common mental and physical states that increase the risk of error. These are everyday conditions that affect everyone, often without us noticing.
The four states are:
- Rushing – Moving too fast or trying to do too much at once, leading people to overlook hazards or skip steps.
- Frustration – Allowing emotions to take over and affect judgement or decision-making.
- Fatigue – Tiredness that slows reaction time and reduces focus.
- Complacency – Becoming overconfident with familiar tasks, leading to automatic or risky behaviour (autopilot).
What Are the SafeStart CERTs (Critical Error Reduction Techniques)?
Critical Error Reduction Techniques (CERTs) are practical tools that help people manage the four states that increase risk. They teach individuals how to pause, refocus and respond safely when it matters most.
With regular practice, CERTs become automatic. Safer responses turn into habits and reflexes, reducing the chance of injury without the need to stop and think. Over time, this helps create a more aware and resilient safety culture.
We have seen some fantastic results since implementing the programme, including at present: we have not had any lost time accidents for over 700 days. In the first year of using the programme we saw an 80% reduction in lost time accidents and a 40% reduction in lost time hours...
Mike Howells
Logistics Operations Controller, United Biscuits
SafeStart Programmes
What is SafeStart Training?
SafeStart is a personal skills programme and learning journey focused on the human side of safety. It can be delivered in three flexible formats:
Instructor-led sessions delivered onsite. Ideal for teams that benefit from hands-on workshops and personal interaction.
App-based learning supported by the YOUFactors app. Great for remote teams or flexible learning schedules.
A mix of live workshops and digital tools. Combines the best of both approaches for strong engagement and scalability.
Step-by-Step Implementation
The Onsite SafeStart programme is delivered in four key phases, built to create long-term behaviour change:
1/ Preparation
We work closely with your team to develop a tailored rollout plan. This includes engaging leadership, preparing facilitators and establishing a steering group to guide the process.
2/ Training Delivery
The training sessions are delivered through interactive, practical workshops and are supported by videos, work materials, and digital tools. The concepts are introduced step by step so that participants can apply what they learn between sessions and develop new habits.
3/ Reinforcement
Each module builds on the last, with a strong focus on real-world application. Ongoing practice helps individuals internalise the concepts and develop safer reflexes over time.
4/ Maintenance
To keep safety front of mind, we provide follow-up tools, advanced content and refresher activities. These support long-term culture change and help ensure SafeStart becomes a lasting part of how your teams work.