December 29 is a weirdly powerful date for improvement. The big projects are slowing down, leadership is still reachable, and teams are already thinking about “what we’ll do better next year.” If you’ve ever wanted to upgrade workplace safety without launching a massive program that fades by February, this is your moment.

The trick is simple: don’t write “be safer.” Write goals that are specific, owned, and measurable—then build a rhythm to review them. Below are seven practical resolutions you can start now and carry cleanly into 2026.

Why year-end is the best time to set workplace safety goals

Most safety goals fail for one reason: they aren’t connected to daily work. They live in decks, not on the floor.

Year-end planning fixes that because you can:

• close pending actions before they roll over
• define owners while org charts are stable
• set a baseline using your existing reports
• launch Q1 initiatives with clarity (not chaos)

If you want workplace safety to improve in 2026, the win is not a perfect strategy—it’s consistent execution.

7 SMART resolutions for 2026

1) Run one “gap-to-plan” safety audit in Q1

Goal: Complete a structured audit by the end of Q1 and publish a prioritized action plan within 7 days.

This is the fastest way to move from opinions to evidence. Pick one audit framework your team can repeat (internal checklist, ISO-style approach, or a company standard), then score the same areas every quarter. Tie findings to actions, owners, and due dates. Workplace safety improves quickly when audit findings don’t sit in folders.

Make it SMART: audit date + scope + scoring method + action plan deadline.

2) Increase hazard and near-miss reporting quality, not just volume

Goal: Improve report completeness (photo/evidence, location, category, immediate controls) to a defined target by mid-year.

More reports are useful only if they lead to better decisions. Define what a “good” report looks like and coach teams on it. Then measure completeness, not just count. When your reporting quality rises, workplace safety becomes easier to manage because patterns get clearer.

Make it SMART: completeness criteria + target % + monthly review cadence.

3) Close corrective actions faster with clear SLAs

Goal: Set action SLAs by risk level and hit your closure target every month.

This one is brutally effective. Most sites don’t lack knowledge—they lack follow-through. Classify actions (high/medium/low risk), define expected closure time for each, and escalate consistently when deadlines slip. If actions stay open, hazards stay alive. If actions close on time, workplace safety becomes predictable.

Make it SMART: SLA by risk + escalation rule + monthly closure target.

4) Standardize inspections so they’re consistent across shifts and sites

Goal: Run scheduled inspections with the same checklist standard across locations, and reduce repeat findings by year-end.

Inspections aren’t just “checking.” They’re the engine that detects drift—especially when contractors rotate, schedules change, or production pressure rises. Use fewer, stronger checklists instead of many shallow ones. Track repeat non-conformances and treat repeats as system issues, not people issues. This is where workplace safety stops being random.

Make it SMART: inspection frequency + checklist scope + repeat-NC reduction goal.

5) Build a training and competency calendar that doesn’t slip

Goal: Achieve defined completion for critical trainings (role-based + refreshers) and track competency coverage quarterly.

Training isn’t a one-time event; it’s a lifecycle. Define “critical roles” (operators, electricians, maintenance, drivers, supervisors), map required training, and schedule refreshers before expiry. When the right people are competent at the right time, workplace safety becomes a capability, not a campaign.

Make it SMART: role list + required modules + refresher cycle + completion target.

6) Make Management of Change non-negotiable for operational changes

Goal: Implement a minimum MOC workflow for changes (process, people, equipment, materials) and review outcomes monthly.

Most serious incidents have a “change story” behind them—temporary bypasses, new chemicals, modified work methods, rushed maintenance, contractor substitutions. Even a lightweight MOC process (risk review + approvals + training confirmation + closure) prevents silent risk from entering operations. This is a direct lever for workplace safety in growing plants.

Make it SMART: what counts as “change” + workflow steps + monthly MOC review.

7) Require PSSR before startups, restarts, and post-maintenance handbacks

Goal: Use a simple PSSR checklist for every restart after major maintenance or modifications, with documented sign-offs.

Restarts are high-risk because normal controls are temporarily disrupted—interlocks may be reset, guards removed and replaced, temporary systems still active, people returning after time off. PSSR is the final confirmation that the system is truly ready. If you want fewer surprises in 2026, this one alone upgrades workplace safety dramatically.

Make it SMART: what triggers PSSR + checklist owner + sign-off requirement + audit trail.

How to keep these resolutions alive after January

A resolution without a rhythm becomes a regret. Keep it simple:

• Review the 7 goals monthly (30 minutes, fixed agenda)
• Publish one dashboard page (even if it’s basic)
• Celebrate closures and prevention wins, not just “zero incidents”
• Treat repeat findings as process fixes, not blame moments

This is the boring stuff that works.

Where OQSHA fits in a “resolutions” year

If you’re positioning OQSHA as an enterprise-level AI-driven HSE platform, these resolutions map cleanly to the day-to-day system you want teams to use:

• inspections and evidence capture
• incident and hazard reporting
• action tracking with deadlines and escalation
• training records and reminders
• MOC and PSSR workflows with approvals and audit trails
• analytics that show trends, repeat issues, and closure speed

That’s how workplace safety moves from intent to execution—without relying on memory, spreadsheets, or “we’ll do it later.”

Final thought

The best 2026 safety plan isn’t the longest one. It’s the one that gets used when the site is busy, staffing is lean, and pressure is high. Set your resolutions now, assign owners, and make reviews non-negotiable. Do that, and workplace safety becomes a habit your teams can actually sustain.