New centre to improve workplace safety through evidence-based research

New funding centre focuses on safety evidence

Lloyd’s Register Foundation has launched the Global Safety Evidence Centre with a £15 million investment over 10 years to improve global understanding of safety interventions.

According to Lloyd’s Register Foundation, the new Centre will support research into what works to reduce harm, especially in high-risk sectors and regions where safety evidence is lacking.

The Foundation has also announced a £2 million funding call for occupational safety and health (OSH) projects that address gaps in safety data, intervention effectiveness and evidence use in decision-making.

Reports highlight global safety data shortfalls

The Foundation has said the Centre’s launch follows the publication of two reports by RAND Europe, which identified a shortage of reliable comparative data on safety measures.

The first report reviewed OSH interventions and noted the lack of consistent global evidence on their effectiveness.

The second gathered input from safety professionals in high-risk industries who reported difficulty accessing clear, practical evidence.

Nancy Hey, Director of Evidence and Insight at Lloyd’s Register Foundation, said: “Evidence is critical to improving the safety of people and property; without it, we cannot fully understand the nature and scale of safety challenges faced by people around the world, nor what works to protect them from harm.”

She added: “However, around the world and across industrial sectors, many professionals, policy and decision-makers who need to consider safety do not have access to sufficient high quality evidence; either because it does not yet exist, or because it has not been collated and communicated to them in an understandable and actionable form.”

Applications invited for OSH research projects

The Centre is now accepting expressions of interest from researchers, institutions and safety practitioners worldwide for funding up to £250,000 per project.

Lloyd’s Register Foundation stated that eligible research includes evidence reviews, trials, policy analysis and data projects addressing workplace safety or safety science.

The Foundation encourages applications from its Ocean Centre countries – Brazil, Kenya, Ghana, Bangladesh, India, Philippines and Indonesia – and from organisations that demonstrate collaboration with practitioners and communities.

Martin Cottam, Chair of the Centre’s Expert Advisory Panel and former Chair of the ISO Technical Committee on Occupational Health and Safety Management, said: “As safety practitioners we are presented with a sometimes bewildering range of tools and methods with which to manage safety risks, but often without much evidence to demonstrate their effectiveness, or evidence of the conditions under which they are more or less effective.”

He added: “The work of the Centre will help safety practitioners navigate this landscape, enabling them to be confident in selecting approaches that have been shown to deliver real safety improvement.”

Research themes include workplace risk and safety science

Lloyd’s Register Foundation explained that projects should align with one of two themes: safe work or safety science.

Safe work projects are expected to explore effective safety measures in high-hazard industries and contribute to Sustainable Development Goal 8.8 on safe working environments.

Safety science projects may include research into risk definitions, measurement models, and how safety evidence is used in practice across sectors such as transport, energy and critical infrastructure.

Funding priorities set out in full guidance

According to Lloyd’s Register Foundation, proposals will be assessed on relevance, feasibility, impact and methodological rigour.

Eligible organisations include academic institutions, research centres, and non-profits globally.

Applications will be prioritised if they demonstrate collaboration, offer open access outputs or align with the Foundation’s strategic areas such as safer maritime systems or infrastructure.

The Foundation stated that while funding is available up to £250,000, projects requesting higher amounts must involve multiple regions or types of research.

Centre to focus on practitioner engagement

The Foundation said it is particularly interested in practitioner-led work that reflects local needs and real-world safety practice.

It added that proposals could include mapping practitioner knowledge, comparing qualifications, or working with communities to embed evidence in local safety plans.

Projects may also involve co-designing research agendas with safety professionals, especially in under-researched sectors such as ports, shipyards or search and rescue operations.

Application process includes webinar and phased review

Lloyd’s Register Foundation outlined a three-stage application process beginning with registration through its Flexigrant system.

Expressions of interest are due by 17 September 2025.

A webinar for applicants will be held on 26 June 2025 to provide guidance on the application process and eligibility requirements.

Following initial review, shortlisted applicants will be invited to submit full proposals by 12 December 2025, with projects expected to begin from March 2026.

Centre to publish further reports later in 2025

The Foundation has confirmed that later in 2025, the Centre will publish further reports on the impact of new technologies and climate-related risks.

A forthcoming publication will address how innovations such as artificial intelligence, robotics and virtual reality are affecting workplace safety.

Another report will examine links between occupational safety and health and climate change, a topic the International Labour Organization (ILO) has identified as a research priority.

Joaquim Pintado Nunes, ILO Branch Chief for Occupational Safety and Health and the Working Environment, said: “Lack of data remains one of the biggest challenges to improving workplace safety worldwide — it’s the fourth major gap identified in national OSH systems by ILO Member States.”

He added: “In many regions, research on the scale of the problem is also still scarce. The launch of the Global Safety Evidence Centre marks a vital step forward in closing this gap.”

Lloyd’s Register Foundation funds global safety research centre: Summary

Lloyd’s Register Foundation has announced the Global Safety Evidence Centre.

The Centre is supported by £15 million in funding over 10 years.

It will collate and publish research on what works to improve safety.

A funding call worth £2 million has opened for OSH research proposals.

RAND Europe’s reports found a lack of reliable safety intervention data.

Nancy Hey said many professionals lack access to quality safety evidence.

The Centre aims to close knowledge gaps and improve decision-making.

Martin Cottam said safety professionals need better evidence on effectiveness.

The Centre will release reports on safety and technology later in 2025.

The ILO said the Centre could help close global safety data gaps.

Funding is open to global organisations and prioritises practitioner input.

Applications close 17 September 2025.

Projects are expected to begin from March 2026.