In offshore wind and marine construction, safety isn’t just a set of rules in a handbook; it’s a culture. And safety cultures aren’t built in the boardroom; they’re built on site. One of the most effective, and often underestimated, ways for the Client to grow that culture is through safety walks.
This isn’t about management “checking up,” it’s about demonstrating a commitment to safety, engaging directly with teams, and showing that everyone can participate in finding opportunities for improvement.
At OCA, we’ve seen first hand how a well-run safety walk can improve communication, boost morale, and uncover valuable lessons before they turn into costly incidents.
Why Client Safety Walks Are a Good Idea
When clients make time to visit a construction site, especially offshore, where access is logistically challenging, it sends a powerful message.
Safety walks bridge the gap between client expectations and operational realities. They allow decision makers to see the environment, the constraints, and the day-to-day challenges that their contractors face.
Instead of relying solely on reports and dashboards, clients witness the nuances such as:
- The wind picking up mid-lift.
- The fatigue on a crew member’s face after a long shift.
- A smart workaround that deserves wider adoption.
This visibility helps clients make more informed decisions, and it shows the workforce that safety is valued at the highest level.
Benefits to the Site
A site visit changes the dynamic. The crew sees that the client is invested, not just in the schedule and budget, but in the wellbeing of the people making the project happen. Key benefits include:
Boosted morale: Recognition from senior figures is motivating. We’ve seen whole teams light up when a client recognises a clever workaround or praises safe behaviour.
Better communication: Safety walks open channels between site teams and clients, allowing for more candid feedback and collaboration, and often speeding up positive changes. Crew members are more likely to raise concerns in a face-to-face conversation than in a formal report.
On-the-spot problem solving: Issues spotted during a walk can often be addressed quickly, avoiding delays or incidents later.
Reinforcement of safety standards: When leadership visibly supports safety protocols, compliance naturally improves. When a client steps onto a vessel or turbine platform, it sends a clear message:
“Your work matters, and so does your safety.”
Benefits to the Client
Safety walks aren’t just about being seen; they deliver tangible value to clients as well.
Enhanced trust with contractors: When you’re face-to-face with the crew, you’re not “the client” anymore; you’re a partner. And that trust pays off in fewer disputes, faster resolutions, and smoother delivery.
Direct understanding of risks: Firsthand observations help validate risk assessments and method statements. A safety walk helps clients really understand the project environment. You can see the weather, the kit, the real-world constraints – not just the version in the risk register.
Early detection of systemic issues: Spotting recurring hazards or near-misses early can prevent costly downtime. In offshore wind, lost time incidents can cost upwards of £250,000 per day in vessel and crew delays.
Credibility with stakeholders: Demonstrating proactive safety leadership enhances a client’s reputation with regulators, investors, and the wider industry. Many CfD bid evaluations now take HSE track records into account when scoring developers.
In OCA’s experience, clients who make safety walks a regular habit often see measurable improvements in safety performance metrics, including fewer incidents, quicker close-out of corrective actions, and stronger engagement scores in workforce surveys.
OCA Tips for a Good Safety Walk
A safety walk is only as valuable as the preparation and approach behind it. Here’s how we recommend making the most of them.
Plan but stay flexible.
Review the project’s safety performance, recent incidents, and site activities before you go. But be ready to adapt your focus to what is happening on the day – offshore conditions can change in minutes.
Engage, don’t inspect.
Ask open questions. Show curiosity. The aim is to learn, not to interrogate. Crew members who feel respected are far more likely to share honest insights. Be the new person, not the expert.
Look beyond compliance.
Spot good practices worth sharing across the project, not just areas for improvement. Positive reinforcement is a powerful driver for safety culture. Be vocal with your praise.
Close the loop.
After the walk, provide feedback to the site and share what actions can be taken. This reinforces trust and shows that the visit had a real impact.
Make it happen.
The real power of safety walks comes with consistency. Make it an essential part of the site works process. Long projects might need several, but even short projects should get at least one.
More Than a Walk
In offshore construction, where the environment is unpredictable and the stakes are high, safety walks are a simple but powerful tool. They humanise safety, break down barriers, and bring leadership closer to the front line.
At OCA, we’ve facilitated and participated in countless client safety walks across offshore wind, marine construction and survey works projects. Our established bank of lessons learned, drawn from over a decade of successful project delivery, allows us to help clients plan, execute, and follow up on highlighted issues.
By walking the decks together, we create safer sites, stronger teams, and projects that deliver on time, on budget, and without harm. Because in this industry, a short walk can make a big difference.
