The conversation with Marcus Long left a deep impression on me. His blend of professional expertise and personal experience cuts straight through the hesitation that often surrounds suicide in the workplace. This isn’t a theoretical issue or a niche wellbeing topic; it’s something every organisation can influence for the better. With the launch of BS 30480, Marcus and the wider standards community have created genuinely practical guidance that can prevent harm, support people, and give leaders the confidence to act with humanity and clarity.
Highlights
- Why BS 30480 was created: a powerful personal catalyst and a clear gap in workplace guidance
- Misunderstandings that hold organisations back: “it won’t affect us” and fear of doing the wrong thing
- Stressors in the workplace: events and pressures that raise suicide risk
- Practical tools in the standard: HR toolkit, line manager toolkit, self-assessment, training guidance
- The importance of confidence: enabling people to speak, listen, and intervene constructively
- How standards shape culture: when organisations use them to truly improve, not to file away
- What’s next in the standards landscape: major revisions to ISO 9001, 14001 and 45001
- First steps for any organisation: download BS 30480 and use the companion “first steps” resource
Resources and actions:
- To download the standard BS 30480 Suicide and the Workplace | BSI
- To download the first steps guide Suicide and the Workplace A Practical First Steps Guide | BSI
- Connect with Marcus on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcuslong26/
- Sign up for a future Safety Roundtable: https://safetyroundtable.co.uk/
- Connect with Christian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-harris-slip-safety/
