3647 Research report: Safe staffing levels in relation to managerial roles and assurance roles

Ensuring safe and effective staffing for managerial and technical assurance roles is critical in high‑hazard industries, where organisational decisions exert a direct influence on operational risk. Unlike frontline operational roles, these positions lack established methodologies for determining adequate staffing levels, and organisations have historically relied on precedent or commercial pressures rather than structured, evidence‑based approaches. As a result, gaps in oversight, competence, and workload management can persist unnoticed until they contribute to safety‑significant events.

This guidance has been developed in response to a clear need for a more consistent, transparent, and defensible approach to determining staffing requirements for managerial and assurance functions. It draws on academic research, industry standards, organisational experience, and learning from major incidents across the energy sector. Through a programme of workshops and engagement with operating companies, regulators, and subject matter experts, the work has been informed by real‑world challenges and the practical constraints under which organisations operate.

The resulting framework provides a structured, qualitative method for assessing staffing needs, incorporating ten complex risk factors known to influence managerial and assurance workloads. It also recognises the dynamic pressures acting on modern organisations (including digital transformation, automation, commercial constraints, and evolving regulatory expectations) and provides guidance on how these should be considered. A roadmap for future work is also included, highlighting areas requiring additional research, validation, and sector‑wide collaboration.

This guidance is intended to support organisations in making more robust, risk‑informed staffing decisions to strengthen organisational design and to ensure oversight and assurance functions remain effective in an increasingly complex and demanding operating environment. By enhancing the consistency and transparency of staffing assessments, the aim is to contribute to a safer, more resilient energy sector.