London Luton Airport (LLA) has been announced as the first airport in the world to achieve certification against BSI’s Psychological Health and Safety Management scheme.

The scheme is based on ISO 45003, the global best practice standard for psychological health and safety at work. The scheme is designed to help organisations better manage well-being at work and, in particular, work-related mental ill-health by identifying and proactively preventing the causes of mental harm. 

To achieve this certification and demonstrate LLA’s commitment to employee well-being, a rigorous and independent assessment was carried out by BSI, to ensure that the required standard had been met.

LLA achieved the certification after developing and implementing a structured and wide-ranging programme of psychological health and safety measures and initiatives designed to manage psychosocial risks and support mental health awareness and psychological well-being across its workforce.

Key initiatives have included the launch of a comprehensive and proactive well-being management procedure designed to raise awareness and understanding of the workplace factors that can lead to psychological harm. Other measures included training for managers on managing effective well-being conversations and risk assessments to identify psychosocial hazards and encourage increased communication and engagement.

Emma Meenan, Head of Health & Safety at London Luton Airport, commented: “Achieving ISO 45003 certification is a landmark achievement for London Luton Airport that underlines the importance we attach to the psychological health, safety and wellbeing of our colleagues across the airport. The programme has been instrumental in embedding and raising the profile of this hugely important area across the airport. We are delighted and proud to become the first airport to achieve this important certification, setting a new global benchmark in the aviation industry and ensuring that LLA is leading the way in creating an open and honest workplace where every employee feels safe, supported, and valued.”

Kate Field, Global Head Human and Social Sustainability, BSI commented: “London Luton Airport has set a remarkable precedent for workplace psychological health and safety in the civil aviation industry. This achievement reflects its commitment to both providing a safe and healthy working environment and psychological health. By prioritising employee well-being and aligning to the global standard in psychological health and safety in the workplace, LLA has set an example for airports, and the aviation sector, across the world.”

Psychosocial hazards are increasingly recognised as major challenges to health, safety and well-being and have been reported by the Royal Aeronautical Society as a particular safety risk factor in civil aviation. Their impact can include increased costs due to absence from work, reduced ability to work effectively and increased staff turnover. Effective management can help eliminate or mitigate these risks and can enhance employee engagement, performance and productivity-improving organisational resilience.

Notes to Editors

For further information on ISO 45003, visit: ISO 45003 - Psychological Safety at Work | BSI (bsigroup.com)

About London Luton Airport

London Luton Airport (LLA) is one of the UK’s busiest airports, carrying over 16.2 million passengers in 2023. The airport is operated by a consortium, of which the majority shareholder is AENA, the world’s largest airport operator, and InfraBridge, a leading infrastructure investment manager. Airlines include easyJet, Wizz Air, Ryanair, Tui, FlyOne, Sun Express and El Al.

The Luton Airport Express is a new dedicated train service that allows passengers to travel from central London to the LLA terminal in around 30 minutes. The Luton Airport Express runs from St Pancras International to Luton Airport Parkway station and connects seamlessly with the DART, an electrically powered people mover that connects to the airport terminal in less than four minutes.

In 2024, LLA was named European Airport of the Year (10-25 million passengers) by ACI EUROPE. 

Last year, LLA also became only the third major UK airport to achieve Level 4 of the globally recognised Airport Carbon Accreditation scheme, demonstrating that it is ‘transforming its operations to achieve carbon reductions in line with global climate goals’. With a maximum score of 100 and a five-star rating, LLA has been ranked as a sector leader for three consecutive years in the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB) benchmark of sustainability governance management and performance of major infrastructure assets worldwide.

To learn about the progress London Luton Airport is making across its sustainability programme please click here.

Further information on London Luton Airport can be found here: https://www.london-luton.co.uk/

About BSI

BSI is a business improvement and standards company that partners with more than 77,500 clients globally across multiple industry sectors. BSI provides organizations with the confidence to grow by working with them to tackle society’s critical issues – from climate change to building trust in AI and everything in between - to accelerate progress towards a fair society and a sustainable world.

For over a century BSI has been recognized for having a positive impact on organizations and society, building trust and enhancing lives. Today BSI engages with a 15,000 strong global community of experts, industry and consumer groups, organizations and governments to deliver on its purpose by helping its clients fulfil theirs. 

Contact Details:

London Luton Airport Press Office
T: 01582 395333
E: pressoffice@ltn.aero

London Luton Airport – PR agency:
E: LLA@tinmancomms.com

URL: https://mediahub.london-luton.co.uk/news/29102024/lla-first-airport-to-meet-bsi-well-being-standard