Meaning & use
safety protocols
Last updated
Meanings
nounplural
Official rules and steps that people must follow to keep themselves and others safe.
Grammar: Usually plural; the singular is 'safety protocol'. Takes a plural verb: the protocols require...
Patterns
- follow safety protocols
- safety protocols for something
- safety protocols require something
All staff must follow the safety protocols when handling chemicals.
The lab updated its safety protocols after the accident.
Safety protocols require everyone to wear a helmet on site.
nounplural
The written documents or system that contains these rules.
Grammar: Used with words like 'review', 'update' or 'breach' as the object.
Patterns
- review the safety protocols
- breach safety protocols
- in line with safety protocols
Management promised to review the safety protocols by Friday.
He was fired for breaching safety protocols.
The new building was designed in line with strict safety protocols.
Word forms
| singular | safety protocol |
|---|
Common combinations
- follow safety protocols
- Visitors must follow safety protocols at all times.
- strict safety protocols
- The hospital has strict safety protocols for infection control.
- safety protocols in place
- With safety protocols in place, the event ran smoothly.
- update safety protocols
- We update our safety protocols every year.
- breach of safety protocols
- The leak was a serious breach of safety protocols.
Synonyms and how they differ
- safety rules
- More general and slightly less formal; 'protocols' suggests an official, step-by-step system.
- safety procedures
- Very close in meaning; 'procedures' stresses the steps to carry out, while 'protocols' stresses the official code.
- regulations
- Broader: covers all official rules, not only those about safety.
Word family
Commonly confused: safety protocols or security protocols?
safety protocols vs security protocols
Security protocols protect against attacks or theft, while safety protocols protect people from accidents and injury.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'safety protocols' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Safety protocols' is plural, so it takes the plural verb 'require'. Option 0 wrongly uses a singular verb, option 2 mixes a singular noun with a plural verb, and option 3 has no main verb.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “safety protocols”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.