A social license to operate is the ongoing acceptance or approval of a company's activities by local communities and other stakeholders, beyond its formal legal permits.
A social license to operate (SLO) is the informal, ongoing acceptance of a company's operations by the communities and stakeholders affected by them. Unlike a government permit, it cannot be issued on paper. It is earned through trust, fair treatment and responsible performance, and it can be lost quickly after a serious incident.
A quarry near a town received repeated complaints about heavy trucks speeding through a school zone. The company introduced a traffic control plan, GPS speed monitoring through vehicle telematics and set haul times away from school drop-off. Complaints fell and the council supported its expansion application.
No, but losing it can lead to protests, delays, legal challenges and refused permits.
Mining, oil and gas, energy, forestry, agriculture and large infrastructure projects.
Serious incidents harm workers and communities and quickly erode trust, so safety performance is central to maintaining it.
Part of SafetyIQ's EHS glossary: plain-English definitions of workplace health and safety terms.
> Keep learning
> See it in action
Capture hazards, run inspections, track training and close out corrective actions in one platform built for high-risk, field-heavy work.
Book my free demo
Get a demo built around your sites, your teams, and the way your people work.
EHS, journey, and fatigue management software for field-heavy teams.
.png){kind=logo}
.png)