The study focuses on the problem of toxic communication as one of the risk factors in Health, Safety & Environmental culture development. The data obtained indicate that the effectiveness of Health, Safety & Environmental communication is reduced due to the expansion of toxic communication, which includes such phenomena as intentional confusion, topic overdiscussing, lack of dialogue on equal footing, lack of feedback, and weak corporate culture. It is also shown that in most cases, ineffective Health, Safety & Environmental leadership of managers and chiefs demonstrates the communicative behaviour of a toxic boss. The conclusion is drawn on the need for further studies of toxic communication in order to reduce its negative impact on Health, Safety & Environmental culture promotion. © The Authors, published by EDP Sciences.