|
9 March 2005 - HSE Study Reveals
Motivational Reasons for Employers Compliance with H & S
Navigation
A study undertaken by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
reveals what motivational factors make employers comply with laws on health and
safety within their workplaces.
Over 1,700 employers took part in the survey. The
results will be used by the HSE and local authorities for prioritising areas in the delivering of the Health and Safety Commissions' strategy to 2010.
The strategy used at the moment for improving health and safety
in the workplace is encouragement, persuasion, assistance and enforcement.
However, this latest research highlights that no single level approach is
effective for all organisations.
Insurance premium financial incentives have, however, influenced
better health and safety practices within the workplace and 80% of employers
hearing of prosecutions or enforcements against other businesses say they are
motivated into checking their own health and safety standards.
Some major motivational factors highlighted within the research
are as follows:
-
90% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that good health
and safety is important for staff productivity and morale; many also felt that
their reputation is very important.
-
86% agreed or strongly agreed that damage to their reputation
could cause them to lose business.
-
82% felt that they must comply with health and safety
regulations to protect their reputation.
HSE Director General, Mr. Timothy Walker said of the research:
“This research shows that many employers understand the
benefits of good standards of health and safety management and are well
motivated to manage the risks they face. We need to understand these motivators
and how they vary, for example according to industry sector, the size of an
organisation and the attitudes of the current management towards health and
safety.
"The research shows that combining interventions - including
advice and guidance, enforcement and persuasion - helps to reinforce the
motivation for improving health and safety. That confirms the approach set out
in our strategy."
The full report can be accessed by clicking the following:
Research Report 334
Article by Alexandra Johnston
|
