March 11, 2005—Concerns over health and safety in the workplace prompted the UK government’s Health & Safety Executive (HSE) to survey employers, asking what will motivate them to comply with health and safety laws? The HSE intends to use the results of the research, conducted by Greenstreet Berman Ltd., to help prioritize where and how action is taken in order to further the health and safety strategy.
The survey shows that employer concerns are focused on reputation risk, enforcement/regulation, the need to avoid the cost of accidents/ill-health. And growing in importance is the growing cost of insurance premiums.
The great majority (90%) agreed that good health and safety is important for staff productivity and morale. However, 14% of those polled commented that health and safety issues are not a top priority. The prospect of damage to reputation and potential loss of business was cited by 86%.
In other findings, 27% regard health and safety regulations as a “burden.” Two-thirds (68%) said enforcement action would be disruptive. Also, larger organizations (over 250 employees) believe that employers’ liability costs them a lot and that insurers take into account the organization’s H&S performance when setting premiums. <pOne employer summarized his organization's view on health and safety regulations: Keep them simple to be clearly understood.
To see a summary and the full report: go to the HSE Web site.
