The Communication of Risk Information about Health and Safety

The Communication of Risk Information about Health and Safety 

One of the aims of this research was to ascertain how much was imderstood about occupational health and safety across different areas of BR. This is of central importance to the extent that if occupational health and safety are to become constitutive parts of everyday working life then it is crucial that they are known about. As we have seen, knowledge of the law, regulatory system, and also company health and safety systems, policies, and procediues was patchy within BR. Accordingly it was important to ask a number of broad-based questions about the sources of information available to BR staff and to include more specific questions about health and safety training and different types of communication. 

There was a variety of sources of information available to BR staff. There was information from the company, from the unions, and from HSE. There were also professional and trade sources and the general media. Moreover this information could take a number of forms, notably written, verbal, and visual. In addition there was health and safety training. Respondents were asked about their sources of information in three broad areas, namely general health and safety issues and the specific risks associated with their industry information about the law and legal changes and information about railway accidents. 

Different grades of staff referred to different media. The workforce referred most frequently to posters and then to noticeboards and leaflets, whereas safety representatives were more likely to cite booklets and leaflets and then the local office library. Managers referred to a much wider range of sources. The only departmental difference of note was that three-quarters of civil engineering staff referred to the Civil Engineering Safety Manual. This was the only departmental manual to be cited in this way. 

Like any other organization anything that is laid down in writing generates paperwork which can be a turn off, it can be a positive disincentive. The spirit may be willing to get involved with health and safety but it gets 

---