The development of a positive health and safety culture

As mentioned earlier, there needs to be a commitment from the very top of the organization and this commitment will, in turn, produce higher levels of motivation and commitment throughout the organization. Probably the best indication of this concern for health and safety is shown by the status given to health and safety and the amount of resources (money, time and people) allocated to health and safety. 

The management of health and safety should form an essential part of a manager s responsibility and they should be held to account for their performance on health and safety issues. Specialist expertise should be made available when required (e.g. for noise assessment), either from within the workforce or by the employment of external contractors or consultants. 

Health and safety should be discussed on a regular basis at management meetings at all levels of the organization. If the organization employs sufficient people to make direct consultation with all employees difficult, there should be a health and safety committee at which there is employee representation. In addition, there should be recognized routes for anybody within the organization to receive health and safety information or have their health and safety concerns addressed. 

The health and safety culture is enhanced considerably when senior managers appear regularly at all levels of an organization whether it be the shop floor, the hospital ward or the general office and are willing to discuss health and safety issues with staff. A visible management is very important for a positive health and safety culture. 

Finally, the positive results of a management commitment to health and safety will be the active involvement of all employees in health and safety, the continuing improvement in health and safety standards and the subsequent reduction in accident and occupational ill-health rates. This will lead, ultimately, to a reduction in the number and size of compensation claims. 

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