safety, however lives are at risk as 1 in 12 workers admit to feeling
under pressure to take risks.
A new survey from the British Safety Council (BSC) has found that over
half of all businesses making cutbacks this year, will cut the bosses'
bonuses before health and safety management.
Even though this demonstrates a positive attitude towards health and
safety, the survey also raised significant issues in regards to health
and safety and the recession. The survey found that one in ten workers
is fearful of raising concerns about health and safety issues in the
current economic climate. Furthermore, it was found that one in
twelve workers feel that they are under pressure from their bosses to
save money, by taking risks with people's safety.
The BSC's survey into the attitudes of bosses and workers to safety in
the workplace revealed that although 95% of bosses were confident
about what they are required to do legally in order to make their
workplace safe, 26% of them were not aware of the 3 main pieces of
safety advice and legislation:
* Health and Safety (Offences) Act;
* Corporate Manslaughter Act;
* Institute of Directors' Guidance for Directors.
Brian Nimick, Chief Executive of the British Safety Council, said:
"No one should have to work in a situation where they fear for their
safety because of unsafe practices. There needs to be a clearly
defined "safe to work" covenant between workers and bosses if we are
to make the workplace in the UK and elsewhere as safe as possible.
"Even in the current challenging financial climate facing industry,
now is not the time to make health and safety costs a casualty of cut
backs."
While the majority of workers (70%) feel more inclined to be
productive in an environment where their employer is attentive to
their health, safety and wellbeing, only just over half of bosses
(59%) now think that a proactive approach to health and safety
enhances the bottom line compared to 72% in 2007.
In 2007/08 non-existent or inferior health & safety measures in the
workplace killed 229 men and women and injured 136,000 employees -
costing the industry £7.8bn.
Workers feel safer
The survey shows a noticeable improvement in workers' perceptions of
their own safety since opinion was first measured in 2007. The
proportion who feels 'very safe' has increased significantly, from 57%
to 71%, while the proportion who does not feel safe has dropped from
7% to 4%. Overall, 96% of employees now feel safe at work, with 98% of
bosses believing their workplace to be safe.
Regional Statistics
Employees in Wales feel the safest in the UK, with 84% saying they
feel very safe compared to two thirds (67%) in 2007. Perceptions of
workplace safety are particularly high in Yorkshire and Humberside,
the South West, the East Midlands and East Anglia.
In the North West, almost half of workers feel very safe (49%, a
decline from 61% in 2007). 17% in the region say their employer is bad
at reminding them of their responsibilities regarding health and
safety, compared with a national average of 6%.
Sector safety
Those who work in construction have shown a considerable improvement
in their perception of safety, with only 2% feeling unsafe compared
with 21% in 2007.
The catering/hospitality sector 11% do not feel safe at work compared
to an average of 4%. Almost a quarter of workers here say they are now
less likely to raise a health and safety concern with their employer,
due to the economic climate, compared with an average of 11%.
