Raise the profile of workplace safety

The results suggest that there is a significant gap between workplace policies and procedures and what staff actually know. 

Participants were asked ‘Do you know where to log a health and safety concern at work?’ Worryingly the majority of participants (79%) said they did not, with only 21% indicating they knew the correct procedures for their company. Perhaps an even greater cause for concern is that when participants were asked ‘Have you ever reported a Health and Safety concern at work?’ Over three quarters of participants (82%) stated they had not, with just 18% saying they had.

These results indicate that health and safety managers need to try and do more to raise the profile of workplace safety. This can be done by making it more than just a tick in the box exercise. P&MM recommends implementing a simple, but effective rewards and recognition scheme which encompasses health and safety as a key element.

John Sylvester, director of P&MM Motivation, said: "Organisations need to recognise those individuals’ proactively addressing and reporting health and safety issues will help to reduce loss time injury rate. By creating a positive climate through recognition and reward, it is possible to instil a zero accident mindset in all employees and change long term behaviours and attitudes.”

P&MM recently released an accompanying guide “How to encourage Health and Safety Best Practice in the Workplace” which can be downloaded for free at http://staffmotivationmatters.co.uk/download-guide-to-health-and-safety-in-the-workplace/