Health and safety during a recession
May 13th 2009
According to a British Safety Council (BSC) survey, one in ten workers are fearful of raising concerns about Health and Safety issues in the current economic climate. The survey also found that one in 12 workers feels under pressure from their boss to take risks with people’s safety in order to save money.
Launching today’s survey 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.
“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.”
The BSC’s second annual survey also revealed that while 95% of bosses said they were confident about what they were legally required to do to make their workplace safe, over a quarter (26%) of them were not aware of three main pieces of safety legislation and advice (the Health and Safety (Offences) Act, the Corporate Manslaughter Act and the Institute of Directors’ ‘Guidance for Directors’).
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 industry £7.8bn.