HSE research on worker involvement

Press release - 21 December 2001

HSE publishes new research on how taking workers’ advice seriously can improve health and safety

Companies that ask employees for their views on health and safety issues can cut down on accidents, a study by the HSE has found. The TUC is posting this on our website to draw attention to the many case studies of successful worker participation. In many cases, unions and union safety reps were involved in the cases, but for some reason unions have been air-brushed out of the press release.

By including workers’ ideas and involving them in enforcing health and safety rules, companies can create a positive attitude towards maintaining good practice and make significant improvements.

The report, Employee involvement in health and safety - some examples of good practice,includes case studies which may be useful to organisations seeking to promote employee involvement.

One company cut its reportable accidents in half by training nominated safety representatives within the workforce in key health and safety issues so that they could help managers enforce the rules.

A joint venture between two firms with a combined workforce of 1,400 had been prosecuted twice by the HSE and had poor accident figures. They decided to raise employees’ awareness of health and safety. Groups of 10 employees were set up which met managers every two weeks to devise ways of measuring safety performance and published the results. Practical ideas for improving safety in the workplace also came out of these groups and there was a huge drop in accidents from 1.2 to 0.1 per 100,000 man hours.

A wide range of organisations were used in the research which will be of particular interest to managers, safety professionals, safety representatives and employees across all employment sectors.

The examples in the report represent the key points of the HSE’s own advice in the guidance leaflet, Successful health and safety management (HSG65).

The report is available on HSEs web site at www.hse.gov.uk/research/hsl_pdf/2001/employ-i.pdf

This research report complements HSG217 - Involving employees in health and safety - forming partnerships in the chemical industry. Published summer 2001.

Briefing document (400 words) issued 22 Dec 2001