Chapter 4 Promoting a positive health and safety

Chapter 4 Promoting a positive health and safety culture

Promoting a positive health and safety culture After reading this chapter you should be able to: 1. describe the concept of health and safety culture and its significance in the management of health and safety in an organization 2. identify indicators which could be used to assess the effectiveness of an organization’s health and safety culture and recognize factors that could cause its deterioration 3. identify the factors which influence safety related behaviour at work 4. identify methods which could be used to improve the health and safety culture of an organization 5. outline the internal and external influences on an organization’s health and safety standards.

A culture in which the right to a safe and healthy working environment is respected at all levels, where government, employers and workers actively participate in securing a safe and healthy working environment through a system of defined rights, responsibilities and duties, and where the principle of prevention is accorded the highest priority. Figure 1 ILO defines health and safety culture

Incident Rate

“Safety is, without doubt, the most crucial investment we can make. And the question is not what it costs us, but what it saves. ” (Robert E. Mc. Kee Chairman and Managing Director or Conoco (UK) Ltd) Figure 4. 1 Safety as an investment

Figure 4. 2 Heinrich’s accidents/incidents ratios

Figure 4. 3 Well designed work station for sitting or standing

Figure 4. 5 Setting Goals and motivating people

Figure 4. 6 a Visual perception –are the lines the same length?

Figure 4. 7 Types of human failure

Figure 8 Health and Safety training needs and opportunities

Figure 4. 9 Internal Influences on safety culture

Figure 4. 10 External Influences on safety culture