Business leaders play a crucial role in shaping the attitudes and behaviours of their employees towards health and safety. The British Safety Council's new guidance emphasises that the way leaders act and communicate about health, safety, and wellbeing sends a clear signal to employees, influencing their attitudes and behaviours. Effective health and safety management includes adequate workload management, staff supervision, legal compliance, incident investigation, and clear communication about health, safety, and wellbeing.
Financial and legal imperatives
The financial implications of poor health and safety practices are significant. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Labour Force Survey estimate that the annual cost of new workplace injuries and work-related ill health in Great Britain was around £20.7 billion in 2021-22. Additionally, 35.2 million working days were lost due to health issues and injuries in 2022-23. The cost of poor mental health to UK employers was even higher, estimated at £53-56 billion in 2020-2. This underscores the financial imperative for business leaders to prioritise health and safety alongside other business parameters such as quality, productivity, and cost.
Creating a culture of compliance
Supervisors, middle, and senior managers all have a role in fostering a culture of compliance. The new guidance stresses that health and safety should be placed on an equal footing with other business priorities. Effective health and safety leaders focus on significant risks, demonstrate commitment through their actions, shape the organizational ethos, win the hearts and minds of workers, and are held accountable. Recognising the workforce when they get it right and building trust are also key components of effective leadership.
Practical steps for implementation
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the Institute of Directors (IoD) have produced guidance on effective leadership in workplace health and safety. This guidance follows the "Plan, Do, Check, Act" management approach and includes a checklist of key questions for leaders. The approach emphasises that effective workplace health and safety performance comes from the top, with board members having both collective and individual responsibility for health and safety.
Steps to implement health and safety priorities:
Plan: Develop a comprehensive health and safety policy that includes risk assessments and mitigation strategies.
Do: Implement the policy through training, supervision, and clear communication.
Check: Regularly review and audit health and safety practices to ensure compliance and effectiveness.
Act: Make necessary adjustments based on audit findings and feedback from employees.
Addressing mental health and wellbeing
Recent surveys indicate a growing need to focus on mental health and wellbeing in the workplace. The Dräger Safety and Health at Work Report 2024 found that 82% of respondents believe health and safety legislation should include a greater focus on mental health and wellbeing. This is particularly important given the rising prevalence of mental ill health over the last five years [4]. Employers are encouraged to adopt a holistic approach that integrates physical, emotional, and social wellbeing into their health and safety strategies.
Additional Considerations
Sustainability and safety: Research indicates that sustainability efforts can positively impact occupational safety standards. Businesses are encouraged to integrate sustainability and safety policies to achieve long-term goals.
Economic impact: The economic cost of poor health and safety practices is substantial. Businesses must consider the financial implications of workplace injuries and ill health when making budgetary decisions.
Sector-specific challenges: Different industries face unique health and safety challenges. For example, the construction industry has highlighted the need for a radical approach to address mental health issues, given the high rates of suicide among workers in this sector.
By placing health and safety on an equal footing with other business priorities, employers can create a safer, healthier, and more productive work environment.
Further reading
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