The reality is that no person or business is immune to such challenges, and with this comes the need to mitigate risk at every opportunity.
The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 requires a business to provide information, instruction, training, and supervision as is necessary to ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety at work of employees. Sadly, many businesses fail to do this adequately, and many more fail to evidence what they do. There is always space for improvement, particularly in terms of how organisations go about embedding the correct health and safety practices into their wider culture.
According to recent Health & Safety Executive (HSE) 2023 figures1:
- 1.8 million working people are suffering from a work-related illness.
- 875,000 workers are suffering work-related stress, depression, or anxiety.
- 473,000 workers are suffering from a work-related musculoskeletal disorder.
- 135 workers were killed in work-related accidents.
- 561,000 working people sustained an injury at work according to the Labour Force Survey.
- 60,645 injuries to employees reported under RIDDOR.
- 35.2 million working days were lost due to work-related illness and workplace injury.
- £20.7 billion is the estimated cost of injuries and ill health from current working conditions.
How to Manage Workplace Health and Safety
Efficient enforcement of laws and regulations governing workplace protections must be accompanied by robust legal frameworks, ensuring their incorporation into a broader organisational ethos of safety. Fostering a proactive culture at work involves everyone's outlooks, beliefs, skills, and behaviours related to safety and well-being. This includes both physical safety and mental health.
Given the dynamic nature of workplace environments, organisations must continually assess health and safety risks. This involves conducting regular risk assessments to identify potential hazards and dangers, followed by the implementation of suitable control measures2.
Such an approach applies the continuous improvement methodology of the Plan, Do, Check and Act approach developed by the HSE3:
Plan
Reflect on your current situation and your desired outcomes. Clearly state your objectives, allocate responsibilities, detail strategies for achieving your aims, and establish metrics for measuring success. It may be necessary to document this policy and your implementation plan. Decide on methods for evaluating performance, including both leading and lagging indicators, beyond solely examining accident data. Collaborate with other occupants of your workplace to develop and coordinate emergency response plans. Furthermore, anticipate changes and ensure compliance with any specific legal requirements that apply to your organisation.
Do
Identify your risk profile and assess potential hazards in the workplace, considering who may be affected and how. Prioritise the most significant risks and organise your activities accordingly to address them. Key steps include involving workers in discussions, ensuring clear communication, and fostering positive attitudes towards safety. Allocate adequate resources and seek competent advice when necessary. Implement preventive measures, provide necessary tools and equipment, and maintain them regularly. Offer thorough training and instruction to ensure competency among workers and supervise to ensure adherence to safety arrangements.
Check
Monitor your activity by ensuring the implementation of your plan, as mere documentation is insufficient as a performance indicator. Assess the effectiveness of risk control measures and the attainment of your objectives. Consider conducting formal audits in certain situations to gauge performance accurately. Investigate the root causes of accidents, incidents, or near misses to identify areas for improvement and prevent future occurrences.
Act
Evaluate your performance by analysing accidents, incidents, health data, errors, and relevant experiences, including those from other organisations. Revisit plans, policy documents, and risk assessments to determine if updates are necessary. Take proactive measures based on lessons learned, incorporating findings from audit and inspection reports to enhance performance and ensure continuous improvement.
By completing this review cycle, businesses can establish a culture of continuous improvement, upholding standards that promote a safe workplace environment and laying the foundation for a practical safety culture within the organisation. The benefits are numerous and include:
- A happier, safer, and more engaged workforce
- Reduction in compensation and insurance costs
- Enhanced employee motivation to adhere to safety protocols
- Decreased downtime due to safety incidents
How Gallagher Can Help
From simple phone-based advice to bespoke consultancy, packaged services, and training, we can provide health and safety risk management services that could make a real difference to your organisation. We do this in a way which links your legal obligations to your insurers’ expectations – affordably, accurately, and sustainably
To contact our friendly risk management team about any of the content in this article, or how we can help you with your health and safety requirements, please call 0800 138 7538.
