New research on worker involvement in safety

Many workers don't get more involved in health and safety at work because of their employers' organisational culture, according to new Health and Safety Executive (HSE) research.

A number of workers told researchers that they were not prepared to take up safety issues for fear of losing their jobs. And in organisations with a "macho" culture, employers perceived an interest in health and safety as "soft" or "weak".

The report, Obstacles preventing employee involvement in health and safety, recommends the payment of safety reps, to increase their status within the workplace.

The research also sheds light on employers' attitudes. It found that some were driven by the fear of litigation, while others were suspicious of highly trained safety reps and of "losing control" of workplace safety. Many were aware that they were taking risks, but said they could not afford to make the long-term investment required to improve matters.

Obstacles preventing employee involvement in health and safety (RR296) is available from HSE Books, price £15 - call 01787 8811653. It can also be downloaded free from www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrpdf/rr296.pdf