Employers happy with health and safety role

Three out of four employers say that health and safety requirements benefit their companies as a whole, according to a MORI survey published by the HSE. The survey also found that employers rate health and safety as among their most important workplace issues, and over 80% regard the HSE favourably.

Most employers see health and safety as good for business, and disagree that it puts a strain on profits. Over 60% believe that health and safety requirements save them money in the long term, while only 14% think health and safety law seriously hampers their business. Nearly 60% say that following health and safety law defends them against unjustified compensation claims.

The survey also found that two-thirds of employees believe their employers take health and safety issues very seriously, with workers in larger organisations more likely to say so. Most employees feel they have the right amount of health and safety information and training, although two in five have had no or not much training.

Attitudes towards health and safety: a quantitative survey of stakeholder opinion by MORI Social Research Institute is available on the HSE website at www.hse.gov.uk/research/misc/attitudes.pdf