Introduction to Health and Safety at Work

Paper 1 – Question 2
Outline
ways in which employers may motivate their 
employees to comply with health and safety procedures
(8)

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Introduction to Health and Safety at Work
428
Answer:
Motivation is the driving force behind the way a person 
acts or the way in which people are stimulated to act. 
The best way to motivate employees to comply with 
health and safety procedures is to improve their under-
standing of the consequences of not working safely, their 
knowledge of good safety practices and the promotion 
of their ownership of health and safety. This can be done 
by effective training (induction, refresher and continuous) 
and the provision of information showing the commit-
ment of the organization to safety and by the encour-
agement of a positive health and safety culture with 
good communications systems. Managers should set 
a good example by encouraging safe behaviour and 
obeying all the health and safety rules themselves 
even when there is a diffi cult confl ict between pro-
duction schedules and health and safety standards. 
A good working environment and welfare facilities will 
also encourage motivation. Involvement in the decision 
making process in a meaningful way, such as regular 
team briefi ngs, the development of risk assessments 
and safe systems of work, health and safety meetings 
and effective joint consultation arrangements, will also 
improve motivation as will the use of incentive schemes. 
However, there are other important infl uences on motiv-
ation such as recognition and promotion opportunities, 
job security and job satisfaction. Self-interest, in all its 
forms, is a signifi cant motivator.
Although somewhat negative, it is necessary 
sometimes to resort to disciplinary procedures to get 
people to behave in a safe way. This is rather like speed 
cameras on roads with the potential for fi nes and points 
on your licence.