Introduction to Health and Safety at Work

Promoting a positive health and safety culture
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➤
a lack of compliance with relevant health and safety 
law and the safety rules and procedures of the 
organization
➤
poor selection procedures and management of 
contractors
➤
poor levels of communication, cooperation and 
control
➤
a weak health and safety management structure
➤
either a lack or poor levels of health and safety 
competence
➤
high insurance premiums.
In summary, a poor health and safety performance within 
an organization is an indication of a negative health and 
safety culture.
4.3.3
Factors affecting a health and safety 
culture
The most important factor affecting the culture is the 
commitment to health and safety from the top of an 
organization. This commitment may be shown in many 
different ways. It needs to have a formal aspect in terms 
of an organizational structure, job descriptions and 
a health and safety policy, but it also needs to be appar-
ent during crises or other stressful times. The health and 
safety procedures may be circumvented or simply for-
gotten when production or other performance targets 
are threatened.
Structural reorganization or changes in market 
conditions will produce feelings of uncertainty among 
the workforce which, in turn, will affect the health and 
safety culture.
Poor levels of supervision, health and safety informa-
tion and training are very signifi cant factors in reducing 
health and safety awareness and, therefore, the culture.
Finally, the degree of consultation and involvement 
with the workforce in health and safety matters is crucial 
for a positive health and safety culture. Most of these 
factors may be summed up as human factors.