Do Your Bit - HSE Campaign

The The HSE recently launched a campaign ‘Do Your Bit’ which aims to improve worker involvement in Health & Safety.

The theme for the campaign being that if you involve workers in health & safety decision making, they will better understand why decisions have been made.

An employer should be talking and listening to his employees.  By co-operating, both the employer and employees will see an improvement in Health and Safety performance. Health and safety representatives can help you with workforce consultation arrangements.  Even in non-unionised workplaces there is a place for employee health and safety representation.

Figures suggest that workplaces where employees play an active part in health and safety have lower accident rates. Working with your employees helps manage health and safety in a practical way by:

• helping identify workplace risks;
• making sure health and safety controls are practical, achievable and relevant;
• increasing the level of commitment, from both management and employees, to working in a safe and healthy way.

As workers are involved in the development of safe systems of work employers may also see increased productivity, efficiency and quality.

There are two sets of general regulations about your duty to consult your workforce health and safety:

• The Health and Safety (Consultation with Employees) Regulations 1996; and
• The Safety Representatives and Safety Committees Regulations 1977.

These Regulations will apply to most workplaces.

The appointment of a workplace employee who can represent the views of a group of employees is a great way of involving your workforce in matters concerning their health and safety and complying with your legal duties.

When employees feel valued and involved in decision making they tend to play a big part in a high performing workplace. 

By communicating and consulting with the workforce and giving them the right knowledge and skill not only does an employer comply with a legal duty but they also demonstrate that they take the health, safety and well being of their employees seriously.

Some key benefits of worker involvement may include:

• lower accident rates;
• a more positive attitude towards health and safety;
• greater awareness of workplace risks; and
• better, more appropriate control of workplace risks.

Improving worker involvement?

The following step-by-step guide will show you how you can effectively and efficiently involve your workers in health and safety.

Employers must provide their employees with information on:

• risk assessment, including the protective measures you’ve taken;
• how to deal with any potentially dangerous situations;
• your specific requirements for temporary or vulnerable workers, e.g. pregnant employees etc; and
• changes to workplace conditions or practices, e.g. new equipment or change in processes.

How can this be achieved?

Exactly how an employer implements or improves worker involvement will depend on their own circumstances.

There are various methods for different workplaces. Suggestions include:

• providing information during your workplace induction process;
• using images where possible;
• carry out briefings with your workforce to take account of site conditions and pass on information about changes;
• using an interpreter and/or having information translated if necessary; and
• involving your employees in all matters which affect their health and safety at work.