Motivating employers is key to improving H&S

 A carrot and stick approach that combines advice and guidance with enforcement and persuasion is the best way to motivate firms into improving their health and safety provision, research by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) has concluded.

The study of more than 1,700 employers found a major motivator was securing the business benefits of good standards of workplace health and safety.

A total of 90% agreed good health and safety was important for staff productivity and morale.

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Many also felt reputation was important – 86% agreeing damage to their reputation could cause them to lose business, and 82% feeling complying with health and safety regulations helped protect their reputation.

A further 80% said they checked their own health and safety standards if they heard about a notice or prosecution against a similar organisation, said HSE director general, Timothy Walker.