IS TRAINING AN EFFECTIVE WAY OF ENSURING THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THOSE AT WORK?

Is training an effective way of ensuring the health and safety of those at work?

Table of Contents

Chapter No. 1: Introduction4

Introduction4

Chapter No. 2: Literature Review7

Introduction7

Country of origin9

Analytical and methodological approach9

Dependent variables10

Compensation and conditions of work11

Workforce characteristics12

The political economy of OHS15

Industry effects16

Revitalizing health and safety: scientific strategies?17

Work environment17

The workforce19

Occupational health21

Small firms22

Motivating employers23

Self-regulation28

Partnership31

Problems with the literature36

A policy critique38

Chapter No. 3: Discussion41

The information centre approach41

Methodology45

Selecting and contacting small enterprises46

The sample population47

Routes of contact with the information centre48

The assessment interviews49

Chapter No. 4 Results50

Demographic information on the enterprises assessed50

Presence and adequacy of a policy statement50

Presence and adequacy of a risk assessment51

Other documentation52

Training standards54

Maintenance standards55

Enterprise manager attitudes57

Chapter No. 5: Conclusion & Recommendations59

The broader context63

Conclusions65

References67

Chapter No. 1: Introduction

Introduction

The number of small enterprises in the UK has increased greatly over the last decade ([Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), 1998]), and similar trends have been encountered elsewhere. In response, the UK Health and Safety Commission has recognised the need to increase the role of intermediaries with the aim of engaging small enterprises and communicating the benefits of effective health and safety management ( [Department of Environment Transport and the Regions (DETR), 2000]). In the UK these intermediaries include the Small Business Service, Chambers of Commerce, Learning and Skills Councils, Trade and Professional Associations, Health and Safety Consultants and 'Good Neighbours' ( [Borley, 1998 and Walker & Tait, 1998]). The intermediaries offer a range of approaches in assisting small enterprises. These approaches include provision of information and advice, training courses, and in some cases taking over the health and safety activities on behalf of the small enterprise ( [Health and Safety Executive (HSE), 2000a]). Little is known about their effectiveness, but there is anecdotal evidence to suggest that the small enterprise manager is left in some cases with the impression that health and safety management is bureaucratic, legalistic and costly to introduce ( [Bibbings, 1995 and Walker et al., 1998]).

This study is designed to evaluate the effectiveness of a 'minimalist' approach in the provision of information and advice developed by 2 of the 15 information centres that are operated by Health and Safety Groups affiliated to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) ([Tait & Walker, 1997]). The two centres were selected because they employ similar approaches, and because they are geographically close together, simplifying assessment visits. They both provide assistance at a very basic level, explaining how a simple health and safety management system can be set up, taking the health and safety policy statement and a risk assessment as a basis. Following the intervention the small enterprise manager is left to complete the documentation and to introduce the associated measures into the workplace.

A published telephone survey conducted by Loughborough University has already gauged the reactions of over 30 small enterprise managers who had sought help at the two centres ([Tait & Walker, 1998]). The survey indicated a generally positive response to the service provided. Almost all the managers reported that they had succeeded ...