According to a new report British businesses are losing their competitive edge due to their failure to tackle risks of injury and illness in the work place.
According to a new report British businesses are losing their
competitive edge due to their failure to tackle risks of injury and
illness in the work place.
This was warned by the Institution of Occupational Safety and
Health (IOSH) in a new survey. It reveals employers are placing
worker protection low on their list of priorities and are
underestimating the economic benefits. Work-related accidents and
illness, which includes absence, low productivity and legal bills
is estimated to cost business nearly £8 billion a year. Overall the
cost of health and safety failures including health bills and
welfare cost the British economy and estimated £22 billion.
IOSH have launched a new Life Savings campaign to help put the
record straight on occupational health and safety, with the
institution stating: "Rather than a burden on business, good,
proportionate health & safety is being used by forward-thinking
CEOs and managing directors as a driver for growth."
Since the campaign launch, the chartered body have put forward
examples of businesses saving millions of pounds through the
introduction of health and safety programs, but are now turning to
the government to make changes. IOSH, the world's biggest
professional health and safety organisation, are urging the
government to showcase its good practice to help demonstrate how
employing health and safety measures can cut costs. Through this
the institution wants the government to rethink their decision to
axe the Health and Safety Advice Line, as this could prove
disadvantageous to small businesses.
IOSH President Steve Granger says: "Businesses are missing a
trick with health & safety. When you operate in a global
marketplace, and you're trying to claw your way out of recession, a
happy, healthy workforce is a driver for growth.
"It's frankly wrong for Ministers and business leaders to
talk about health & safety as 'red tape' and a burden on
business. When done properly and proportionately, health &
safety is essential to a business's long-term prospects for
survival in what are difficult times for our economy.
"As well as the primary aim of saving people's lives and
livelihoods, good occupational health & safety can also deliver
vital cost savings and help your business to grow."
Employing a clean working environment not only can help improve
productivity, it can also promote a healthier place, combating
absences due to illness. Employing an effective health and safety
programme can also save businesses money, which can be used to help
expand the company.