Workplace health and safety are of utmost importance, yet ensuring that all employees adhere to safe practices can be difficult. Many factors influence worker behaviour regarding health and safety, including organisational culture, the work environment, and job satisfaction. In this blog post, we will discuss key organisational factors influencing employee health and safety behaviour. We will also provide tips on how business owners can create a safe and healthy workplace for their employees.
Organisational Factors That Influence Health And Safety Behaviour Of Workers
These are the characteristics of the organisation that influence workers’ behaviour:
1. health and safety culture of the organisation
The way that this culture is gradually absorbed by the individual (as already discussed).
2. Commitment and leadership from management
Whether this is visibly demonstrated outside the boardroom (since behaviour in the boardroom is not witnessed by most of the workers in an organisation).
3. Resources
The provision of adequate time, money, equipment and personnel to safely manage and carry out work.
4. Work Patterns
Work patterns include shift systems, working at night or extended hours. This can adversely affect workers’ health and cause fatigue, leading to poor performance and increasing the risks associated with safety-critical work.
5. Communication
How effectively the organisation uses various communication methods to convey health and safety messages and information to the workforce, and how well the organisation checks to understand those messages.
6. Levels of supervision
The presence or absence of, and the competence of, supervision (in the context of health and safety) and the way that poor safety-related behaviour is dealt with. For example, in an organisation that undertakes engineering maintenance work, the presence of competent supervisors to oversee the work is critical to prevent rule-breaking behaviour and human error.
7. Consultation and worker involvement
The extent to which workers are engaged and involved in managing health and safety issues and in the decision-making process.
8. Training
How good the organisation is at identifying health and safety training needs and opportunities, and how well it meets those needs to create well-informed, competent staff.
9. Policies and Procedures
The organisation’s policies and procedures, such as safety protocols and standards, guide safe behaviour.
10. Motivation
The organisation’s commitment to providing meaningful rewards for safe behaviour and its ability to motivate workers through incentives.
11. Enforcement
The organisation’s ability to hold employees accountable for their actions and enforce safety rules.
12. Recording and monitoring
The extent to which the organisation records health and safety data (such as accidents, incidents and near misses) and uses this information to identify and address problems.
13. Discipline
How the organisation disciplines employees who do not adhere to safety rules, and how consistent it is.
14. Environment
The workplace’s physical environment, including temperature, light and ventilation levels, can influence worker behaviour.
15. Management Systems
The organisation’s approach to health and safety can include risk assessment systems, safety inspection procedures, job rotation schemes and emergency plans.
16. Systems of Work
How jobs and tasks are organised, planned and controlled. This includes how tasks are allocated, using personal protective equipment and providing tools, materials and maintenance.
17. Documentation
The provision and quality of written information, such as risk assessments, instructions and safety protocols.
18. Health Monitoring
The extent to which the organisation monitors the health and well-being of workers, including regular screenings or medical examinations.
19. Cultural Factors
An organisation’s culture can include its values, attitudes and beliefs about health and safety. This may influence how people perceive and respond to safety messages and how well they follow safety rules.
20. Accountability
The extent to which individuals are held accountable for their safety performance and how the organisation is held accountable for its health and safety performance.
Organisational factors can significantly influence workers’ health and safety behaviour. Therefore, it is important for employers to be aware of these factors and work to create an environment that supports and encourages safe working practices. By doing so, they can reduce the risk of accidents and injuries in the workplace and ensure that their employees remain safe and healthy.
