How a company’s internal Health and Safety Operations can influence externally

In my previous article I showed how external factors can influence companies internal health and safety systems, in this article I am going to look at the opposite, how the company’s internal health and safety system and the way it is operated and perceived can have an influence externally to the company.

Good for Staff, Clients and Customers

•     A safe and healthy workplace not only protects workers from injury and illness, it can also lower injury/illness costs, reduce absenteeism and turnover, reduce temping costs, increase productivity and quality, and raise employee morale. In other words, safety is good for business. Customers like to be associated with good safe organisations with a positive safety culture.

•     Reputation - Good health and safety measures will help you to build a positive reputation with your clients and staff and their friends and associates. The resulting good public relations could help to increase sales and generate more leads.

•     Productivity and profits - Good health and safety measures mean that your staff can do their work more easily and safely. This will boost morale, increase productivity, reliabilities, hitting targets, bonus’s and reduce costs. Resulting in winning more bids for sales and work.

•     Save insurance and legal costs - A good standard of health and safety in the workplace can reduce your insurance premiums, as well as the costs of accidents that aren't covered by your insurance, such as sick pay, production delays or repairs to plant or equipment.

Media

•     Positive actions by an organisation such as supporting local and community events, helping local schools and charities, donations to local organisations, can raise awareness and a positive response from the media resulting in an enhanced positive perceived culture and positive media coverage.

•     An open door and honesty policy from management to the media can build trust between the organisation and the media which may be needed at some future time.

Condition of the Premises

The perception is that a

•     well looked after premises, clean and tidy, organised with well-maintained equipment is a safe and good place to work with a good safety culture, a place where staff take ownership and is well spoken about in the community. A business that looks after its staff, puts safety before profit and that the public wish to work for. A business clients wish to be associated with.

•     Poorly maintained premises, such as sign missing letters, holes in the fence, scrap lying about, management not visible, staff reluctant to do any extra, is poorly spoken about in the community, thought to have a high turnover and is a last resort place to work, put profits before safety. A business clients do not wish to be associated with.  

Reduce Insurance and Legal Costs

•     If you have a poor health and safety record and are making multiple claims against your insurance policies, this will lead to an increase in premiums. Some providers may even refuse to offer insurance cover.

•     However, a good management system with documented training records and risk assessments will help reduce insurance premiums by demonstrating your commitment to health and safety and minimising the risks to your employees.

•     Good practice in health and safety keeps you out of court, and in credit with the bank. The legal costs of poor health and safety practice can ruin a business. Costs such as compensation you pay to workers who have suffered injury or illness, Solicitors' fees, Paying your staff to administer the legal case, Fines