survey report 2018 -...

Survey Partners

Survey Report 2018

Health & Safety in the Workplace

Contents

The Survey 3

Survey Methodology and Respondents’ Profile 4

Key Findings 5

Conclusion 12

Appendix 1: Full Survey Questions 13

Appendix 2: Participating Organisations 19

Page � of �2 20 Health & Safety in the Workplace 2018

The survey team at iGov Survey would like to take this opportunity to thank all of those who were kind enough to take part – and especially to those who found the time to offer additional insights through their extra comments. We would also like to thank our partner, SGS United Kingdom Ltd, for their assistance in compiling the survey questions, scrutinising the responses and analysing the results.

Health & Safety in the Workplace 2018 is © copyright unless explicitly stated otherwise. All rights, including those in copyright in the content of this publication, are owned by or controlled for these purposes by iGov Survey.

Except as otherwise expressly permitted under copyright law or iGov Survey’s Terms of Use, the content of this publication may not be copied, produced, republished, downloaded, posted, broadcast or transmitted in any way without first obtaining iGov Survey’s written permission, or that of the copyright owner.

To contact the iGov Survey team: Email: [email protected] Tel: 0845 094 8567 Address: FAO Sandra Peet, Pacific House, Pacific Way, Digital Park, Salford Quays, M50 1DR

Acknowledgements

The Survey Ensuring that staff are able to work in a safe environment is one of the highest priorities for any organisation today. There is an ever-increasing focus on staff protection in the workplace, which is understandable when we consider the fact that work-related injuries and illnesses cost UK industry an estimated £14bn in 2016.

It is crucial that organisations are aware that the term ‘health and safety’ does not only refer to the safety of equipment and working conditions, but also the physical and mental health of employees. With the EU bringing in new occupational safety and health regulations, it is important to keep up with the incoming legislation.

Organisations need to consider internal factors, such as staff training, alongside the myriad of external factors, such as legislative changes and the emergence of new technologies – all of which makes it more important than ever for organisations within the public sector to continually review their health and safety approach.

Our survey focused in particular on the following: • Organisations’ attitudes towards health and safety • Health and safety audits and the measurements put in place to monitor health risks • The barriers, if any, to effective occupational health and safety management • Where overall responsibility lies and wider group staff engagement

Following extensive review, we have now collated the resulting outcomes and the following report contains a summary of our key findings.

About Our Survey Partner

SGS is the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognised as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 95,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 2,400 offices and laboratories around the world.

SGS recognises the need for end-users, stakeholders and the general public to be aware of how QHSE issues are managed in the day-to-day life of an organisation.

Their familiarity with local legislation as well as international standards enables them to help their customers with their occupational health and safety management system requirements.


Survey Methodology and Respondents’ Profile

This survey was conducted by iGov Survey in collaboration with SGS. The project ran from Wednesday 13th September 2017 to Friday 6th October 2017.

Survey respondents represented a broad cross-section of job functions across the public sector. This included: Chief Executive, Administration, Asset Management, Community Health, Emergency Planning, Environment, Facilities & Estates, Governance, Health & Safety, Human Resources, Infection Control, Marketing Communications, Occupational Health, Operations, Organisational Planning, Policy, Public Health, Research, Risk Management, Security, Service Delivery and Sustainability.

A total of 164 individuals from 148 unique organisations participated in the survey, all of whom will have received a complimentary copy of the findings report. There was no inducement to take part in the survey, and SGS was not introduced as the survey partner.

The results displayed throughout this report are based on those who fully completed the questionnaire and are displayed as a percentage of this group, unless explicitly stated otherwise.


Key Findings A major challenge facing organisations across the public sector is a perceived lack of communication regarding health and safety policies According to our survey, 35% of organisations actively consider the views and feedback from all employees from top to bottom. To engage staff in the development of their health and safety risk policy, the majority of organisations (77%) have appointed health and safety representatives. 78% also ensure health and safety is an agenda topic at team meetings.

But, just 55% involve staff in its development and promotion, which further supports the earlier point regarding what might be perceived as a low percentage of organisations actively considering the views and activities of staff. This exclusion of members of staff from being actively able to express their views, could lead to staff being unsure or unaware of their own organisation’s health and safety strategy.


5%4%

23%

14%

54%Senior management teamHealth & Safety department leadsHealth & Safety officer/teamNo one department or team has overall responsibilityDon't knowOther

FIGURE 1: Which of the following has overall responsibility for delivery of health and safety, including health and safety audits, in your organisation?

Health and safety audits are reviewed by 66% of participants a minimum of once a year; however the most significant barrier to effective occupational health and safety management is management buy-in

A quarter of organisations conduct health and safety internal audits and safety inspections monthly but, as a whole, 66% of participants say their organisations review them every year.

With regard to health and safety audits, just 43% include the organisational context with just half of those surveyed including a leadership, worker consultation and management review, again leading back to the perceived lack of employee engagement.

The three most important measurements put in place to monitor health risks are: Use of reactive methods, i.e. investigations, monitoring absence (88%), use of active methods, i.e. preventative measures put in place such as routine inspections (84%), and ensuring regular communication with key internal decision-makers (74%).


0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%

Allocating the appropriate resource

Ensuring monitoring is timely, i.e. what is happening now rather than

in the past

Ensure regular communication with key decision-makers

Use of active methods, i.e. preventative measures put in place

such as routine inspections

Use of reactive methods, i.e. investigations, monitoring absence

Use of agreed performance measures organisation-wide

Other - please specify

FIGURE 2: What measures have you put in place to monitor health risks in the workplace? Please tick all that apply.

Interestingly, when asked what the significant barriers to effective occupational health and safety management are, management buy-in was cited by the majority as simultaneously a significant barrier and not a barrier at all. This difference in response could be due to the job role of the respondent or the unique health and safety strategy of the respondent’s organisation.

Other areas seen as significant barriers include employee participation (or lack of) which again ties back to the recurring theme we have seen throughout our key findings of a perceived lack of opportunities for employees to express their views regarding health and safety strategy. 26% of participants identified employee participation (or lack of) as a significant barrier.

With regard to what is seen as ‘not a barrier’, having the appropriate audit and reviewing processes (26%), and risk assessments and control (23%), were both cited by our respondents.

The majority of participants (81%) stated that their organisation places equal importance on both safety and work-related occupational health.


2%

81%

4%13%

SafetyWork-related occupational healthBothOther

FIGURE 3: Does your organisation focus more on safety or work-related occupational health or both?

The majority of organisations are fully embracing health and safety best practice with over half using it as an enabler for managing risk and improving performance. However, less than 40% are engaging and involving staff in the process

Just under 60% of organisations fully embrace good health and safety practices, and have fully implemented an Occupational Health and Safety Management System, which supports their risk management strategy and protects workers.

A further half of participants told us their strategy enables them to manage operational health and safety risks and improve performance.


0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

We fully embrace good health & safety practices, and have fully implemented an

Occupational Health & Safety Management system

Our organisation’s health & safety strategy enables us to manage

operational health & safety risks and improve performance

Our organisation’s health and safety strategy actively considers the views and feedback of all our employees from top to

bottom

Our health & safety practices are very ad hoc and the approach is very disjointed

across departments

Other

FIGURE 4: Which of the following describe your organisation’s attitude towards health and safety?

The majority of organisations have a health and safety management strategy in place; however, senior management have overall responsibility for health and safety and not necessarily those in a specific health and safety role

The majority of participants (90%) have a health and safety management strategy, with the most common factors present including management commitment and resources, employee participation and clear accountability. 7/10 include a need to evaluate and continuously review their strategy. Of the 9% who do not have a strategy in place, the majority represented organisations within central and local government. This is a significant statistic given that it is government-led legislation which is driving organisations across the public sector to continually review their health and safety policies.

Page � of �9 20 Health & Safety in the Workplace 20180% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%

Management commitment and resources

Clear accountability

Employee participation

System planning and development

Performance measures

Skills, expertise and training strategy

Auditing and self-inspection

Evaluation and continuous review

We don’t have an occupational health and safety management strategy

Other

Don’t know

FIGURE 5: If you have an occupational health and safety management strategy, which of the following factors are present? Please tick all that apply.

94% of organisations surveyed place a high or medium priority on health and safety within the overall corporate risk management strategy. A further 54% of respondents told us their senior management team has overall responsibility for health and safety, including health and safety audits within their organisation.

Interestingly, just 13% of organisations say their health and safety department lead has overall responsibility and 23% say it is their health and safety officer/team.


Just under a third of organisations are not aware of OHSAS 18001 and ISO 45001. However, with regard to ISO 9001, 73% say they are aware of the standard

Interestingly, 58% of participants are not aware of the new strategy around Occupational Safety and Health Management but when it was named in the follow up question – ISO 45001 – this rose to 66%. 31% are not aware but a further 7% say they already comply, which is difficult considering it is not in place yet. However, we assume this group is simply putting processes in place to ensure compliance when it is rolled out. When asked which standards organisations are aware of and comply with, the majority stated they are aware of the ISO 9001 (73%) with just under a fifth stating they comply with the standard. 65% of participants say they are aware of ISO 14001 and a further 22% say their organisations currently comply.


FIGURE 6: Which of the following standards are you aware of/currently comply with?

OHSAS 18001

ISO 45001

ISO 9001

ISO 14001

0% 15% 30% 45% 60% 75%

Aware of Comply with Not aware of

Conclusion by Kate Breslin, UK Product Manager, SGS

The workplace can have a significant impact on an employee’s overall health and well-being. The lack of, or a poorly implemented health and safety management system, can lead to workplace incidents that could impact sickness and absenteeism levels; have financial and legal implications; and can subsequently affect the overall performance and service delivery of the organisation.

For a health and safety system to work, it needs to:

1. be a priority within an organisation, and be taken with the same seriousness as any other core business function;

2. involve the participation of all employees within the organisation – as well as senior management; and

3. it should have a way of reporting and documenting near misses and incidents as well as a way of communicating relevant and pertinent information on health and safety related subjects to employees.

While this list is not exhaustive, when it comes to health and safety in the workplace, our recent survey in the public sector found that some organisations found these points amongst some of the top hindrances in the implementation of health and safety systems.

At SGS, we have worked with a number of public organisations from the NHS, local government and charity sectors, to help them meet their specific health and safety system needs. With years of experience and in-house product specialists with technical know-how on various standards, SGS is perfectly placed to help organisations realise their vision of creating a safe and healthy work environment regardless of which stage they might be at in this process. We offer a range of services to suit your business needs; from certification and training courses to our bespoke services tailored to suit your organisation’s specific needs.

If you have any questions regarding OHSAS 18001 and/or ISO 45001 certification, training courses or bespoke services please contact SGS on: [email protected]


mailto:[email protected]

Appendix 1: Full Survey Questions


Question: Which of the following describe your organisation’s attitude towards health and safety? Please tick all that apply.

Answer Percent

Our organisation fully embraces good health and safety practices, and we have fully implemented an Occupational Health and Safety Management system, which supports our risk management strategy and protects our workers

58%

Our organisation’s health and safety strategy enables us to manage operational health and safety risks and improve performance

53%

Our organisation's health and safety strategy actively considers the views and feedback of all our employees from top to bottom

36%

Our organisation's health and safety practices are very ad hoc and the approach is very disjointed across departments

9%

Other - please specify 3%

Question: If you have an occupational health and safety management strategy, which of the following factors are present? Please tick all that apply.

Answer Percent

Management commitment and resources 79%

Clear accountability 73%

Employee participation 79%

System planning and development 62%

Performance measures 66%

Skills, expertise and training strategy 65%

Auditing and self-inspection 77%

Evaluation and continuous review 71%

We don’t have an occupational health and safety management strategy 9%


Don’t know 3%

Question: What level of priority is given to health and safety within your overall corporate risk management framework?

Answer Percent

High priority 68%

Medium priority 26%

Low priority 5%

Not a priority 1%


Question: Which of the following has overall responsibility for delivery of health and safety, including health and safety audits, in your organisation?

Answer Percent

Senior management team 54%

Health and safety department leads 14%

Health and safety officer/team 23%

No one department or team has overall responsibility 4%

Don’t know 0%


Question: Of the list below, which approaches are used to engage staff with the development of your health and safety risk policy, risk assessment documentation and behavioural safety initiatives? Please tick all that apply.

Answer Percent

Dedicated health and safety staff surveys 35%

Specific ‘culture change’ initiatives 40%

Appointment of health and safety representatives 77%

Involving staff in the development and promotion of the strategy 55%

Ensuring health and safety is an agenda topic at team meetings 79%

Dedicated Intranet area for staff 63%


Question: How often does your organisation conduct health and safety internal audits and safety inspections?

Answer Percent

Monthly 28%

Quarterly 18%

Annually 20%

On an ad hoc basis 11%

Don't know 7%



Question: Which of the following comprises part of your health and safety audit? Please tick all that apply.

Answer Percent

Operational control 65%

Emergency preparedness 73%

Organisational context 43%

Risks, opportunities and threats 77%

Leadership, worker consultation and management review 51%

Health and safety objectives and continual improvement 65%

Training, competence and awareness 81%

Documented information 78%

Legislation and compliance evaluation 73%

Monitoring, measurements, analysis and performance 62%

Incidents and near miss reporting 86%


Don’t know 5%

Question: What measurements have you put in place to monitor health risks in the workplace? Please tick all that apply.

Answer Percent

Allocating the appropriate resource 57%

Ensuring monitoring is timely, i.e. what is happening right now rather in the past 63%

Ensure regular communication with key decision-makers in your organisation 74%

Use of active methods, i.e. preventative measures put in place such as routine inspections 84%

Use of reactive methods, i.e. investigations, monitoring absence 88%

Use of agreed performance measures organisation-wide 48%


Grid Question: In your opinion, which of the following pose significant barriers to effective occupational health and safety management? Please rate each by significance with 1 = significant barrier and 5 = not a barrier.

Type of system used

Answer Percent

1 11%

2 21%

3 26%

4 22%

5 20%


Management buy-in

Answer Percent

1 28%

2 11%

3 13%

4 22%

5 26%

System integration issues

Answer Percent

1 13%

2 21%

3 36%

4 17%

5 13%

Employee participation or lack of

Answer Percent

1 26%

2 14%

3 28%

4 23%

5 9%

Workplace culture and attitudes

Answer Percent

1 24%

2 22%

3 20%

4 24%

5 10%

Appropriate audit and review processes

Answer Percent

1 6%

2 18%

3 24%

4 26%

5 26%


Relations with contractors/suppliers

Answer Percent

1 6%

2 14%

3 30%

4 29%

5 21%

No clear data analytics in place to identify trends and needs

Answer Percent

1 16%

2 23%

3 19%

4 27%

5 21%

Overall awareness of health and safety within your organisation

Answer Percent

1 14%

2 17%

3 21%

4 27%

5 21%

Risk assessments and control

Answer Percent

1 15%

2 12%

3 19%

4 31%

5 23%

Question: Does your organisation focus more on safety or work-related occupational health or both?

Answer Percent

Safety 13%

Work-related occupational health 4%

Both 81%



Question: Are you aware of the new strategy around Occupational Safety and Health Management from EU-OHSA?

Answer Percent

Yes 34%

No 58%

Don’t know 8%

Grid Question: Which of the following statements are you aware of/currently comply with?

OHSAS 18001

Answer Percent

Aware of 57%

Not aware of 30%

Comply with 16%

ISO 45001

Answer Percent

Aware of 66%

Not aware of 31%

Comply with 7%

ISO 9001

Answer Percent

Aware of 73%

Not aware of 12%

Comply with 19%

ISO 14001

Answer Percent

Aware of 65%

Not aware of 17%

Comply with 22%

Appendix 2: Participating Organisations


CENTRAL GOVERNMENT

Companies HouseDefence Infrastructure OrganisationDepartment for Environment Food and Rural AffairsDepartment of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs

High Speed Two (HS2) LtdNHS Property Services LtdScience and Advice for Scottish AgricultureThe Insolvency Service

CHARITIES

Alzheimer ScotlandCardiac Risk in the YoungCARE InternationalCarr-GommCoram Life EducationLondon YouthRoyal Opera House Covent Garden LimitedThe Chaseley Trust

The National Council for Voluntary OrganisationsThe Prince's TrustTogether for Mental WellbeingTogether for Short LivesTurning Point ScotlandVoluntary Action SheffieldWorld Horse Welfare

COLLEGE OF FURTHER EDUCATION

Ayrshire CollegeBury CollegeEast Durham CollegeEsher College

Glasgow Kelvin CollegeSt Vincent CollegeThe City of Liverpool CollegeWest Suffolk College

EMERGENCY SERVICES

Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue ServiceGloucestershire ConstabularyHMP BarlinnieHMP Shotts

Lancashire Fire and Rescue ServiceShropshire Fire and Rescue ServiceWest Sussex Fire and Rescue Service

HEALTHCARE

Belfast Health and Social Care TrustCentral and North West London NHS Foundation TrustCentral London Community Healthcare NHS TrustChelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation TrustDevon Partnership NHS TrustEpsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS TrustHeritage CareKettering General Hospital NHS Foundation TrustLeicestershire Partnership NHS Trust

NHS FifeNHS LothianNorthampton General Hospital NHS TrustNorthern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation TrustSouth Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation TrustThe Ipswich Hospital NHS TrustUniversity Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation TrustUniversity Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust

NON DEPARTMENTAL PUBLIC BODIES

Agri-Food and Biosciences InstituteEnvironment AgencyHistoric Environment ScotlandNational Library of WalesNatural Resources Wales

Northern Lighthouse BoardSport EnglandThe National Maritime MuseumUK Shared Business Services Ltd


UNIVERSITIES

Bangor UniversityBrunel University LondonEdinburgh Napier UniversityGlasgow Caledonian UniversityGoldsmiths, University of LondonHeriot-Watt UniversitySheffield Hallam UniversityUniversity of Bedfordshire

University of CambridgeUniversity of DerbyUniversity of East LondonUniversity of ExeterUniversity of GlasgowUniversity of LeedsUniversity of St AndrewsUniversity of Surrey

SCHOOLS

Backwell SchoolBirkdale High SchoolBramley Church of England Primary SchoolChatham Grammar School for BoysDiscovery Schools Academy TrustHurstpierpoint CollegePortsmouth and Winchester Diocesan Academies TrustRoyal Russell School

Sir William Perkins's SchoolSt George's School for GirlsSwindon AcademyThe Bishop of Winchester AcademyThe Hayling CollegeThe Highfield SchoolThe Hundred of Hoo AcademyThe Shared Learning Trust

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