Critical Analysis: Factors Shaping Health and Safety at Work

This essay critically analyzes the factors influencing an organization's approach to occupational health and safety. It examines the significance of safety culture, exploring how it is shaped by various influences, including legislation, non-regulatory factors, and the role of trade unions and external agencies like insurance companies. The essay further discusses the importance of enforcement mechanisms and regulatory factors, including the role of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the use of the Management Model (EMM). Additionally, it delves into techniques utilizing the Safety Culture Maturity Model (SCMM) to enhance organizational safety. The analysis also addresses how state intervention, including the implementation of new laws and regulations, can be used to turn around failing organizations and improve workplace safety outcomes. The essay emphasizes the importance of a proactive approach, best practices, and employee involvement in creating a safe and healthy work environment, referencing incidents like Piper Alpha and Deep-water Horizon to highlight the impact of safety failures.

Running head : FACTORS SHAPING HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK
FACTORS SHAPING HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1FACTORS SHAPING HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK
Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................2
Safety culture and its importance...............................................................................................2
Influences on safety culture.......................................................................................................3
Legislation- Non regulatory Factors..........................................................................................4
Enforcement on Failure..............................................................................................................6
Regulatory Factors.....................................................................................................................7
Techniques using Safety culture Maturity Model (SCMM)......................................................8
Conclusions..............................................................................................................................10
References................................................................................................................................12

2FACTORS SHAPING HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK
Introduction
The aim of the study is to develop a concept on the factors that influence the sense of
duty of an establishment with regards to the Occupational Safety Health and Environment, its
direct effects, approaches and involvement of the state regarding the matter. The paper will
further provide a briefing on the primary concern and the best way in which they can be
complied, and the changes in the reforms in the safety and the health. The essay concentrates
on the merits of the compliance and a reasonable culture of safety in the reduction of the
threats and difficulties in the work environment (Saberi, S., Kouhizadeh, M., Sarkis, J. and
Shen, L., 2019).
Safety culture and its importance
There are several regulations and laws, which do not encourage the practices that are
applied for placing creation of values on safety and health. A culture of association safety
talks of the common beliefs, approaches, and benchmarks and practices of works, where there
is an assumption in working towards the safety and wellbeing of every other worker. Most of
the industries suppose the chemical and construction, manufacturing industries make a note
of the working catastrophes. A team, along with a constructive approach is needed to take
lessons from the signs of the risky situations, for the purpose of the creation of the culture of
workplace safety (Morais, D.O. and Silvestre, B.S., 2018).
There are instances, where there exist organisations who have superior safety culture
which deal which deal with the accidents and injuries of their people working in the
organisation. The Safety implementation of a company and the Safety culture are directly
related to each other. The representatives of the respective organisation are so accustomed
with the practices that are not much ready for a change. There are agendas in the company
which are based on the conducts which focus mostly on the people who adhere to the

3FACTORS SHAPING HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK
agendas and good behaviours. The proposal of the safety culture in various organisations is
quite a relative term, nevertheless there are some basic elements which are the same ,
regardless of the fact it is looked at with regards to the company (Formentini, M. and
Taticchi, P., 2016).
Figure 1: Factors influencing Safety Culture
Source: (HSE. 2013)
Influences on safety culture
Safety culture is often talked about in many organisations, with reference to their
addressing their standards of workforce regards to their compliance and following the rules
and regulations (Zhang, M., Tse, Y.K., Doherty, B., Li, S. and Akhtar, P., 2018). However,
the ranking takes on the culture of safety in an institution with the management style, which
is considered significant apart from anything. The reason behind the same is that it lies within
the structure of the company that safety is highly significant.The Figure 1 talks about the
factors that influence the safety culture of the company.

4FACTORS SHAPING HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK
Figure 2: External factors affecting an organisation
Source: (HSE. 2013)
Legislation- Non regulatory Factors
The delegates concerned with the health and safety along with the trade unions are considered
the external factors, which affect the safety of the organisation. The aspects relating to the
efficiency, inspiration, quality assurance, critical thinking are better enhanced with the help
of the meeting between the Union and the other safety and health partners. However, the
connection between the union and the injuries of the work environment are pointed out with
the help of the data taken from the Workplace Industrial Relations Survey. The data
explained a link between the unions and their influence on reduction of the problems at work.
The trade unions have a noticeable significance, because of importance for providing
working conditions, which are safer at all conditions. With the passage of several years, there
has been a considerable decline in the year 1996. This has enhanced the power of the
business to reject the trade Unions or to find a face-to-face discussion with the subordinates.
Few scholars follow the belief that a positive influence of the trade unions was not at all
noticeable.

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The thought procedure explained that the connection was not defined. Both the
temporary as well as the permanent employees may influence the occupational safety and
security of the workplace of any organisation. It would happen, only if proper elements are
put into the place, which includes the training of the staffs, awareness towards the staffs,
devoted staffs and others (Popovic, T., Barbosa-Póvoa, A., Kraslawski, A. and Carvalho, A.,
2018). It is commonality of thought that that the employees working on a sub contractual
basis compromise more on the rules of safety in the institutions rather on a positive basis, or
on a negative basis. If it is supposed that an employee working on contractual basis may have
a feeling that the profit on a particular project might not be enough for him to stay tuned for
the project, may decide to deceive. He may sacrifice with safety benchmarks and other
things, which would save him some money. Data taken from different nations have showed
results where the independent workers and sub contractual workers are there, there may be a
possibility of the injuries and fatal to be high.
According to some scholars it is suggested that company hire from agencies with a
good reputation, and may supply compatible contractors having a better expertise and the
dedication to organisational security and safety as the ideal combination. Suppose, the
disasters where eighty percent of the workers are there, who were sub-contractors, cutting the
costs is not restricted to the full extent, but can rather impact any company that is making an
attempt to cope up with the cut throat competition in the market place (Silvestre, B.S. and
Gimenes, F.A.P., 2017). In the way if they are caught or a problem relating to health and
safety occurs, making a drill of cutting costs the damage that would be caused to the brand
could be very costly and may result in the dissolution of the company. The agencies that may
influence the company in the positive manner may be the insurance companies, as they have
a positive impact on the health safety and security of the organisation (Gómez-Luciano, C.A.,
Domínguez, F.R.R., González-Andrés, F. and De Meneses, B.U.L., 2018). The models of the

6FACTORS SHAPING HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK
health and safety are impacted to a greater extent by the insurance agencies. The companies
that require to insure their liability with lower rate of accident can get premiums on low
prices for the efforts that they have made. On the other hand, if they require insurance at a
higher rate of accident can get premiums on higher prices for their respective efforts that they
make. Apart from this the state legislation, productivity and various other elements like
contracts, competitiveness in the organisation, which may get affected by the general
supposition.
The public can go a long way in changing the law in favour or go against the culture
of safety, by way of considering media, campaigning and various other sorts of pressure
groups. During accidents or casualties, or setting up of new laws on public interest or
opinion, the government is influenced politically to present new rules and regulations. Public
opinion Is not a very reliable source of influencing the behaviour of Government officials,
organisations, other individuals in setting up of new rules and regulations,. As it keeps
changing from time to time. It is not very stagnant.
Enforcement on Failure
A view is held that the safety culture can be imposed. There are various interferences,
which are held responsible for the purpose of the investigation of the respective incidents.
Though there have been various failures that have been seen, which are Deep-water Horizon
Oil Spill, Piper Alpha, Clapham Rail Disaster, Chernobyl and various other incidents which
have influenced the Government and other individuals to set up new laws. Like, it is known
that the main cause behind the Piper Alpha was due to the lack of proper safety culture and
therefore the principle to follow the proposal of Lord Young, which is the design of the
platform. The platforms, which are connected nearby, the operation crews without knowing

7FACTORS SHAPING HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK
about the authority to dissolve the production, even after seeing the Piper Alpha burning
(Averill, D., 2017).
There can be comparisons made among the Deep-water Horizon Oil Spill and the
piper Alpha, as both the incidents have been considered the worst accidents ever in the
industry of the offshores. Tragic inquiry was presided over by Lord Cullen, in which there
were around Hundred and Six recommendations were made and the industry accepted them.
Moreover, the regulation of the industry in the off shores was transferred to Health and Safety
Executive. Due to the report present by Cullen in 1993, the Offshore Installation Safety Case
Regulations (OSCR), a penal action can be executed for poor safety results (Noe, R.A.,
Hollenbeck, J.R., Gerhart, B. and Wright, P.M., 2017). The penal action can be brought in
thenotice iof the company, for the purpose of ensuring future constituencies and adherence
through the command chain.
Regulatory Factors
The three basic elements which influence the operating of the OSHE process in the
institution, are namely Enforcement, safetry culture and Legislature. All the features are well
linked to each other and can influence the smoothness and the conducgt of the organisation
(Ahmad, W.N.K.W., Rezaei, J., Tavasszy, L.A. and de Brito, M.P., 2016). The Parliamemnt
has given the authority to the state for Pensions and Works regarding Health and Safety
controls for the regulation of the Health and safety Enforcement (HSE). The Act passed by
the Parliament objects its employers to guarantee, the practicality of certain situations,
security, welfare in the work place. HSE has the authority of optimum utilisation of
intervention techniques that are required to work with the employers regulators that are
inclusive of partners for the purpose of promotion of Health and Safety at the workplace
(Mani, V., Agrawal, R. and Sharma, V., 2015). The Management Model(EMM) is put into

8FACTORS SHAPING HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK
use in order to give an intercession structure, which is quite predictable, responsible and
straightforward and based on proofs (Jia, F., Zuluaga-Cardona, L., Bailey, A. and Rueda, X.,
2018).
Scholars have various views which the regulatory bodies are supposed to overpower
in a proactive manner and stoppage of malpractices and promotion of the safety of the staff
with the work place by the usage of the best practices. There are various models prevailing in
the market, one of which is the Sanction Pyramid by Hutter, according to whom the
dependence on the seriousness of the risk, improvement and notice of prohibition could be
served respectively. Seizing of highest value item of the company’s, if any caution which is
quite serious and prosecution can be brought in to notice (Thatcher, A. and Yeow, P.H.,
2016).
Techniques using Safety culture Maturity Model (SCMM)
Scholars say that, for an organisation to gain strength there should be a presence of
well-pronounced organisational culture. This in turn will lead to the encouragement and
setting of a pathway, which is clear and detailed and can be followed by the employees
(Gianni, M., Gotzamani, K. and Tsiotras, G., 2017). This would enable the organisation to
follow the set requirements which requirements that any institution with more than five
employees must possess a policy, which is well documented. However, it is explained that
such a type of policy should be written with the help of the employee’s input and then signed
by the most senior person in the management team (Mani, V., Agrawal, R. and Sharma, V.,
2015). This will hence, allow the execution of the respective policy development from all
levels of working in the organisation thus allowing more dedication and devotion from all
levels for the promotion of safety and culture, which is set within such levels. In contrast to it,
the institutions which have had formulated ways of changing, had given explanations that

9FACTORS SHAPING HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK
these institutions are supposed yo follow the six phases of change of organisation in order to
allow effective, smooth and processed change (Mani, V. and Gunasekaran, A., 2018). The
steps should be followed in order. The steps include
 Establishment of a direction
 Alignment of people
 Motivation
 Organisation
 Controlling
Some scholars have put forward the significance of decision making on joint basis within
the organisation. This is because of its ability to provide assistance in building a picture on
the future that it holds and its ability to enable the organisation set the procedures into
shaping up a strong culture of safety (Marshall, D., McCarthy, L., McGrath, P. and Claudy,
M., 2015). This will result in to a written policy to build a strong culture of leadership which
is required to execute implement OHS plans (Mani, V., Gunasekaran, A. and Delgado, C.,
2018). Therefore for the allowance of the development of an organisational culture which is
well planned, cultural maturity will be used. Maturity of culture is on the basis of five stages,
which is needed to set up a managerial team and for the purpose of the promotion of good
working between employees and the managers. Furthernmore, it helps in the reduction of the
blame culture and helps in the promotion of the culture cooperation (Derqui, B., Fayos, T.
and Fernandez, V., 2016).
The last level sets the need for continuous surveillance and improvement, with the help
of the appropriate audits and inspections, henceforth allowing the institution to take
approaches, which are proactive in order to avoid unnecessary risks. The model gives an
analysis of contrasts that are available and identify necessary changes and activities of the

10FACTORS SHAPING HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK
institution (Lam, J.S.L. and Dai, J., 2015). It helps in knowing the effect that it may have
when it is used, as it undergoes the combination of a strong theoretical system, which consists
of an easy understanding of evaluation methods. The model helps in the easy understanding
of the current level of the Safety Culture Maturity and a connection between different levels
in the institution hence being a good technique that can be put in to use (Zokaei, K., Lovins,
H., Wood, A. and Hines, P., 2017).
Figure 3: safety culture maturity Model
Source: (HSE. 2013)
Conclusions
Therefore, conclusions can be drawn that by the evaluation of the external as well as
the internal factors can power any institution for the purpose of clearing of enforcement. A
combination of a strategy and great leadership initiating from the most senior to all and
interaction from the staffs who are ready to adapt to all kinds of possible changes will run a

11FACTORS SHAPING HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK
long race in the maintenance of an environment which is capable of promoting safety culture.
An institutional safety is considered the main key to a better OSHE with the help of
enforcement bodies such as HSE (Santiteerakul, S., Sekhari, A., Bouras, A. and Sopadang,
A., 2015).
The activities of the enforcement body should be more proactive and provide
continuous assistance in the improvement of the safety culture within the respective
institution. The EMM Model fails to impose the proper measure in the improvement of the
safety culture within the organisation. Safety culture plays a very important role in the
instillation of the growth of the organisation. This proves show that execution of the Safety
culture gives the workplace the ability to efficiently improve the productivity of the company
and the identification of the strengths and weaknesses. The regulatory bodies has become a
reactive body rather than a proactive body which believes in the imposing punitive measures
rather helping to improvement of the culture of safety with the institution (Croom, S., Vidal,
N., Spetic, W., Marshall, D. and McCarthy, L., 2018).

12FACTORS SHAPING HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK
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