Element 1: Why we should manage workplace health and safety
Learning outcomes:
The learner will be able to:
1.1 and 1.2: Justify health and safety improvements using moral, financial, and legal arguments.
1.3: Advise on the main duties for health and safety in the workplace and help their Organisation manage contractors.
1.1: Morals and Money
Assessment criteria:
1.1: Discuss the moral, financial, and legal reasons for managing health and safety in the workplace.
Moral expectations of good standards of health and safety:
People do not (nor should not) go to work expecting to be injured or suffer ill health. Every worker should, in return for carrying out their duties, should expect to do so in a safe and healthy work environment. Employers therefore have a moral obligation to their workforce and others (such as visitors, contractors, and members of the public) who may be affected by activities on their premises. The ILO estimates that 2.3 million people die every year from work-related accidents and diseases. Of these, it is estimated that 2 million are as a result work-related disease. In addition, more than 160 million people suffer from occupational and work-related diseases, and there are 313 million non-fatal accidents per year. The suffering caused by such accidents and illnesses to workers and their families is incalculable. In economic terms, the ILO has estimated that more than 4% of the world’s annual GDP (Gross Domestic Product) is lost as a consequence of occupational accidents and diseases. Employers face costly early retirements, loss of skilled staff, absenteeism, and high insurance premiums due to work-related accidents and diseases.
The 2012 Dhaka factory fire (over 100 deaths) and the 2013 Rana Plaza collapse (over 1000 deaths) in Bangladesh caused outrage across the nation. Two days after the Rana collapse garment workers across the country rioting, targeting vehicles, commercial buildings, and garment factories. The disasters attracted worldwide condemnation, with a leading UK politician stating: “…consumers have more power than they think when it comes to making choices about where they shop.” There was significant media attention across the world, with major international brand companies such as Walmart, Target, Gap, and Macy’s being criticised by labour groups for announcing plans to improve retail safety standards in Bangladesh in Bangladesh which were said to be less stringent than those in an accord reached with European companies.
Sadly, this is sometimes prompted by a disaster.
In more economically developed countries society generally considers organisations to have a moral responsibility to the wider society. In those countries organisations usually recognise the potential impact of local and global population outrage if they endanger their workers or the public at large
