Reasons why good standards of health and safety may not be achieved in the

workplace include: Barriers

• A lack of management commitment;
• Poor morale among the workforce and a lack of motivation;
• Frequent changes in the organization;
• A lack of resources possibly due to a harsh economic climate;
• Conflicting demands with priority being given to production targets and meeting
deadlines;
• Poor communication and consultation with the workforce;
• A failure to provide adequate training leading to a lack of awareness amongst workers;
• A failure to complete risk assessments and to produce safe systems of work and method
statements;
• Generally poor standards of health and safety in the industry leading to a lack of peer
pressure.

Outline ways in which an organization could encourage workers to be involved in setting

and maintaining high standards of health and safety.

• Involving workers in risk assessments, accident investigations and the development of

safe systems and procedures;
• Setting up suggestion schemes and acting on the ideas and recommendations put forward;
• Organizing training courses and information programmers on the benefits of good
safety standards; supporting active involvement in safety committee meetings;
• Introducing an effective two-way communication system;
• Introducing a system of award and reward to recognize achievement; and

• Ensuring that management set a good example for the workforce to follow

• Management commitment and training.