GARY MAGADZIRE SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL SCIENCES

DEPARTMENT : BSC Hon Geography & Environmental Science.

NAME : Bvoruno Chikohora
REG NUMBER : M173985

COURSE : Environmental Health and Safety.

CODE : HGGES 220 LEVEL: 2:2

DUE DATE : May 2020

QUESTION : Critically discuss the contention that “health and safety” practices
are good business practices.

LECTURES NAME : DR Chapungu, L.

LECTURER’S COMMENTS:
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Critically discuss the contention that” health and safety” practices are good business practices.

Whilist there are obviously costs involved in setting up occupational health and safety
management system, the benefits brought about by health safety practices are worthwhile for
business viability. The merits gained from good health safety ethics include reduced operational
cost, increased productivity and profit, good staff turnover, improved innovative capacity and
improved public image, social responsibility as well as increased market opportunities just to
highlight some. Important terms are defined first.

Birch (2005) defines health as a state of well being that is dynamic and characterised by a
mental, physical and social potential, which satisfies the demands of a life in relationship with
age, culture and personal responsibilities. This implies that health in simple terms is a condition
of well being free from disease and infirmity. Health and Safety Authority (HSA ) (2005) viewed
safety as condition of being protected against physical, social, spiritual, financial, political,
emotional, occupational, physchological , educational or other types of failure of failure ,
damage , error, accidents ,harm or any other event which could be considered non-desirable.
Thus health and safety can be thought as a total cover of worker and workers place for their
totally well being.

To start with, good health ethics enhances productivity and profit maximization. Most enterprises
are profit-oriented and such business measures success in terms of profit. Increased production is
a by product of good health practices. In light with this, ILO (2013) argues that good health and
safety measures enables workers to do their work more easily and safely resulting in increased
productivity and reduced costs. According to Programme on safety and health at work and the
Environment (2007) enterprises that actively seek good working conditions for their workers
observed good labour relations, worker motivation and morale that resulted in higher
productivity. Production targets set are met and client satisfaction assured under good health and
safety. Aviva (2011) indicated that 61% of workers are prepared to work harder for an employer
who invested in their health.
The good news is that many businesses have discovered that far from increasing costs, good
health practices actually reduces costs. Many companies have found that it is possible to save
money, sometimes large sums of money, by good health practices. In 2004, Greeinstreet Berman
cited in HSE (2004) indicated that health and safety initiative lead to a significant reduction in
operating costs, increased productivity and a reduction in insurance premium. On the same
platform, Aviva (2011) stated that a car manufacturer estimated gross cost savings of £11 million
(1999 – 2002) owing to 1 % reduction in absenteeism and reduced compensation payments.
Reflecting on the issue of costs, the Association of British Insurers (ABI) cited in EU-
OSHA(2011) pointed that its members pay £5200 million everyday in liability claims for injuries
at work, professional indemnity claims and injuries to the public. Again, the average cost for a
minor accident is 16 times higher than the cost of the related preventative measures and that for
fatal accidents is 48 times higher ( Programme on Safety and Health at work and the
environment, 2007). EU-OSHA (2011) argued that the insurance premium paid by an
organization could be directly linked to its occupational safety and health performance, so
organizations achieving a low rate of injury or ill-health pay lower premiums. This implies that a
firm with good health and safety culture will cut liability costs and thus investing in health and
safety is of value to business.

Again, cost effective approach is easily incorporated within the business through good health and
safety practice. Cost savings within an enterprise can be achieved via changes in areas such
process efficiency, product design, waste disposal, sourcing of raw materials, infrastructure,
packaging and transport.(Health Safety Authority, 2005). Business that aim to improve the
efficiency of existing processes minimizes the use of raw materials and energy and the
production of waste and this reduction is good for both environment and business ( DeGreef and
Van den Broek, 2004). Proper maintenance and servicing of equipment is important as it
minimize costly downtime and the resource waste often associated with shutdown and start up
periods. This increases business efficiency and productivity.

With good health and safety in place, the business is able to venture into product design that
promotes occupational health and safety and their enterprise. Health Safety Authority (2005)
indicated that product design involves redesigning a product so as to reduce the amount of
resources it contains whilst still maintaining the level of service it provides. New changes in the
production line are introduced through acquiring advanced machine that brings in new
technology necessary for business to produce products in a more efficient way that minimizes
waste. On top, generated waste is often recycled or sold to other companies that can use it for
example molasses produced during sugar production is sold to cattle farmers. Costs involved
waste disposal are avoided.

Workers motivation is also greatly influenced by health and safety issues. Good working
conditions, wages and incentives forms part of the things a firm may use to motivate its work
force. ILO (2013) argues that enterprises that actively seek good working conditions for their
workers observed that this is good for labour relations, for worker motivation and morale and can
result in higher productivity with a sickness absence and retention of skilled workers. Retaining
of staff also saves time and cost of recruiting and training a new member of staff. Also, the
Finish Ministry of social Affairs and Health cited by HSE (2005) showed that issues like
employee motivation and working atmosphere have the greatest effect when it comes to
organizations productivity and efficiency. Aviva (2011) alluded that workers have rights which
can be observed via the establishment of decent environment where work takes place in a safe
and healthy working environment that enables workers well-being and human diginity. In light
of this, most business that are operating now during the COVID -19 pandemic have provided
masks to its work force as a way of assuring their safety and health. Such action show care and
respect for human life.

Another merit associated with good health practice is improved quality of products and services.
According to HSE (2004) improved morale and wellbeing from the employee’s perspective
derived from frequent assessments and improvements of the organisation’s occupational safety
and health system have a significant impact on the quality of product and services provided. The
issue of good health and safety practice takes into account action and commitment of resources
by employers to establish a viable occupational safety and health system that caters for workers
safety, quality assurance and environmental protection. Positive worker behavior created by
good health and safety practices that exist between workers and their immediate supervisors
enhance quality goods and services. Dejoy (2005) showed that behavior based on reciprocity
reflect that employee will reciprocate a high quality relationship with their supervisor by
engaging in behaviours that are valuable to the organization. On the other side, poor safety and
health culture pushes people to engage in poor working habits that lead to increasing risk
(Cooper, 2000).Risk may take any form of loss that result from poor quality product and service.
Therefore, investing in the health and safety ensures business continuity and success and thus it’s
a good ethic.

Equally important is that good health and safety affords a business a good name and market.
Good health and safety measures help to build a positive reputation with clients, staff and their
friends as well as associates (EU-OSHA, 2007).This result in good public relation and market
and thus sales and mark up are likely to increase. Adding on HSE (2004) reiterated that more
companies gain much broader benefit such as winning work and enhanced reputation as well as
maintenance of brand. A firm with a good health and safety practices attract even government
and International tenders from donors such as World vision. All this provide the business with a
bigger market that allows profit maximization. A good name tag affords the business a market
share, easy advertising and even distinguishing its product and services from similar ones and
thus the enterprise becomes more competitive. In line with this, Cooper (2000) argued that
values that an organization possesses should enhance its image in the outside world. Good health
and safety values set good external picture and record of the enterprise while poor business
reputation likely fail and in certain circumstances their operational licence is withdrawn by
authorities to serve life and environment. For example Mhunga bus company in Zimbabwe was
banned to operate due to high occurrence of accidence by the ministry of transport.

Through good health and safety practice the company can produce goods that meet local
standards as defined by the Standard Association of Zimbabwe and also International Standards.
Conforming to local and ISO 4OOOI will benefit the business a lot. Institute of safety and health
management (2018) argued that global markets are much concerned with international standards
which are increasingly used to demonstrate compliance with requirements and justification of
functional safety and health system. With good health and safety practice the enterprise can also
market its product and services competitively on the global market. Due to high appetite for safe
and clean environment those without a poor health and safety practices are likely to face poor
market even at home land due to poor public image and publicity and chances for forced closure
from authorities such as EMA and ministry of health in Zimbabwe for example is extremely
high.

Furthermore, health and safety inculcates a sense of social responsibility to an enterprise.

According to Brummer (1991) organizations by their very nature have responsibilities and these
are economic, ethical, legal and social which are assigned to them by law, shareholders, other
stakeholders and the society at large. In line with this, Cooper (2000) indicated that enterprise
responsibility is shown via the continuing committiment by business to behave ethically and
contribute to economic development while improving the quality of life of the workforce and
their families as well as of the local community and society at large. For instance as a way of
fulfilling its social mandate OK Zimbabwe provided food hampers to Cyclonic Idai victims in
Chimanimani. Also ECONET mobile works launched COVID -19 awareness campaign through
sending messages nationwide to its client and it also invite well wishers to donate financial
assistance towards corona virus via its ecocash platform or its financial institution steward bank.
In so doing the organization is fulfill its social obligation. In order to succeed enterprises have to
act responsible towards people, planet and profit (Brummer, 1991).

Health and safety practices retain staff. Effective health and safety practices help protect staff
from injury and this mean more skilled and loyal employees are retained. This ensures continued
efficiency and productivity too. (DeGreef and Van den Broek, 2004). On the other hand poor
health and safety have more work related diseases and ill-health are more difficult to measure
due to their long latency period but result in excess of one million days lost at work each
year( Programme on health and safety management and the environment, 2007). ILO (2013)
estimated that about 4 % of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) disappeared through absences
from work and sickness disability.

Moreso, good safety and health practice yield improved innovative capacity. Corporate world
recognizes the value of innovation and for an enterprise to be innovative, take risks and engage
in securing a significant market share, the inward environment of the business must be
sustainable fully focused on new opportunities and completely aligned to the strategic goals of
the organization. DeGreef and Van den Broek (2004) denoted that any distraction from the
management’s and employee perspective due to occupational injuries and ill-health would easily
stall the organization trajectory to innovative and to exploit opportunities. For innovation to take
place a healthy working environment is a prerequisite to yield full potential skills, competence
and sustain a hunger. (Institute of safety and health management,2018). This implies that good
health and safety is a catalyst for business innovation and thru creativity new quality products are
produced in an efficient and environmental friendly manner.

It’s worth mentioning too that good health and safety lead to improved relations with regulators.
In Zimbabwe, National Social Security Authority, Environmental Management agency and other
government ministries are much concerned with safety and health that enhance total protection
of the environment. ILO (2013) postulated that the ability to demonstrate sound health and safety
lead to regulators taking more hands-off approach to regulation. This is reflected by a reduction
in the number of inspection visits required per year. Good health and safety practice is a good
indicator for compliance to set standards and absence or poor health and safety is an adequate
evidence of non-compliance and then law has to take its course. More business in rural areas and
growth points are subjected to tight inspection by health technician due to poor health and safety
record that include full operating without adequate toilet facility for instance.
Interestingly, most if not all business despite scale of operation wishes to practice good health
and safety. However, many businesses fear that health and safety involves the establishment of
effective occupational health and safety management that will cost a lot of money. Some
businesses are still failing to evaluate the benefits associated with good health and safety practice
as well as impacts of absence or poor health and safety (Dorman, 2000). Thus such businesses
are in dilemma and they are more chances of regarding health and safety practice a business
liability.

In conclusion, good health and safety practice brings more business benefits such as increased
productivity and profit, improved public image and increased market opportunities just to
highlight some.
Reference

Aviva, (2011). The 5th Aviva Health of the workplace. Available online at www.viva.co.uk
(accessed on 07/05/20).

Birch, J. (2005). Towards a dynamic definition of health and disease. Medical Health Care
journal, 87:335-41.

Brummer, J.J. (1991). Corporate responsibility and legitimacy : An interdisciplinary analysis.

Wesport : Greeenwood Press.

Cooper,D. (2000).Towards a model of safety culture, safety science. Vol.36

DeGreef, M. and Van den Broek, K (2004).Quality of the working environment and productivity-
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EU-OSHA (2007). The business benefits of good occupational safety and health. Facts77.
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07/05/20)

International Labour Organisation (ILO) (2013). Safety and Health at work: Hope and
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