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TO BUSINESS EDITORS:
Health and Safety at Work: Companies Shift Their Attitude
KATY, Texas, March 18, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The approach to
occupational health and safety is changing for the better all over the
world. Companies are shifting from a reactive attitude to a conscious
management of operational issues, a prelude to the development of a
real corporate culture of occupational health & safety. These are the
findings of an international survey conducted by DNV GL - Business
Assurance, a world-leading certification body, and the research
institute GFK Eurisko, on more than 3,860 professionals from
businesses in different industries in Europe, North America, Central
and South America and Asia.
HEALTH & SAFETY MANAGEMENT
Managing health and safety at work has become an integrated part of
today's corporate strategy. More than 90% of people surveyed agree,
and 76% state they even implement an ad hoc policy, above and beyond
what is required by law and regulations. The bigger the corporation
the higher the application rate, but surprisingly, 70% of small firms
adopt specific approaches, too.
MAIN RISK AREAS AND MAIN INITIATIVES UNDERTAKEN BY COMPANIES AROUND
THE WORLD
Questioned on what the main risk areas are, participants principally
identify operational aspects, with some interesting differences
between the world's geographical areas. North Americans (66 and
Swedes (55, for example, are those who care most about ergonomic
aspects, while the structural deficiencies of machines and equipment
are perceived as a main risk area especially by Asians (54.
Consequently, rather than strategically working on prevention,
companies find operational initiatives to be the most effective. In
fact, the ranking of the top most effective actions is topped by the
regular maintenance of premises (48 and emergency measures (46%).
Organizational issues such as the assessment of all risks related to
health & safety (37 and preventive measures (35%) are down on the
list.
The most advanced are North Americans, with percentages well above
average not only for the effective implementation of actions aimed at
controlling operative features but of actions addressing
organizational issues as well: almost 1 in 2 successfully implement
initiatives to minimize the number of resources exposed to risk and
44% implement risk management systems. Norwegians and Swedes, instead,
stand out for the attention they pay to participation and consultation
of personnel on this subject (Norway 46%; Sweden 43.
MAIN DRIVERS AND MAIN OBSTACLES
Compliance with laws and regulations (87 is the top reason driving
firms to develop actions to safeguard health & safety at work.
Internal policies, indicated by 73% of professionals, come next.
Occupational health & safety is a concern for global corporations
independently of external repercussions that could affect market
performance. Actually, brand protection (24, public opinion (19%)
and competitiveness (19 turn out to be minor drivers.
Different regions show different attitudes. In addition to complying
with the law, preserving health & safety at work is crucial to North
Americans to preserve the business: 1 in 2 see these actions as a way
to safeguard corporate assets and about 1 in 3 to protect property and
top management or satisfy requests from insurance companies.
Lack of financial resources (31 and focus on short term results
(26 are the main factors preventing businesses from making more
progress in managing occupational health & safety all over the world.
In Asia, moreover, the burden of factors such as the decrease in
efficiency (23, lack of return on investment (19%) and lack of
involvement of sub-contractors is heavier than average, highlighting
that the way operations are structured is perceived as an obstacle in
this region.
FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS
For the future, professionals all over the world expect a reduction in
all kinds of operational hazards. Nevertheless, they won't neglect
initiatives for safeguarding health & safety at work and will go
through an important change in their attitude. Training for employees
(63, assessment of all risks (63%) and adoption of management
systems or prevention programs (59 will top the list. Efforts will
move from operative aspects to organizational ones, marking a relevant
step for the development of a corporate culture of occupational health
& safety.
What is certain is that the focus on the topic will be kept high in
the coming years. In fact, more than 90% of people surveyed expect to
maintain or increase investments for occupational health & safety in
the next 3 years.
Luca Crisciotti, CEO of DNV GL - Business Assurance, commented "A lot
has changed in the way companies deal with health & safety at work.
From just reacting to accidents, that was the rule years ago, to a
systematic management of operational issues. An important step towards
the advancement of a real corporate culture of occupational health and
safety, which will enable companies to focus not only on operations
but on organizational aspects and wellbeing of workers too.
The situation varies in different areas of the world, according to
legislation, different cultural attitudes and different levels of
development of infrastructures, but in general, there is still a lot
of work to be done. Lack of financial resources and pressure on
businesses to focus on short term results make these objectives even
more challenging but it is important for companies to lead change and
keep working on these items ."
METHODOLOGY AND SAMPLE
-- The survey was conducted in October 2013, on a sample of about
3,860 professionals who work at prominent companies from the primary,
secondary and tertiary sectors across different industries in Europe,
North America, Central & South America and Asia
-- The sample is qualitative and not statistically representative 23%
of the firms involved employ less than 50 people, 32% from 50 to 249
and 45% have more than 250 employees Most of the companies involved
are in the secondary sector, particularly food (5, chemicals (6%),
metals (11, machinery (9%) and electrical (4%) 67% of survey
respondents are directly involved in technical management
-- The questionnaire was administered using the CAWI (Computer
Assisted Web Interviewing) methodology
Notes to the editor
DNV GL is a world-leading certification body. We help businesses
assure the performance of their organizations, products, people,
facilities and supply chains through certification, verification,
assessment, and training services. Partnering with our customers, we
build sustainable business performance and create stakeholder trust.
The DNV GL Group operates in more than 100 countries. Our 16,000
professionals are dedicated to helping our customers make the world
safer, smarter and greener. http://www.dnvgl.com
For further information DNV GL - Business Assurance Todd Welda - Email
- Tel: 281-396-1677
Read more news from DNV GL.
SOURCE DNV GL
-0- 03/18/2014
/Web Site: http://www.dnvgl.com
CO: DNV GL
ST: Texas
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SU: SBS SVY
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