17th February - Personnel Today

The new Health and Safety Offences Bill, which came into effect at the beginning of 2009 and raises the maximum fine for minor breaches by 400% to an incredible £20,000, means that many organisations will need to review how effective their current health and safety practices are. While these fines could well be devastating to many businesses, prevention, as they say, is always better than cure.

Organisations will need to ensure not only that training is comprehensive and engaging so that all employees understand its now elevated importance, but also, more importantly, that staff then put their training into practice on an ongoing basis. When trying to encourage any type of behaviour, offering desirable incentives and rewards for those who successfully achieve their goal can have a huge impact by engaging staff in achieving objectives.

Putting a positive spin on health and safety compliance through a process of employee reward and recognition, rather than highlighting the negative, will aid in both avoiding expensive fines and also helping to motivate employees.

Sheila Sheldon
Director of European Operations, Michael C Fina