As the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 celebrates its 50th anniversary, we take a look at the business benefits of health and safety training. In the first of a series of articles, this briefing considers the influence health and safety has on a business’ reputation.

Businesses with strong safety records are more attractive to prospective employees, customers, investors and partners. A positive reputation can lead to increased business opportunities.

For businesses that depend on maintaining a high competence and reliability profile to remain on clients' tender lists, accidents, injuries or enforcement action are very bad news. In contrast, having a good health and safety performance record, particularly if it is attested to independently by third parties, is very positive and can make the difference between winning and losing a tender bid.

Many clients and contractors require evidence of robust health and safety practices. Having well-trained staff gives businesses a competitive edge in winning contracts.

Your reputation as a responsible employer
In today's market, companies are often evaluated based on their corporate responsibility, which includes their commitment to employee wellbeing. Organisations that prioritise health and safety not only meet legal requirements but also gain a competitive edge. They become more attractive to prospective employees and may also find it easier to retain existing staff. Furthermore, clients and partners may be more willing to engage with a business that has a strong record of health and safety.

News of workplace accidents can spread quickly, damaging a company’s reputation and causing long-lasting harm. On the other hand, a robust health and safety training programme can positively influence public perception. Companies known for taking employee wellbeing seriously are often viewed as more reputable and trustworthy, which can be beneficial for businesses in multiple ways.

Companies can protect their reputation, gain a competitive advantage, and establish themselves as socially responsible entities that value their employees and stakeholders alike by prioritising workplace health and safety. Businesses can reinforce a positive brand image that resonates with consumers and fosters a culture of safety within and beyond their organisations through continuous improvement and strategic public relations efforts.

A strong commitment to health and safety can enhance an organisation's reputation as a responsible employer. This can be appealing to both current employees and prospective hires, as well as customers and clients who value ethical business practices.

Says IOSH in its report The healthy profit:
“On the one hand, many businesses accredit a core focus on safety, health and wellbeing as vital to their competitive advantage. They are creating work environments that support an agile, dynamic and resilient organisation. It is a strategy that makes savings and attracts fresh investment and new talent.

“It is why future-fit businesses… go beyond legal compliance, recognising that good safety policies and practices have a direct impact on the amount of available human capital. They identify occupational health and wellbeing activities as having a positive impact on their workers’ effectiveness. They understand that measures that engender a positive, caring work culture improve the image of a company, to its customers, investors and potential new talent. Intangible assets such as human capital, reputation, brand, skills and knowledge and stakeholder relationships are increasingly important in business, and they are all contingent on an organisation’s emphasis on the safety, health and wellbeing of its workforce.”

Corporate social responsibility
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) and health and safety are closely related, as both involve the commitment of businesses to act responsibly and ethically towards their stakeholders, including employees, customers, communities, and the environment.

One of the primary objectives of CSR is to ensure the wellbeing and welfare of employees. Health and safety initiatives are integral to fulfilling this objective, as they aim to provide employees with a safe and healthy work environment, free from hazards and risks that could cause harm or injury.

CSR encompasses the adoption of ethical business practices that prioritise the interests of stakeholders and society as a whole. Ensuring the health and safety of employees reflects a commitment to ethical conduct, as it demonstrates respect for human rights and the dignity of workers.

CSR involves compliance with laws, regulations, and industry standards that govern business operations. Health and safety regulations are among the most critical regulatory requirements that businesses must adhere to, as they are designed to protect the health, safety, and wellbeing of employees. By prioritising health and safety, businesses demonstrate their commitment to legal compliance and responsible corporate citizenship.

CSR includes the identification, assessment, and management of risks associated with business operations. Health and safety management is a fundamental aspect of risk management, as it involves identifying workplace hazards, assessing risks, implementing controls, and monitoring performance to prevent accidents, injuries, and occupational illnesses.

Accreditations
ISO certifications (e.g., ISO 45001 for occupational health and safety) demonstrate compliance with international standards.

Accredited businesses demonstrate a commitment to protecting the health and wellbeing of their employees. This can lead to higher levels of employee engagement, morale, and job satisfaction, as employees feel valued and supported by their employer.

Health and safety accreditations provide a framework for businesses to ensure compliance with relevant laws, regulations, and standards related to occupational health and safety. By meeting accreditation requirements, businesses can mitigate the risk of fines, penalties, and legal liabilities associated with non-compliance.

Health and safety accreditations can provide a competitive advantage in the marketplace by differentiating accredited businesses from their competitors. Accredited organisations may be preferred by customers, suppliers, and partners who prioritise safety and seek to work with reputable, responsible businesses.

Investing in health and safety training is not just a regulatory necessity but also a strategic business decision. It can enhance a company's reputation, build trust with employees and customers, and ensure long-term success. Conversely, neglecting it can lead to severe reputational damage and financial loss.

Case studies
Nicole Denny is the Global Learning and Development Manager at BMT. She explains how, when the pandemic hit, they were able to continue to provide top-level training to the executive committee, and how this scaled across its whole operation.

“We keep our people trained on a regular basis – every two years – and it was coming up to that time just as the pandemic hit. So, we had to make sure we were still doing all our due diligence as normal.

“Our head of operations did a bit of research around suppliers and liked International Workplace’s offering. We started with the IOSH Safety for Executives and Directors course and then we moved to the IOSH Managing Safely and IOSH Working Safely courses as well. The goal for us was to have a certain group of people go through that training as an urgent requirement, starting with our executive committee and then moving further down the chain, right down to the boots on the ground people.

"The IOSH framework allows us to target our needs within set parameters. Depending on the audience we were able to do a deeper dive into some areas, or apply a lighter touch in others, to tailor the course so it was most relevant to the different units.

“Looking to the future, I think we’ll be certainly seeing the virtual deliveries continue for the time being. The IOSH training courses suit the virtual delivery quite well – it’s far easier to get people to connect to a call than is to get them into a room together, especially in a global organisation. We’re very aware of financial constraints and the sustainability targets that we're trying to hit, so this goes towards helping manage those agendas.”

DPD, the UK’s leading express parcel delivery brand, has invested in its workforce to create a more positive health and safety culture. Says Sally Harris, head of health and safety:

“We wanted to make a shift towards a more positive and extensive health and safety culture and we felt the best way to do that was to equip our managers and people with greater knowledge and responsibility about health and safety and why it’s critical to our operation and of course them.

IOSH Managing Safely therefore acts as the point at which we start to build on our people’s H&S knowledge and educate them further in all aspects of health and safety. We've used a wraparound approach to try and encourage that culture shift, with IOSH Managing Safely as the baseline.

“We decided to go with the face-to-face option because part of what we are doing is building on a positive cultural shift. It's a way for the business to demonstrate that health and safety is important and that people are being given the space and time to come away from their work to learn in a classroom environment.

“It was very important for us as a business to have training that is accredited. I spent 21 years as a regulator for the Health and Safety Executive and I have seen first-hand how IOSH Managing Safely makes a difference within a business. An accredited course shows that we're serious about this, and it's a benchmark standard. People are seeing that the business is investing in their health and safety and that it is important to the business and therefore important to them.”