Health and safety professionals are ‘important for driving improvements’

The results of a new survey have revealed that workers see health and safety professionals as essential in driving improvements across organisations, but some stereotypes still persist.

In brief:

• Most workers find health and safety professionals ‘necessary’, ‘innovative and helpful’.

• Over half of workers admit to cutting corners and risking safety at work.

• Stereotypes persist, with some seeing H&S professionals as ‘old fashioned’.

In detail:

In a recent survey by global technology company SafetyCulture, over 1,200 frontline workers in the UK shared their perceptions of health and safety (H&S) professionals. 

The results revealed a predominantly positive view, with workers describing H&S professionals as ‘necessary’, ‘important for driving improvements’, and ‘innovative and helpful’.

Frontline workers, defined as those who must be physically present at their job, make up 80% of the global workforce. In this survey, nearly half of the respondents (48%) described H&S professionals as ‘necessary’, 25% as ‘important for driving improvements’, and 20% as ‘innovative and helpful’.

Despite these positive perceptions, the survey also highlighted significant safety concerns. Over half of the respondents (56%) admitted to cutting corners and risking their safety to meet job demands, with 27% having done so multiple times. These workers cited pressure to meet deadlines or quotas, understaffing, and inadequate equipment as the main reasons for compromising safety.

The survey spanned six key sectors: construction, healthcare, hospitality, logistics, manufacturing, and retail. It noted how each sector faces unique challenges, but the overarching theme was that the demand for effective health and safety practices is high.

Alex Brooks-Sykes, SafetyCulture’s lead for UK & Ireland, commented on the survey findings: “Health and safety has had something of a PR problem in the workplace, so our findings should be encouraging for the dedicated people working hard in this profession.”

“Clearly frontline workers are under pressure to be productive and efficient – when faced with clunky processes and workplace pressures, even sensible people can be tempted to cut corners. We see H&S professionals as absolutely vital to correcting this problem, and thankfully most workers seem to agree.”

However, the survey also identified that some negative perceptions persist. Around 17% of respondents described H&S professionals as ‘annoying’, while 18% viewed them as ‘old fashioned’. Other negative descriptors included ‘out of touch’, ‘obstructive’, and lacking ‘common sense’.

Even among those who acknowledged the overall positive impact of health and safety practices, approximately 70% believed these practices can hinder productivity and slow down work processes.

Brooks-Sykes further elaborated on the evolving role of H&S professionals: “Thanks to technology, the traditional concept of an H&S role is evolving. These professionals have always been essential, but what we’re seeing now is that in many cases, people in these roles are not only helping to keep people safe, they’re also helping to identify and drive improvements right across their organisations.”

He added, “Today we have the technology to react in real-time, minimise disruption, and keep workers safe by ensuring they’ve got the right equipment and training to handle every situation. They’re simple principles, but they can make a big impact in almost every business.”

Credit: Health and Safety International by Ana Martins.