Firms benefit from proactive health and safety

New research has revealed companies which adopt a proactive approach to health and safety management have lower accident rates and tend to be more profitable.

A study carried out by Loughborough University, commissioned by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), found firms which employ this approach reported a 25 per cent higher profit margin than those which did not tackle health and safety management proactively.

The research, led by Professor Cheryl Haslam, looked at 31 organisations and interviewed 78 senior managers from a range of different industries.

She believes the results show how tackling health and safety appropriately not only benefits the staff but the firm itself.

"Companies that take a positive approach to health and safety, rather than merely complying with the law, are more likely to be profitable and safer. We also found that people working in more proactive organisations were more committed and satisfied," Professor Haslam said.

IOSH is an independent organisation which aims to regulate and steer the health and safety profession and improve standards.