Recession Could Cause Dangers for Employees
Risk assessors at Norwich Union observed that the downturn that the British economy is suffering at the moment could well lead to companies taking more and more potentially serious Health & Safety risks in order to save money.
They feel that as cash flow becomes a problem some companies will find themselves tempted to cut corners on health and safety issues in order to save money on equipment and save time in labour costs.
The Company sees the possibility of basic maintenance of buildings and machinery being put off in order to save cash. They also see a potential risk in shortcuts being taken with maintenance and even more basic issues such as sweeping up litter and cleaning away spills.
They also see the potential for companies to cut corners with employees in such areas as supervision and safety. Cutting back on staff in general causes additional pressure and stress on the remaining employees who may feel the need to cut corners themselves in order to satisfy their employer’s needs and avoid being considered for redundancy.
Another factor may be that when companies operate with fewer employees they will ask workers to perform tasks that they have not been trained for leading to potentially dangerous situations.
Companies should cover themselves by being fully conversant with what is acceptable practice by making use of the facilities of the Workplace Law Training. The NEBOSH National General Certificate is the perfect qualification to get you up-to-date with the latest information on health and safety.
