Research

There have been a number of studies into worker involvement. Both quantitative and qualitative research points in the same direction: involving workers in health and safety leads to healthier and safer workplaces and produces a range of benefits for workers and managers.

Research reports

• RR580 - Using Soft People Skills to Improve Worker Involvement in Health and Safety
• RR581 - HSE Better Backs 2006: Worker Involvement Evaluation Research with Unite Amicus Safety Representatives
• RR516 - An investigation of approaches to worker engagement
• HSL/2005/41 - Workforce Participation in Occupational Health & Safety Management in Non - Unionised Workplaces [PDF 310KB]
• HSL/2005/52 - Workforce Participation in Occupational Health & Safety Management at FMC Technologies Ltd, Dunfermline [PDF 190KB]
• RR363 - The role and effectiveness of safety representatives in influencing workplace health and safety
• RR296 - Obstacles preventing employee involvement in health and safety
• WPS/00/03 - Employee involvement in health and safety: Some examples of good practice [PDF 116KB]
• HSL/2005/09 - Workforce participation in the management of occupational health and safety [PDF 161KB]
• CRR 2001/321 - The impact of trade union education and training in health and safety on the workplace activity of health and safety representatives [PDF 900KB]

The Workers' Safety Adviser Challenge Fund

The Workers' Safety Adviser (WSA) Challenge Fund was launched on 26 March 2004 and closed in March 2007. The aim of the fund was to inspire organisations to collaborate on projects that encourage and promote employees and their employers to work together to drive improvements in managing health and safety. The scheme focuses on small businesses and organizations that lack such arrangements.

WSA Pilot Report

• The Worker Safety Advisers (WSA) pilot (RR144)
  This evaluation report shows the effectiveness of WSAs in increasing worker involvement and consultation and describes their role and activities.
• Workers' Safety Adviser (WSA) Challenge Fund evaluation report [PDF 3.2MB]
  This report presents the findings from round 1 and round 2 evaluation of the WSA Challenge Fund.
• HSC Paper HSC/06/88 [PDF 160KB]
  The paper provides an overview of the key findings from the Fund's evaluation. The HSC decided to discontinue the fund after March 2007. The HSC November 2006 minutes [PDF 90KB] record the discussion and conclusion of the decision.

The Noise and Vibration Worker Involvement Project

• HSC Paper MISC/08/05 - Report on the Noise and Vibration Worker Involvement Project [PDF 119K]