Insight research

These reports are made available by the Health and Safety Executive. Neither the Executive, nor the contractors assume any liability for the reports nor do they necessarily reflect the views of the Executive.

All the reports listed below are in PDF format.

• Building Safety Regulator. Research summary: Safety case and safety case guidance research – private sector experiences
  Qualitative research was commissioned to understand private sector housing organisations’ and student accommodation providers’ awareness, capabilities, and preparedness regarding safety case development. It also looked at their responses to the online guidance and how they believed the guidance could be improved.
• Summary Report - Building Safety Regulator Underpinning Insight: Building Control
  A new Building Safety Regulator will be established within HSE. Within this new regime, Government has proposed significant changes to how the building control profession operates. Research was commissioned by HSE to explore the current operation and practices of the profession, views on the proposed developments, and suggestions for how to manage the transition to the new regime.
• Agriculture Sector, Farmers and Agricultural Workers Communications Testing and Development
  This programme of research builds upon previous insight into farmers’ attitudes and behaviours around risk on the farm. It provides the HSE with further insight which will facilitate the development of communications and guidance materials intended to reduce accidents on farms, by positively influencing farmers’ and agricultural workers’ risk-taking behaviour.
• Research on Hospital cleaners' use of Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE)
  HSE has identified hospital cleaners as a group at risk of breathing or lung problems caused by work, with increased levels of asthma and respiratory symptoms. This risk is linked to exposure to chemical disinfectants, which are used widely in hospitals to control and prevent hospital acquired infections (HAIs). The overall research objectives were to understand how and when Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) is used and the factors which affect and influence its use.
• Research on Building Safety Regulator Dutyholder Roles
  A new Building Safety Regulator will be established within HSE. Within this regime, new dutyholder roles will be designated for building development and management professionals who work with high rise buildings. Research was commissioned by HSE to provide a deep contextual understanding of their attitudes and behaviours in relation to building safety.
• Research on Occupational Lung Disease Digital Guidance
  Improving the HSE digital experience, including the website, is a key focus for HSE. This project used Occupational Lung Disease (OLD) guidance as a case study because it is a cross-cutting HSE priority area. The overall research objectives were to understand how and when guidance is needed, as well as how and where it is accessed.
• Appreciation of Risk Research
  The agriculture sector accounts for a dis-proportionately high percentage of workplace fatal and non-fatal injuries; despite only employing 1% of the UK's workforce, the sector accounts for 20% of workplace deaths each year. As a result, the sector is a key priority for HSE.
• Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders, a tri-sector exploration
  Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) are widespread and have a significant impact on individuals, employers and the wider economy. This research focussed on three sectors where incidence rates of WRMSDs are particularly high – transportation and storage, construction and healthcare. The purpose of the research was to improve HSE's understanding of employer and worker knowledge, attitudes, behaviours and needs regarding the prevention and management of WRMSDs.
• Reducing Prevalence of Occupational Lung Disease in Great Britain
  HSE commissioned insight research to better understand workplace contexts and behaviours in relation to OLD, and interventions that will increase the use of mitigations. This research focused on six sectors where the incidence of OLD and the potential risk of exposure are particularly high. These were construction, wood working, stone working, steel welding, bakeries and quarrying.
• Small Businesses and Clients in the Construction Sector
  The majority of fatal incidents involve small businesses, and nearly half of all reported injuries occur in refurbishment activities. Risks on larger projects can be substantial but, generally, large projects are better at controlling risks than most small projects.
  The purpose of this research was to improve HSE's understanding of smaller businesses' (with <15 employees) who work in the construction sector and clients' (domestic and small commercial) who procure new build, refurbishment, repair and maintenance work from the construction sector regarding their needs, perceptions, attitudes and behaviours when it comes to seeking out and using health and safety (H&S) communications and support to enable the effective management and control of risk.
• Agriculture Research
  The level of accidents, fatalities and illness occurring at work has declined across sectors in Britain in recent decades. However, the agricultural sector has not experienced a similar improvement. While other research has been undertaken about risk with this sector, this study developed a segmentation of farmers to enable HSE to prioritise, target and tailor their interventions in the agricultural sector. To create these segments, HSE commissioned Ipsos MORI to carry out qualitative and quantitative research in order to explore perceptions of risk, risk-taking behaviour and potential accidents in a workplace context amongst farmers.
• SME Research
  Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) are critical to the UK economy, accounting for 60% of employment and half of all business turnover in the UK. As part of HSE's Helping GB Work Well strategy, there is a drive to do more to support small businesses. Research was therefore required to help HSE better understand the needs, attitudes and behaviours of SMEs in the UK around H&S, with a view to assisting them to comply appropriately. Insight from this research is helping inform future SME strategy, delivery and communications plans.
• Understanding Business to Business Burden
  HSE believes that business to business rules (blue tape) are contributing to a disproportionate approach on the part of businesses to managing their health and safety risks. This research explores this issue.
• Blue tape research into 3rd party advice
• Formative research to support the ongoing development of the Help Great Britain Work Well and Go Home Healthy campaigns
  This report documents findings from a formative evaluation of two interlinked HSE communication campaigns; Helping Great Britain Work Well (HGBWW) and Go Home Healthy (GHH). The project was undertaken in two phases to ensure maximum insight could be provided to support the ongoing development of the campaigns and take forward effective practice in the future.
  The first phase involved desk research and interviews with HSE staff and stakeholders, to understand the campaign design, including its rationale, intended outcomes and impacts. The second phase aimed to provide insight into awareness and engagement with the campaigns by undertaking interviews with small employers (including the self-employed) and workers, to see how effective practice could be built into future campaigns.
• Summary Report - Improving gas safety in the private rental sector: qualitative research amongst landlords
  Since 1998, landlords who let properties in the private rental sector have had a duty to maintain gas fittings and conduct gas safety checks to prevent gas leaks, explosions and carbon monoxide poisoning, under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations. HSE commissioned qualitative research amongst landlords to understand the drivers and barriers to compliance with the regulations.