A study of the relationship between employee participation and safety performance within an industrial organisation

Abstract

This thesis attempts to show whether the safety performance of one industrial organisation over a period of four years was improved as a result of the introduction of new safety legislation, and in particular through the influence and activities of safety representatives. Furthermore, it attempts to describe, (by means of managerial and organisational arrangements within the plant which are sympathetic to increased worker involvement in health and safety matter show safety representatives were able to effect change. A case study approach is adopted and by means of multiple triangulation of methods and data the subject is examined in a number of different ways in an effort to achieve greater reliability. It concludes that there was clear evidence during the period 1976 to 1979 to suggest that the organisation treated health and safety matters with more concern and attention than prior to 1976 and that the safety representatives were an important influence in bringing this about. Furthermore, it is suggested that the management style was shown to be sympathetic to worker involvement in health and safety but there was conflicting evidence regarding whether the safety performance of the plant improved over the period.