RR417 - Measuring the effect of health and safety advisers and roving safety representatives in agriculture
This project assessed the effect of input from trades union appointed roving safety representatives (RSRs) and independent health and safety advisers on the health and safety performance of agricultural businesses over a two year period. The report shows that the participating farms demonstrated real improvements in health and safety management terms as a result of the RSR visits; primarily in terms of practical controls or skills, but also in terms of management attitudes and competences. There was also evidence of improvements on farms visited by the health and safety advisers; primarily in terms of management practices including the development of better organisation and arrangements for managing health and safety on the farms. In contrast, few gains were identified in a control group of farms. On the basis of these results, it was concluded that implementing a system of RSRs in agriculture and associated businesses merits further consideration.
This report and the work it describes were funded by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Its contents, including any opinions and/or conclusions expressed, are those of the authors alone and do not necessarily reflect HSE policy.
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