Workplace health and safety ‘near misses’ are on the rise, including the risk of major disasters, a report has warned, fuelled by the pressure from economic volatility, stress, fatigue, and the fear of speaking out.
The annual Dräger Safety & Health at Work Report, which polls 1,000 employees, found half (51%) reported that near misses, including the possibility of major industrial disasters, had increased in the past two years.
Almost three-quarters (72%) agreed that supply chain disruptions have made it harder to obtain parts, materials, or support.
A further 69% reported that global uncertainty has increased stress and fatigue, contributing to workplace errors or unsafe behaviours.
Global uncertainty, equally, had already increased operational pressure, with 61% saying this was making it harder for people to focus on safety-critical tasks.
Staff fatigue, pressure to do more with less, rising stress levels among workers, and a reluctance among employees to speak up, were also to blame for the rise in near misses.
Almost two-thirds (63%) of front-line workers said their employers did not understand just how bad things have become on the ground when it comes to workplace safety.
Drilling down into the findings, positively, 76% of respondents believed their organisation was making efforts actively to engage and involve staff in health and safety matters.
On the flip side, 53% said the current economic climate made them less willing to raise health and safety issues or...
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