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Safe Work Australia releases report on culture of risk taking in workplaces [AU]

On 4 December 2014, Safe Work Australia released a report on the attitudes towards risk taking and rule breaking in Australian workplaces.

Perceptions of Work Health and Safety

The report is based on the Perceptions of Work Health and Safety Survey 2012-13. The survey sampled workers from four groups: employers, sole traders, health and safety representatives, and workers. Workers were more likely to accept risk taking than their bosses. Labourers accept more risk taking and rule breaking than other workers. Additionally, the study found that transport, postal, and warehousing workers were more likely to break safety rules to maintain production times. The groups of workers that engage in riskier behaviour also have higher rates of serious workers’ compensation claims and work-related fatalities.  

Improving safety and risk management

Workplaces should evaluate the working environment and culture to reduce the prevalance of risk taking and rule breaking in order to improve work health and safety.   Sources : Attitudes towards risk taking and rule breaking in Australian Workplaces, Safe Work Australia, December 2014    

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