Why is measuring performance important with regard to health and safety?
It is important for employers to measure what they are doing to implement their health and safety policy in order to assess how effectively they are controlling risks and developing a positive health and safety culture. The Health and Safety Executive advises that this be done through a mixture of active and reactive monitoring systems. Active monitoring systems monitor the design, development, installation and operation of management arrangements, for example preventive measures like routine inspections of premises, plant and equipment. Reactive monitoring systems monitor evidence of poor health and safety practice, with a view to identifying potential improvements, for example monitoring accidents, incidents and ill health.