Health and safety at work : a crisis of values

This thesis examines the question of how political, social and economic power is distributed within the political system. It does so through a case-study analysis of the social policy field of health and safety at work. The study concentrates on the policy process and on enforcement policies. Six research questions were examined: What conflicts arise between the interests of public welfare and the interests of the market in the development of health and safety at work policies? How evident are managerial values in the development of regulation and enforcement policies on health and safety at work? How proactive a role should the State take in protecting people from hazards at work? How has the balance between voluntary and state regulation developed in relation to health and safety at work policies? What is the dynamic of influence in the development of policies on health and safety regulation? Is there any significant non-decision-making in health and safety regulation, where issues remain latent?

The thesis concludes that, historically, as the aspects of health and safety concerned with the individual relationship between the employer and employee came increasingly to the fore in the policy process, it became less apparent that health and safety is a social welfare provision. Presently, the structures of health and safety policy making and enforcement give no clear place where these welfare aspects are visible. A fundamental review of the health and safety system is needed so that attention can be paid to ensuring adequate consideration to public policy in health and safety policy-making.