Indicator 3B.1. Occupational health and safety in the workplace
Summary
Health and safety legislation creates important duties for employers to protect workers. While the regulatory framework is strong in principle, reduced inspection capacity and limited adaptation for the specific demands of care work undermine its effectiveness. Care workers still face risk of injury and unsafe conditions.
Section Scores
What this indicator measures
This indicator assesses the extent to which health and safety policy protects care workers. It considers legislative duties, workplace training, inspection systems, risk management, and the degree to which policies address the particular demands of care roles, including lifting, handling, and personal safety.
Key findings
- Health and safety legislation places clear duties on employers and provides a strong legal foundation
- Cuts to inspection budgets have reduced the number and quality of workplace inspections
- Enforcement activity has declined, limiting the ability to identify risk and ensure compliance
- Care workers face specific risks related to lifting, handling and lone working, which are not always accounted for in general guidance
- Reduced inspection capacity undermines the protections intended by legislation
- Data gaps limit understanding of how health and safety policy impacts care workers
Impact on workers
Care workers report physical strain, injuries and high levels of stress related to workload and unsafe environments. Reduced inspection activity leaves workers feeling unsupported and places greater responsibility on individuals to manage risk. Women, who make up the majority of care workers, are particularly affected by inconsistent implementation of protective measures.
Accessibility considerations
Experience during the Covid-19 pandemic left workers concerned about safety. Particularly in relation to lack of access to appropriate personal protective equipment, with unions calling this a ‘crisis within a crisis’.
Budget context
Budget reductions for inspection bodies weaken monitoring and enforcement. Limited resources reduce the frequency of inspections and constrain the capacity to respond to concerns. Without adequate investment, health and safety legislation cannot achieve its intended impact for care workers.
Overall interpretation
Occupational health and safety policy provides an important degree of protection for care workers, but budget reductions and limited adaptation to the realities of care work weaken delivery. Strengthening enforcement, investing in inspections and ensuring that policies reflect the nature of care work are essential to improving safety and wellbeing.