This research aim to develop a framework to evaluate critically the effectiveness of
health and safety strategies in supply chains in the UK was achieved through a range
of objectives which included a review of literature on health and safety management
in supply chains and small and medium-sized enterprises, an explanation of the effect
of poor health and safety performance on organisations and analysis of factors that
inspire health and safety management in organisations. Other objectives are the
analysis of health and safety improvement strategies, an establishment of a basis for
the development of a framework, the establishment of the perception and attitude to
supply chain health and safety management, and the development of a conceptual
framework based on ideal and best practices as well as theory that may be used to
evaluate critically health and safety strategies in supply chains in the UK.
The study adopted a triangulated research approach which used a questionnaire
survey to ascertain the views of respondents on some health and safety issues. These
views were combined with observations of a case study organisation to underpin the
basis for the framework.
It was established that the reliance on regulatory measures as means of improving
health and safety standards in organisations is no longer advisable. An alternative and
best strategy is the use of the influences inherent in supply chain relationships. There
were noticeable improvements in the relationship of the case study organisation with
its suppliers, and in the general awareness of supply chain health and safety
management, when the framework that was developed was tried in their supply chain