A comparison of safety practices used by managers of high and low accident rate postal delivery offices

This study compared safety practices of managers (supervisors) of high and low accident rate postal delivery offices, particularly with respect to slip, trip and fall accidents. Identification of 'desirable' management safety activities was achieved using findings from previous research, manager interviews, and a focus group with Royal Mail senior safety personnel. Interviews were then conducted with 20 Delivery Office Managers (DOMs), drawn equally from matched high and low accident rate offices, to examine use of safety practices. DOMs from low accident rate offices appeared to have improved performance with respect to quality of safety communication, dealing with hazards reported on delivery walks, and accident investigation and remedial action. Efforts to reduce risks from severe weather were limited in both high and low accident offices, seemingly influenced by the organisation's emphasis on maintaining quality of service. Confusion existed regarding footwear entitlements of employees, and none of the sample of DOMs encouraged use of alternative methods of delivery to manual pouch carriage. A model is described illustrating the hierarchy of factors that may affect occurrence of slip, trip and fall accidents within a large organisation. The model indicates that supervisors' impact arises both from their attitudes and their actions. The study supports the finding of previous cross-organisational investigations that supervisors have an important influence on workplace safety. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.