The answer may lie in economic incentives. A Foundation project to collect and analyse information in this area drew on an international study of economic incentive schemes. Some EU countries already have national systems that include built-in economic incentives to improve health and safety. The most common type operates through an insurance mechanism.
Employers pay a premium to provide compensation for injured employees.
The premium is adjusted on the basis of experience, so that employers with a poor record on health and safety pay more . Good employers receive rebates or discounts on premiums. This gives an incentive to improve working conditions. Countries that operate incentive systems unanimously agree that they are beneficia l. They encourage a focus on new hazards without the need for specific legislation.