Part of the problem is that costs and benefits appear to accrue to different groups. When it comes to occupational safety and health, most people think the benefits accrue to workers and their families while the costs are borne by employers. That's only partly true. The reality is that a safe workplace benefits employers as much as it does employees. A safe workplace is a more productive workplace.
Workers know they are valued.
Safety provides bottom line benefits as well. Environmental costs and benefits are no doubt similar. We all enjoy clean water, fresh air and a beautiful view. In a very real sense, we are all stakeholders in the environment. And while business may be in the vanguard for restoring and maintaining the environment, we all have a role to play-recycling, conserving energy, using mass transportation or carpooling.