The Health and Safety at Work Act and bicycles in the workplace: Greasing the chain or deflating the tyres?

Abstract

The 1994 bicycle helmet law had an unintentional negative impact on public health by evoking misperceptions about cycling safety (‘dangerisation’ effect), thereby resulting in fewer individuals gaining the health benefits of cycling. Similar to the helmet law, the Health and Safety at Work Act aims to reduce incidents, accidents and fatalities at work, thus having implications for bicycles used in the workplace.

Although cycling has a lower burden of death and head injuries compared to walking and driving, the worry is that cycling may be unfairly targeted by business owners who, out of fear of litigation, attempt to reduce their risk of accidents. Such outcomes would decrease physical activity opportunities for employees, increasing their risk of hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, cancer, depression and ultimately putting their employees at more risk of health problems.

Business operators are expressing heightened concerns about compliance with the new act and their perceptions could alter their risk management assessments and policies. Legislation alone, as seen with the helmet law, could equate to a negative net health effect. However, if legislation is coupled with encouragement and provisions for workplace health promotion, cycling opportunities may become an integral part of the workplace.