Carrots may be good for you, as Roger Knowles suggests in his letter (3 June, page 36), but the idea of giving a bonus for a reduction in accidents has been tried in the offshore oil industry, with unfortunate results.

It was found that workers who were injured came under great pressure from their workmates not to report it, but to continue working to avoid losing the bonus. This meant workers who were suffering from quite serious injuries kept on working, which could be even more dangerous than whatever caused the accident in the first place.

Health and safety awards, like those announced a few weeks ago, are a collective incentive to firms. Individual or group bonuses are not such a good idea.

Gillian Birkby, partner, Fladgate Fielder

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