More public liability insurance holders are taking health and safety measures seriously, according to new figures released this week.
Research by the EEF, the manufacturers' organisation, showed that there has been a major increase in board engagement in managing health and safety risks over the last three years.
Steve Pointer, head of health and safety policy at the EEF, said that leadership of health and safety is extremely important.
"Our survey confirms that there has been a sea change in director involvement - active leadership is now very definitely the norm, not the exception," he added.
Mr Pointer also said that recent legal changes, insurance considerations and campaigns by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have brought around this change in attitude.
The survey found that 81 per cent of boards now discuss health and safety as a regular item, compared to just 58 per cent in 2006.
Earlier this year, the HSE urged public liability insurance holders to do all they can in 2010 to improve Britain's record with health and safety.