OHS REPS @ WORK

Too often, the only measures used in workplaces and by government authorities are 'negative' measures. These are known as outcome indicators, and while they are important, they generally reflect the results of past actions.

Outcome indicators may hide potential risks. For example, having a low incidence of injury does not necessarily mean that adequate safety systems and controls are in place. Examples of outcome indicators are:

• number of claims
• number of days lost (Lost time injury frequency rates or LTIs)
• claims costs

These are not measures of the success or otherwise of controls in the workplace, but a measure of failure. LTIs are entirely unsatisfactory as measures of safety performance for at least three reasons, according to Dr Andrew Hopkins (in his paper The Limits of Lost Time Injury Frequency Rates in NOHSC's publicaton on PPIs - see below):

1. they are very sensitive to claims and injury management processes than to real changes in safety performance;
2. in any particular workplace, only few such injuries may occur each year, and variations from year to year are likely to be due to chance, rather than due to any change in the levels of safety; and
3. they give no information about how well the most serious safety hazards are being managed. It is not unusual that investigations into a fatality or serious injury reveal the company had a supposedly 'good' record (ie low rate of LTIs) prior to that particular event.

Using LTIs as a measure of safety can in fact have negative consequences. 'The longer the period free of injury the greater the level of disappointment and frustration when a lost time injury finally occurs, which statistically is bound to happen.' People then get upset because one injury may lead to a loss of a bonus - the result may 'well be a reduced commitment to health and safety'. positive performance indicators (PPIs). PPIs allow measurement of activities specifically undertaken to improve performance. Examples of PPIs may include:

• number of safety audits conducted
• percentage of sub-standard conditions identified and corrected
• percentage of employees with adequate OHS training.

Using PPIs and achieving improvements should ensure improved performance (measured by the outcome indicators).

Guidance on the development and implementation of positive performance indicators

The following links provide examples and extensive information on the development and implementation of PPIs and performance indicators in general.

• A Guide to Measuring Health and Safety Performance [30 page pdf] Health and Safety Executive, UK.
• Positive Performance Indicators for OHS: Beyond lost time injuries, Part 1: Issues [56 page pdf], & Part 2: Practical Approaches   [36 page pdf] (National Occupational Health and Safety Commission)
• On Target: The Practice of Performance Indicators [pdf] and Aiming to Improve: The principles of performance measurement [pdf]  Audit Commission, England and Wales.
• Positive Performance Measures: A Practical Guide [pdf] Minerals Council of Australia
• Moving to the New Way of Measuring OHS Performance [48 pagepdf]. NSW Mineral Council