Many organisations are investing an enormous amount of resources, energy and time implementing health and safety management systems (OHSMS) that are heavily compliance based and administratively intensive. A reasonable proportion of these companies then take additional steps and “check” whether they are implementing their OHSMS in accordance with the schedule of activities set out in their policies and procedures.

However, seldom have organisations set measureable objectives which can be used to effectively measure the organisation’s OHS performance. Without this critical link, an organisation cannot appropriately undertake a management review, with the appropriate cross-section of workers, to realign or reinforce their policy objectives and ensure they are continuously improving how they manage OHS.

It was Albert Einstein who stated famously that insanity is “doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”

The management review of an OHSMS and its effectiveness presents enormous opportunities to consult with workers about general items which may affect their safety (a fundamental duty under the OHS Act, 2004), learn and improve all facets how a business operates and protects its people.

Some organisations limit their opportunities to capture data and information by inadvertently discouraging incident reporting. That is, they choose to evaluate their OHS performance based on “lag indicators”’ or what has gone wrong, such as the number of medical treatment injuries (MTIs). This creates the perception that incidents are a sign of “poor performance” instead of an opportunity to learn and gather as much information as possible.

Naturally, harm to any person, equipment, property or the environment at work is below the standard towards which we should all be striving. Unless we take stock and do our best to learn what we can from these instances, good fortune may be the only factor preventing future disaster.

Organisations should be aiming to increase the number of minor incidents, near misses and/ or hazards that are formally reported in their workplace. A high-quality reporting culture is fundamental to create a safety culture. This can only be achieved by providing workers with the necessary training and instruction, management commitment, setting targets which can be used to evaluate the organisation’s OHS performance and recognising and rewarding the desired behaviour.

Once a drive in reporting has occurred, effective incident investigation – using a sound methodology in a manner free of prejudice, oversimplification and blame—is critical to ensure there is sustained success. The organisation must use the learnings it uncovers effectively and apply the appropriate corrective actions to ensure it is continuously improving.

When an employer is devising their corrective actions they must consult with their workers, hear what they have to say, take what they say in consideration before, ultimately, decisions are made which aim to eliminate or significantly reduce the likelihood of recurrence.

Thus, the objectives of effective incident investigation must be to ensure the organisation learns, continuously improves, strives to meet its legal OHS duties under the OHS Act 2004 (Vic) and in doing so, ultimately take steps to prevent or significantly reduce the likelihood of similar occurrences.

Master Builders considers that it is reasonable for employers to make genuine attempts to improve safety standards by undertaking incident investigations, and should be able to conduct them without resistance from the unions. Workers must comply with their employer’s reasonable OHS instructions, which include participating in incident investigations and reporting incidents and near misses.

Master Builders encourages industry to push ahead in its efforts to undertake robust incident investigations and, in doing so, ultimately increase its informedness. Employers should also strive to enhance their OHSMS by setting targets which can be used to effectively evaluate the organisation’s OHS performance and foster continuous improvement. There’s much more to safety than ticking a box.

For further information contact the Master Builders OHS Department on (03) 9411 4555.