ACCELERATED SAFETY SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT

PERIOD:
  • 2001-2005
CHALLENGE:
  • Recent history of prosecutions in NSW and Victoria
  • Safety managed on a regional basis (no company-wide standards)
  • Workers compensation premiums high in Victoria
  • Not meeting NSW self insurer workers comp. licence obligations
  • Recent major acquisition in QLD
ACTION:
  • Workshopped needs and standards with all level 2 and 3 managers
  • Documented evidentiary requirements to be used in assessing compliance
  • Defined role responsibilities and accountabilities
  • Rationalised procedures from the five separate “systems” into one
  • Coached senior managers in their safety leadership roles
  • CEO demanded incident reports as soon as possible and personally followed up to discuss causation and action to prevent a recurrence
  • Refined the roles of safety advisers and supported the transition
  • Conducted a safety climate and culture survey
  • Used the results of the climate and culture survey to identify desired behaviours and the change program to accomplish it
  • Worked with corporate communications group to promote the change program (Videos, slogans, stationery modifications, etc)
  • Introduced initiatives to support behavioural program (Take 5, Daily toolbox talks, training, group discussions)
  • Defined hazard control priorities; implementing them with broad publicity
RESULTS:
  • Reported injury and claim rate fell away to <30% of prior rate
  • No serious injuries in next two years
  • Executive management reported that improved communication in all aspects of operations was a major business benefit
  • Line managers comfortable with systems and audits because audit compliance criteria was overt
  • Victorian WorkCover premium cost reduced by over 50% in two years