Effective Reduction in Workplace Injuries Through Implementation of Integrated OH & S Management Systems

Abstract

The long term sustained reduction in all injuries, including musculo-skeletal disorders, was assessed in this study through a series of intervention programs in large government and private employers. The study included two large government employers with 8,000 and 10,000 employees working out of 150 and 200 geographically spread workplaces respectively. It also included a network of public hospitals, and a series of 20 case studies involving private companies who participated in an OH & S management system auditing program. A financial incentive was provided by the workers compensation insurer to those companies who scored well in this audit. The studies found that a range of key imperatives were common amongst those workplaces where sustained reductions in reported injuries was achieved. Such imperatives provided a foundation for the identification and implementation of prevention initiatives to address MSD's. The ad hoc approach to introducing ergonomics workplace modifications, on a case by case basis was found to be less effective when compared to this approach as part of an integrated OH & S management system.