OHS PERFORMANCE — IMPROVED INDICATORS FOR CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTORS

Abstract

Past measurement indicators of OHS performance have been preoccupied with the negative consequence of workplace injuries and illness rather than measures that gauge actual safety in the workplace. In Australia and other parts of the world common measures have been lost time injury frequency rate and incidence rate. Such measures, in isolation, are generally now regarded as inadequate in providing any meaningful information to help reduce the cause of workplace injury or illness. In Australia, as in other parts of the world, contractors comprise an increasing proportion of the workforce, i.e. up to 95% in industries like construction. This type of labor arrangement diminishes accuratev assessment of safety performance through the myriad of complex contract arrangements typically encountered. Therefore, to accurately measure safety in a work environment predominantly consisting of contracted labor, indicators must be capable of gauging both contractor performance as well as overall workplace management of safety.