Productivity, like Safety, is one of those words that is used frequently without a clear and uniform definition. This causes confusion when advocating for occupational health and safety (OHS) interventions that improve productivity.
Safety does not increase productivity but it can minimize lost productivity. Let me try to explain by focusing on labour productivity. Every worker has a certain level of productivity, that is, the creation of a product or the delivery of a service. This level can be affected by family issues, work stressors, poor working conditions and environment. This distraction and discomfort lowers a worker’s productivity. OHS aims to reinstate the worker’s optimum productivity through various operational and procedural changes. OHS tries to close the gap between low labour productivity and peak productivity.
Continue reading “Be clear on what is meant by productivity”
Occupational health and safety (OHS) and Human Resources (HR) disciplines continue to, mostly, operate in isolation and, sometimes, in conflict. Part of the reason is that workplace matters are often seen as either OHS or HR, even though they are both.
Today, 
Earlier this week former chair of the Australian Government’s 
The Australian Government has released the