Extensive multinational auditing and consulting firms have been hammered for the last few years over the potential conflict of both auditing and advising the same companies and a toxic workplace culture. Most companies will not be able to afford these consultants’ prices, but the conduct of the large companies, the “corporate leaders”, affects every business by setting the standards. The influence of these large companies over public (and work health and safety) policy should also be noted and is being reviewed by some governments.
It looks like OHS does not matter to the government
One of Australia’s Budget documents, released this week, that should be very relevant to occupational health and safety (OHS) advocates is Budget Statement 4, which is called “Measuring What Matters Statement”. This discusses the measurement of budget decisions compared to a tweaked version of the OECD Framework for Measuring Well-being and Progress.
One of the most disappointing statements in this paper is on page 138:
“Australia does not have an overarching progress and well-being national framework or centralised set of indicators.”
page 138
Fascinating trend survey that is really a snapshot
The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) has released a fascinating report into occupational health and safety (OHS) trends in Australia. As with the survey report by the Australian Council of Trade Unions earlier this month, the results are far from representative of the Australian population. In fact, the ACCI report is based on only 86 respondents.
The small sample limits some of the conclusions made by ACCI’s Director WHS Policy, Jennifer Low, but regardless, the report provides some insight into the OHS priorities, concerns and OHS literacy of ACCI members.
The good and the odd in Oz Minerals’ “Safety Stop”
Oz Minerals Managing Director Andrew Cole is reported in today’s Australian Financial Review (paywalled) saying:
“.. there had also been an ‘‘unacceptable’’ trend in workplace safety during the past three months at the mines, but he was confident the trend had stabilised.”
This is likely to have come from the company’s September 2022 Quarterly Report and webcast released yesterday.
The company’s one-day “stop” for safety consultation is admirable, but some of the discussion reported in other media implies that an older-style attitude to worker safety persists.
Sacking may eliminate a hazard but allow toxic work cultures to persist
A Queensland inquiry into how Police respond to and handle domestic violence incidents has gained an occupational health and safety (OHS) context. According to The Guardian newspaper (paywalled).
“Employment law experts say the weak police discipline system and the ongoing employment of problematic officers have created “clear breaches of duty” under workplace health and safety laws, which require organisations to provide a safe environment for employees.”
Perhaps the article is more telling in the assumption that offending Police are unredeemable, with the only option being to sack them. OHS duties are meant to be supportive, but they also advocate that workplace hazards should be eliminated, as this is the most effective risk control measure.
Disconnect and Positive Duties
Recently the Australian government released the interim report of the Select Committee on Work and Care. This committee is one to watch for many reasons; the least is that it is chaired by Senator Barabara Pocock, a leading researcher and writer on issues related to work/life balance and workplace equity. The report does not address occupational health and safety (OHS) risks directly;y but discusses many of the flexible work structures that can affect workers’ mental health.
One element of the Committee’s report deals with the Right to Disconnect – the right to turn off from the always-on workplace; a policy that returns the focus of days off to relaxation, hobbies or reconnection with friends and family.
Another is the imposition of another work-related positive duty.
Why isn’t work safer?
Recently Australian law firm Cornwalls published an article about workplace health and safety in support of National Safe Work Month. The article, written by Robert King, illustrates the difference between advice from a lawyer and advice from an Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) professional.
King advocates that National Safe Work Month is a good time to audit one’s OHS management system. He’s right, but anytime is a good time to undertake these audits as long as the auditor is independent and honest.