We often get asked by businesses how they can improve their WHS performance. It makes sense to start by focusing on the basics of how to improve anything.
Here are some key considerations:
1. Importance: It should be significant enough to the person seeking improvement that they are willing to take action.
2. Measurability: Measuring progress is essential in order to track changes accurately over time.
3. Controllability: The area being improved must be within the person’s control, as they cannot influence what they don’t have control over.
4. Defined standards: Clear standards or goals should be established to strive for. Without them, it becomes challenging to determine whether progress has been made in comparison to others, or if there is still room for improvement.
WHS performance is a crucial aspect of any business, ensuring the safety and wellbeing of workers while also minimising the risks associated with the workplace. But with so many other business priorities vying for attention, why should WHS performance be a top concern?
Here we will explore six convincing reasons why organisations should be concerned with enhancing WHS performance.
1. Improving WHS performance is essential for businesses to improve production effectiveness. This realistic step can result in cost savings, heightened efficiency, and better working environment. By encouraging a safe and healthy work environment, businesses can lower the risk of incidents, injuries, and illnesses, while also decreasing worker turnover and the associated education costs. This, in turn, heightens workers morale and output, leading to higher profitability and a greater reputation as a business and employer. A safer workplace establishes a more stable foundation for the business, encouraging workers to more engaged and committed to the business in every aspect.
2. Compliance with the WHS Act and Regulations is a mandatory obligation for all organisations. The legal standards for WHS are usually shaped by shifts in societal views on what forms ‘acceptable’ workplace practices, often showed in existing civil case law, as well as in response to rare but devastating public workplace incidents. Workplace health and safety standards have developed significantly and practices that were once deemed suitable are now regarded as unacceptable.
3. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is becoming an increasingly fundamental factor of business operations. It represents an ethical pledge that reflects the attitudes and motivations of people within the organization who aim to drive continuous improvement within socially and morally conventional limits. CSR assists as an external indicator to consumers that a business is an ethical and responsible corporate citizen.
4. When assessing the impact of incidents, it is crucial to recognise the human costs involved. While we may not be able to measure the exact toll of pain, it remains a daily reality for those who endure it in silence because of such incidents
5. The financial costs of incidents and injuries can be substantial for both businesses and individuals. While the apparent costs, such as medical expenses and compensation payouts, are simple to identify, there are also hidden costs, like worker training and replacement. These hidden costs can be up to eight times greater than the visible ones, highlighting the importance of preventing and attending to incidents in the workplace.
6. Lastly, why compliance with regulations is fundamental is the possibility of penalties for non-compliance. While these may be considered part of the financial costs mentioned earlier, it’s important to highlight that in Australia, failing to comply with regulations can lead to legal action and fines. The court system uses a unit-based approach to determine the fine amount, and in some cases, imprisonment may be a consequence. These penalties can have serious implications for the reputations of both individuals and businesses.
