OHS
History of OHS
The Human Biological, Psychological and Social Systems
Organisations
Social Political Context
Profession
Generalist
Social
Biological
Psychological
Organisations are influenced by social political context
Offers professional practice to improve the organisation
Provides advice on prevention and mitigation of Hazards and collusive risks in a workplace.
The 'Generalist role' contains several titles because of its multidisciplinary knowledge requirements.
Advisor, coordinator, manager, and consultant
The job requires the mindset to make reasonably practicable decisions to ensure the safety and well being of workers
Environment
Professionals do not practice in isolation
Work in environments that involve political, economic, industrial climate, legislative requirements and various perceptions.
Economic/ Industrial
The nature, economy and organisation of work in Australia has introduced more jobs in the OHS profession
Woman in the workforce have increased
Small businesses within the industry have increased including micro businesses of only 5 employees and less
Legislative
State based system
Nine OHS jurisdictions
Management Practice
Growth in employment can adversely affect OHS due to structural changes within the organisation
Increase in number of independent contractors
National Policy
The vision: "Australian workplaces free from death, injury and disease"
Bachelor degree required
Role: Internal consultant creating awareness and spreading knowledge throughout organisations to ensure the safe practice in a workplace.
Working knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of the human body
There is a relationship between workplace exposures and the human body
The human body is full of complex systems that work together to ensure the body functions.
It is important that all exposures at a workplace must be controlled to prevent risks for the workers
Foreign substances can be inhaled or enter the human system through dermal absorption.
Humans have complex, unique behaviours that are influenced from several exterior factors
Cognitive
Behavioural
Personality
Mental disorders
Stress is a dangerous hazard that is hard to control
"Psychology of learning'
stimulus providing a response
Behaviours can be conditioned
Behaviour can be controlled by its consequences
Behaviours can also be conditioned with positive reinforcements eg. Chocolate for a well behaved child.
Created due to the limitations of Behavioural psychology
How humans process and store information
Involves memory
Memory, attention and decision making affect work performance and safety
'the dynamic organisation within the individual of those psychophysical system that determine his characteristic behaviour and thought'
Controversial and hard to control because of a large amount of variables
Is good for testing, and gathering information
Psychiatric illnesses and psychological disorders
Some mental disorders can develop from given types of work and are compensated for
Some mental illnesses are serious hazards for a workplace and are not allowed on site
Complex and diverse
OHS regulation
Command and control with policies and law governed by the state.
Parliament sets the standard
Organisations require work within the company such as goals, instead of external OHS changes
Procedures and Policies are produced for the workers within the workplace
Programmes and rosters play a role in the behaviour of the organisation
The coordination of activities to reach a goal for the company
Management Theory
Scientific Management Theory
Systematic studies of relationships
Increases efficiency
Increased Total Quality Management
Administrative Management
To create an organised structure
Hierarchy of positions
Management Principles
Authority, division of labour, responsibility, unity, discipline, equity etc
Behavioural Management
How managers behave to motivate employees and encourage to perform at high levels
Worker performance was influenced
Management Science
Tools and techniques to inform decision making
Maximises efficient deployment
quantitative, operations, TQM and management information systems are included
Organisational Environment
Workplace synergy
Ignoring the external environment
centralised authority, clear tasks, close supervision
Constantly evolving and maturing with the right management
OHS Law
OHS Regulation
Safework Australia
Regulation or command and control
Enforces compliance with the law
OHS Policies
Parliament sets the standard
Courts interpret the law
Court interprets the law
Standards
click to edit
There are Australian and International standards
Economic and social trends impact OHS
Working environments
Impacted by trends, organisations and workers
Developed for the workplace
Take environment, workers and workplace into account
Database of OHS statistics
Used to help mould Policies and develop controls to common hazards
Parliament passes the law
There are Codes of Practice
Policies must abide by the law