Measure Health and Safety Performance

Recent article by OHS Reps @ Work. Outlining the negative aspects of using traditional safety performance indicators:

Too often, the only measures used in workplaces and by government authorities are ‘negative’ measures. These are known as outcome indicators, and while they are important, they generally reflect the results of past actions.

Outcome indicators may hide potential risks. For example, having a low incidence of injury does not necessarily mean that adequate safety systems and controls are in place. Examples of outcome indicators are:

number of claims
number of days lost (Lost time injury frequency rates or LTIs)
claims costs

These are not measures of the success or otherwise of controls in the workplace, but a measure of failure.

Read the Full Article……….

Also part of the same article:

Guidance on the development and implementation of positive performance indicators

The following links provide examples and extensive information on the development and implementation of PPIs and performance indicators in general.

A Guide to Measuring Health and Safety Performance [30 page pdf] Health and Safety Executive, UK.
Positive Performance Indicators for OHS: Beyond lost time injuries, Part 1: Issues [56 page], & Part 2: Practical Approaches [36 page] (National Occupational Health and Safety Commission – now SafeWork Australia)
On Target: The Practice of Performance Indicators and Aiming to Improve: The principles of performance measurement [both documents can be downloaded from the website] Audit Commission, England and Wales.
Positive Performance Measures: A Practical Guide [ pdf] Minerals Council of Australia