Occupational Health and Safety (Plant) Regulations 1995

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CampbellCampbellResearch Research && Consulting Consulting

Occupational Health and Safety (Plant) Regulations 1995

Awareness of, and compliance with, the performance based

Regulations in Victorian workplaces

Victorian WorkCover AuthorityJune 26, 1998

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CampbellCampbellResearch Research && ConsultingConsulting

The Presentation

Research Objectives

Research Methodology

The Key Findings

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Research Objectives

1. Benchmark workplace awareness and

compliance

2. Identify barriers to implementation

3. Identify how barriers can be overcome

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Preliminary Qualitative Research

Focus Groups

– Consultants and VWA Inspectors

– Managers and Supervisors

– OHS Reps and Plant Operators

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Quantitative Research

Surveys

– Workplaces (600)

– OHS Plant Consultants (50)

– VWA Plant Inspectors (50)

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Workplace Survey

Split sample to test validity

– Managers and Supervisors (314)

– OHS Reps and Plant Operators

(302)

Stratified– Small, Medium and Large

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The Key Findings

Awareness

Compliance

Barriers and Strategies

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Workplace Awareness

Regulations

Code of Practice

WorkCover Booklet

Change in 1995

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Regulations

Code of Practice

WorkCover Booklet

Change in 1995

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Workplace Awareness

Regulations

Code of Practice

WorkCover Booklet

Change in 1995

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Regulations

Code of Practice

WorkCover Booklet

Change in 1995

10


Workplace Awareness

Regulations

Code of Practice

WorkCover Booklet

Change in 1995

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Regulations

Code of Practice

WorkCover Booklet

Change in 1995

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Workplace Awareness

Regulations

Code of Practice

WorkCover Booklet

Change in 1995

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Regulations

Code of Practice

WorkCover Booklet

Change in 1995

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Workplace Compliance

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Hazard identification

Formal structured processes

Informal approaches

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Hazard identification

Observation of Plant

Hazard reporting system

Reviews/ Audits of Plant

"Common sense"

Hazard Id. Checklist

"Nothing"

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30%

Observation of Plant

Hazard reporting system

Reviews/ Audits of Plant

"Common sense"

Hazard Id. Checklist

"Nothing"

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Reactive Risk control

Unprompted response indicated reactive approaches– hazard “fixed” or “rectified”

when identified (43%)

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Proactive Risk control Prompted response indicates wide

use of proactive strategies– regular inspections (83%)– regular maintenance schedule (77%)– training (64%)– regular reviews/audits (56%)

Suggests that proactive strategies are not thought of as OHS practices

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Workplace size differences

Large workplaces reported greater awareness of:– Regulations

– Code of Practice for Plant

– WorkCover Booklet

– Change to Regulations in 1995

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Workplace size differences

Large workplaces reported greater

compliance for:

– formal hazard identification processes

– formal risk control processes

– use of OHS Consultants

– OHS changes made in previous three

years

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Consultants/Inspectorsvs Workplaces

Consultants/Inspectors reported:– lower level of awareness

– more reactive for hazard identification

– more reactive for risk control

– less involvement of operators/OHS Reps

Inspectors to a greater degree

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Preference for legislation

Inspectors prefer prescriptive– 44% of Inspectors vs 21% of Consultants

Consultants prefer performance

based– 60% of Consultants vs 37% of Inspectors

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Barriers and Strategies

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Barriers to implementation

Cost / Resources

Ignorance

Apathy

Lack of enforcement

Lack of education

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Cost / Resources

Ignorance

Apathy

Lack of enforcement

Lack of education

Consultants Inspectors

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Strategies to overcome cost/resources barrier

Identify cost savings or

benefits

Set priorities in compliance

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Strategies to overcome ignorance barrier

Education/training– through the workplace– of management

Publicity/information– which is industry based– highlighting deterrents

Use of Consultants or Inspectors Create an awareness/interest in

issues

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Thank you

for your attention…

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Supplementary information

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Management/operator differences

Managers reported greater

awareness of:

– Regulations (12% average difference)

– WorkCover Booklet (12%)

– Change to Regulations in 1995 (14%)

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Management/operator differences

Managers reported greater

compliance for:

– involvement of OHS Reps in hazard

identification (12% average difference)

– formal risk control processes

Documents

Occupational Health and Safety (Plant) Regulations 1995