The cost of workplace accidents is only partly covered by insurance. The real
cost is at least six times the annual workers compensation bill, which gives a
more realistic idea of the size of the problem facing Australian business.
Occupational health and safety professionals can achieve only limited
results without the full support of top management. It is argued that if man
agers had a greater awareness of the legal consequences and cost penalties of
work hazards which result in accidents, occupational health and safety pro
fessionals would find their work easier. A strategy is given for changing man
agement attitudes.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Adams, J.G.V. (1988) Risk homeostasis and the purpose of safety regulation . Ergonomics, 31(4), 407-28.
2.
Biggins, D.R., and Fair, T.H. (1988) Occupational Health and the Democratization of Work, Part 2. Journal of Occupational Health and Safety ( Australia and New Zealand), 4(4), 332-8.
3.
Bird, F.E. (1974) Management Guide to Loss Control Atlanta: Institute Press.
4.
Brooks, A. (1988) Rethinking Occupational health and safety legislation . Journal of Industrial Relations, 30(3), 347-62.
5.
Burnett, J. (1985) Corporate murder verdict may not become trend, say legal experts. Occupational Safety andHealth (October), 22, 24-6, 58-9.
6.
Business Week (1987) 2 March, 37-8.
7.
Creighton, W.B. (1982) Statutory safety representatives and safety committees: legal and industrial relations implications. Journal of Industrial Relations, 24 (Sept.), 337-64.
8.
Creighton, W.B. (1984) Occupational health and safety and industrial democracy: some legal and practical considerations. Work and People, 10(2), 3-9.
9.
Davis, E. (1986) Worker participation in decisions on occupational health and safety in Australia. Journal of Occupational Health and Safety—Australia/New Zealand, 2(5), 371-82.
10.
Davis, E., and Lansbury, R. (eds) (1986) Democracy and control in the workplace. Melbourne: Longman Cheshire .
11.
DeCieri, H. (1991) Occupational Health and Safety: Progress and Problems . Asia Pacific Human Resource Management, 29(1), 39-54.
12.
Deery, S.J., and Plowman, D.H. (1991) Australian Industrial Relations (3rd edn). Sydney: McGraw-Hill .
13.
Dobbie, M. (1990) Tougher laws force greater awareness: Health and safety. Business Review Weekly, 11 May, 109, 111-12.
14.
Emmett, T. (1992) New directions for occupational health and safety in Australia. Journal of Occupational Health and Safety—Australia/New Zealand, 8(4), 293-308.
Gardner, M., Palmer, G., and Quinlan, M. (1988) The Industrial Democracy Debate. In G. Palmer (ed.), Australian Personnel Management: A Reader. South Melbourne: Macmillan .
17.
Gun, R. ( 1992) Regulation or self-regulation: is Robens-style legislation a formula for success? Journal of Occupational Health and Safety—Australica/New Zealand, 8(5), 383-8.
18.
Gunningham, N. (1985) Workplace safety and the law: statutory regulation: the traditional system. In B. Creighton and N. Gunningham (eds), The Industrial Relations of Occupational Health and Safety (pp 18-53). Sydney: Croom Helm.
19.
Hetzel, R. (1990) Occupational Health and Safety: The Management Challenge of the Nineties. Asia Pacific Human Resource Management , 28(2), 73-80.
20.
Hocking, B. (1988) Health promotion in industry: Reality and rorts . Human Resource Management Australia, 26(2), 79-82.
21.
Hyman, R. (1975) Industrial Relations: A Marxist Introduction. London: Macmillan.
Kay, H. ( 1978) Accidents: Some Facts and Theories. In P.B. Warr (ed.), Psychology at Work (2nd edn). Harmondsworth: Penguin.
24.
Kok, G.J., Wilke, H.A.M., and Meertens, R.W. (1987) Information and Change. Groningen : Wolters Noorhoff.
25.
Lutness E.I.Dupont de Nemous and Co. (1986) Boardroom Reports 1115, 23; 1 December; 9-10.
26.
Merrit, A. (1983) Australian law on occupational health and safety: an up-to-the-minute report about what's not really happening. Social Alternatives, Sept.-Oct., 33-6.
27.
Pearson, C.A.L. (1991) Accidents: A Study and a Strategy for a Safer Workplace . Asia Pacific Human Resource Management, 29(2), 89-95.
28.
Quinlan, M. (1988) Occupational Health and Safety: New Debate about an 'Old' Problem. In G. Palmer (ed.), Australian Personnel Management. South Melbourne : Macmillan.
29.
Review of Occupational Health and Safety in Australia (Review of OHS) (1990) Report by the Review Committee to the Minister for Industrial Relations. Canberra: AGPS.
30.
Robens, Lord (1972) Report of the Committee 1970-72 Chairman Lord Robens. Safety and Health at Work. London: HMSO.
31.
Rowe, S.A. (1987) Management Involvement—A key element in preventing musculo skeletal problems in visual display unit users in Australia. Ergonomics, 30(2), 367-72.
32.
Ruzek, P. (1990) A Stem Test for Tripartism. Personnel Today, June, 8-12.
33.
Schuler, R.S., Dowling, P.J., Smart, J.P., and Huber, V.L. (1992) Human Resource Management in Australia (2nd edn). Artarmon: Harper Educational.
34.
Sand, R.H. (1988) Current Developments in OSHA. Employee Relations Law Journal, 14, 128.
35.
Smith, B.J., and Delahaye, B.L. (1987) New Employers are Legally Responsible for Adequately Training Their Employees. Training and Development in Australia , 14(1), 3-4
36.
Stamper, M.T. (1987) Good health is not for sale. Ergonomics , 30(2), 199-206.
37.
Stewart, M.H. (1987) Replacement testing and selection of workers: the industry perspective. Ergonomics, 30(2), 253-8.
38.
Stone, R.J. (1991) Human Resource Management. Brisbane: John Wiley.
39.
Urlings, I.J.M., Nijboer, I.D., and Dul, J. (1990) A method for changing attitudes and behaviour of management and employees to stimulate the implementation of ergonomic improvements . Ergonomics, 33(5), 629-37.
