OHS Performance Measurement in the Construction Industry

Foreword
This report results from high degrees of collaboration between the National Occupational
Health and Safety Commission (NOHSC), industry, unions and state jurisdictions to drive the
development of positive performance indicators for the construction industry.
It is the report from an extensive project undertaken by NOHSC, with a working group of
employer and union representatives drawn directly from the construction industry and
representatives from a number of state OHS authorities. It was part of the work program
overseen by the Performance Measurement Advisory Committee of NOHSC. The report
would not have been possible without this level of shared commitment to enhancing the
base of knowledge and response in occupational health and safety (OHS) in Australia.
The report contains timely information for the construction industry which is traditionally
relied on outcome measures for assessment of their OHS performance. The report does not
advocate the abandoning of outcome-oriented indicators for monitoring OHS performance.
To the contrary, it seeks to contribute to an ongoing debate about the importance of
developing positive performance measures to permit the use of an appropriate mix of
positive and outcome indicators when monitoring OHS performance.
The development and use of positive performance indicators will allow construction
enterprises to assess how successfully their enterprise is performing. They offer the
opportunity to intervene in a meaningful way to permit immediate identification of where
improvement strategies can be targeted.
The Construction Working Group recommended that positive performance indicators
identified in this report be the basis of the development of the positive performance
measurement framework at the enterprise level in the construction industry in Australia.
A number of state jurisdictions have indicated their enthusiasm for facilitating that
recommendation in their respective states.
As Chair of the Performance Measurement Advisory Committee and the Construction
Working Group it has been my great pleasure to work with individuals dedicated to the
cause of improved health and safety performance in Australian workplaces. The
construction companies who so generously participated in case studies to test the positive
performance indicators are thanked for their support of the project. Further research is
now planned to consider issues including the validity and practicality of positive
performance indicator frameworks. My express appreciation for the excellent work
undertaken by Rebecca Mitchell, Senior Officer, Epidemiology Unit, National Occupational
Health and Safety Commission as Co-ordinator for the project. She was very ably supported
by Dr Tim Driscoll of the Epidemiology Unit.
Tony Cooke
Chair, Construction Working Group
Member, National Occupational Health & Safety Commission
DEVELOPMENT OF POSITIVE PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
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