Influence of supervisors on an organisation’s WHS performance

Suzanne Johnson

Manager, Ergonomics Unit

Things I hope you take from this…..

• Ideas to help your supervisors better lead

safety and MSD prevention

• The system elements

that support

MSD prevention

• Two meat businesses, and one metals business voluntarily participated

• Meat and metals subsectors focus

• Queensland based

Who

• Work with supervisors

through training and

focus groups.

• Explore systems in

place for safety, in

particular HMT

prevention and

management

What Why

• Research evidence

base

• Claims data

• Priority industry and

hazard area

The pilot project at a glance

Phase 1 2013-2014

Review of systems relating to

Hazardous Manual Tasks

Discussions and feedback from

workers and supervisors

Management consultation

Hazardous manual task system

Identified as a priority hazard

Consultation and

communication with workers

Suitable HMT risk

assessment tools

Risk controls

Incident reporting and investigations

Leadership and culture

Training and supervision

Phase 2 2014-2015

HMT risk management training for

supervisors

Focus groups with 80 supervisors

across the three participating

workplaces

Debriefing with management

Phase 3 2016

Review of systems

Follow up with supervisors to

gather feedback on changes

made post training sessions

Final management debriefing.

Systems level findings

Few safety

accountabilities

Performance

measures

Sources of risk

Generic toolsGaps in

contractor

consultation

Recruitment

practices

Training gaps

MSDs: High risk acceptance and low risk perception

Communication-limited feedback when safety issues are reported

Productivity overrides safety

Low participation in safety activities

Many control ideas generated

Worker perceptions findings

Risk acceptance

Worker literacy and numeracy

Production pressures take priority

Unplanned absenteeism-resources

Injury management process awareness

Lifting focus. Other issues not addressed

Supervisors perceptions findings

Systems improvements over life of project

Communication

& leadership

Hazard

reporting

Accountabilities

People

management

training and

recruitment

Literacy

initiatives

Lead

indicators

Early

intervention

Incident

investigations

Regular

face to

face

meetings

Involvement in

HMT Risk

Assessments. HMT training

Involvement and

learning from

investigations

Comparison of trained to untrained supervisors

2011

2016

980 workers compensation

claims

150 workers compensation

claims

A case example

2018 170 workers compensation

claims

Take home messages• Pivotal role of supervisors in prevention of MSDs

• For sustainable prevention look at the whole

system that supports your supervisors

• Supervisor leadership capabilities

help reduce workplace injuries

Resources• E-Tools: PErforM and ManTRA (Hazardous Manual Tasks), Return on

Investment, Heat Stress

• Safety Leadership at Work

• HMT resources

• Mental health at work toolkit

• Young workers safety toolkit

• Work Health Planning guide

• Principles of Good Work Design Handbook (Safe Work Australia)

• www.worksafe.qld.gov.au

Suzanne JohnsonManager, Ergonomics Unit

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland

Suzanne.johnson@oir.qld.gov.au

Thank you