This thesis describes the development, application and evaluation of an OHS measurement tool incorporating positive performance indicators to measure OHS performance in Australia Post, a large multi-site postal organisation. Positive Performance Indicators (PPIs) are identified as systematically implemented measures of the management processes initiated to achieve strategic goals. A literature review indicated that there was widespread support for the use of PPIs to measure OHS performance, with proponents advocating their use to monitor and promote implementation of target OHS strategies, and to evaluate the effectiveness of these strategies by using PPIs in conjunction with outcome indicators. Despite this widespread support, there was little practical guidance published on the development or application of PPIs, nor was there empirical evidence validating the claims of advocates. A series of research projects was undertaken to firstly develop - then evaluate - a set of OHS self-assessment tools incorporating PPIs. These projects comprised: review of the Australia Post OHS strategic plan, as the basis for the development of PPIs to measure that plan; development of a set of paper-based self-assessment tools incorporating quantitative OHS PPIs to measure the local implementation of the OHS strategic plan; quasi-experimental pilot study of the use of the OHS PPI self-assessment tools by Postal Managers, to investigate the reliability and effectiveness of the OHS PPI process in monitoring and driving conformance of OHS management processes; experimental study of the use of the OHS PPI self-assessment tools by Postal Delivery Facility Managers, to validate and extend the findings of the pilot study; development of a web-based software application to facilitate OHS PPI data collection and reporting; and, the use of correlation statistics to study the relationship of OHS PPIs with OHS outcome measures, and to assess their role in evaluating the effectiveness of specific OHS strategies. The studies demonstrated that the OHS PPI self-assessment tool could be effectively used by local facility managers to assess and report their implementation of the OHS strategic plan. In addition, the OHS PPI self-assessment process proved to strongly improve the local implementation of those OHS management processes measured. The study further showed that the consistent attention to OHS management processes driven by the OHS PPI measurement process assisted in the achievement of impressive OHS outcome improvements. However, the study showed that the use of correlation statistics to link OHS PPIs with outcome measures to evaluate the effectiveness of OHS management strategies has only limited value. Limitations in both the OHS PPI and outcome measurement data and in the correlation statistics restrict the extent to which findings can be interpreted or that conclusive judgements concerning the effectiveness of strategies can be drawn. The thesis concludes with an account of Australia Post's experiences in integrating OHS PPIs into its OHS management system.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/187149 |
| Date | January 2006 |
| Creators | Simpson, Ian Robert, Safety Science, Faculty of Science, UNSW |
| Publisher | Awarded by:University of New South Wales. School of Safety Science |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | Copyright Ian Robert Simpson, http://unsworks.unsw.edu.au/copyright |
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