Sponsored by WorkSafe Victoria
The Occupational Health and Safety Reporting Award was introduced in 2000 to recognise excellence in reporting that promoted workplace health and safety. WorkSafe Victoria is a major sponsor of the ARA and sponsor of this Award. The following critical elements are recommended.
OH&S Management
The annual report should:
- Express a clear commitment by the organisation to OH&S
- Demonstrate that OH&S is embedded in general management systems
- Outline key OH&S objectives and/or specific strategies
- Record future OH&S targets
- Record the resources allocated to OH&S
- Address, where appropriate, specific OH&S issues
- Provide evidence of consultation with employees regarding OH&S
- Address, where appropriate, the OH&S management of contractors.
OH&S Performance
The annual report should:
- Provide both negative and positive OH&S key performance indicators
- Where a fatality is recorded, the company's response and preventive actions should be detailed
- Compare the current year's OH&S performance with that of previous years and/or against industry benchmarks
- Record details of OH&S training
- Where appropriate, record the outcomes of any OH&S audits and follow-up actions
- Where appropriate, record any regulatory interventions, including prosecutions and subsequent actions taken by the organisation.
Independent Verification
The annual report should:
- Record the results, where appropriate, of any internal audits and the follow-up by the corporation
- Record any OH&S awards or certificates the organisation has received
- Provide details, where appropriate, of the organisation's contribution to improving OH&S within its industry.
Continuous Improvement
The annual report should:
- Provide details of any OH&S innovations
- Where appropriate, give examples of a problem-solving, consultative approach to creating solutions for identified OH&S issues
- Demonstrate that the organisation has kept abreast of OH&S best practice in its industry.
Presentation
The annual report should:
- Be written in clear, succinct and user-friendly language
- Be easy to navigate
- Highlight the importance of health and safety in its structure and content.