OHS Key Performance Indicators

A quick look at OHS Key Performane Indicators and how to use them.
Safety Advisors can use KPI for Consultation, Risk Management, Safety Training, Incident and Injury Management as well as various other areas of OHS.
This may mean that a Safety Advisor develops a policy and procedure detailing how the KPI will be implmented, measured, monitored and reported.
For example, on the topic of safety training - a safety training procedure may state that XYZ Company will conduct one OHS training session a week in the form of a tool box talk which will cover a range of safety topics. The procedure may state that a 15 minute toolbox talk will be given to a specific work group each week.
As can be seen, over the year this equates to 208 Tool box talks that could cover a range of safety topics including for example, Manual Handling, Chemical awareness, Personal Protective Equipment selection, maintenance and use, Housekeeping, Noise, Slips and Trips as well as a variety of other OHS topics.
The procedure may also state that the KPI is met if 80% (about 160 toolbox talks) of the training is conducted. This uses the SMART goal concept of the KPI being Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timely. Further, the KPI can be measured each month and reported to senior management (along with other KPI) to give a general status of the Company's OHS performance.
Basically, if a company's KPI's are being met, it may demonstrate that the company's OHS systems are fairing well and are effective. However; if a company's KPI's are not being met, it could signal that OHS sysems are ineffective, and the company can then take appropriate action to address the issues.
 
It should be realised that to develop, implement, measure and report on a KPI, a much more detailed Policy and Proceudre document would need to be written.  Basically, the Policy and Procedure would form a terms of reference, for example, clearly stipulating the type of topics to be covered, when the training will be given, who will instruct, where the training will be held and who should attend.

The main point is this; setting up a safety procedure with built in KPI is what the Australian Standard 4804 is all about when it discusses Targets, Objectives and Indicators. Ultimately, having a quality set of KPI set up in a company's safety procedures will enable safety advisors to plan focused activities aimed at reducing illness, injuries and near miss events as well as the associated (obvious and hidden) costs.