Survey: Safety Still the Key Issue For Australian OHS Managers
But demand for action on other fronts is rising
Sydney, 19 April 2011 - Safety may still be the dominant occupational health, safety and risk (OHS) priority for Australian organisations in 2011 but OHS managers say it's just one of a growing list of issues that need to be juggled. That’s according to the latest survey conducted at this month’s Safety in Action Melbourne 2011 by ComOps, a leading Australasian provider of business software products and services.
As in 2010, almost 90 percent of OHS managers cited safety as being of critical or high importance to their organisation. A further 86 percent are concerned with finding ways of highlighting to senior management the value of safety as a key business driver. In spite of this, more than one in four (26 per cent) of organisations still use manual and paper-based processes to manage their OHS strategy.
Contractor management and environment compliance ranked equal second in OHS priorities for 2011, nominated as being of high or critical importance by 80 percent of OHS managers. The former is likely to be a natural consequence of Australia's current low unemployment rate and a resulting reliance on contractors, while environmental concerns are being buoyed by the current public debate about climate change and carbon pricing.
Other leading priorities remained consistent with 2010, with more than three quarters of respondents nominating risk mitigation and the new AS/NZS ISO31000 standard, OHS training, understanding and planning for the new OHS harmonisation laws, and reducing the cost of injury management as priorities for management in 2011.
Moshe Woods, Sales Director – Salvus, ComOps, said: “In the three years that ComOps has been running this survey, we've found that the number of areas requiring OHS input just keeps growing. Every year, OHS managers are being asked to do more in line with organisational aims to improve productivity and enhance competitiveness and sustainability. It’s clear that organisations which have integrated safety and risk management systems on board will have the capacity to handle ongoing legislative challenges and the management of an increasingly mobile and flexible workplace environment.”
About ComOps Limited
ComOps Limited has a 39-year history in the IT industry in Australasia and listed on the ASX in 1999. The company develops, sells, implements, hosts and supports software solutions in the ERP, Business Intelligence, Mobile Sales Force Automation, eCommerce, Retail, Risk Management & Safety Compliance, Workforce Management and Human Capital Management markets. These solutions are used by a range of blue chip clients such as Toll Transport, Sensis, RACQ, Steinhoff Asia Pacific (Freedom Furniture), Heinz, Australia Post, Toshiba, Dulux, Canon, Queensland Government, NSW Lotteries, DP World, Virgin Blue and Commonwealth Bank to name just a few.
ComOps is a Microsoft Gold Partner, Progress Premier Partner, is ISO 9001:2008 Quality Accredited and Government Endorsed.
As in 2010, almost 90 percent of OHS managers cited safety as being of critical or high importance to their organisation. A further 86 percent are concerned with finding ways of highlighting to senior management the value of safety as a key business driver. In spite of this, more than one in four (26 per cent) of organisations still use manual and paper-based processes to manage their OHS strategy.
Contractor management and environment compliance ranked equal second in OHS priorities for 2011, nominated as being of high or critical importance by 80 percent of OHS managers. The former is likely to be a natural consequence of Australia's current low unemployment rate and a resulting reliance on contractors, while environmental concerns are being buoyed by the current public debate about climate change and carbon pricing.
Other leading priorities remained consistent with 2010, with more than three quarters of respondents nominating risk mitigation and the new AS/NZS ISO31000 standard, OHS training, understanding and planning for the new OHS harmonisation laws, and reducing the cost of injury management as priorities for management in 2011.
Moshe Woods, Sales Director – Salvus, ComOps, said: “In the three years that ComOps has been running this survey, we've found that the number of areas requiring OHS input just keeps growing. Every year, OHS managers are being asked to do more in line with organisational aims to improve productivity and enhance competitiveness and sustainability. It’s clear that organisations which have integrated safety and risk management systems on board will have the capacity to handle ongoing legislative challenges and the management of an increasingly mobile and flexible workplace environment.”
About ComOps Limited
ComOps Limited has a 39-year history in the IT industry in Australasia and listed on the ASX in 1999. The company develops, sells, implements, hosts and supports software solutions in the ERP, Business Intelligence, Mobile Sales Force Automation, eCommerce, Retail, Risk Management & Safety Compliance, Workforce Management and Human Capital Management markets. These solutions are used by a range of blue chip clients such as Toll Transport, Sensis, RACQ, Steinhoff Asia Pacific (Freedom Furniture), Heinz, Australia Post, Toshiba, Dulux, Canon, Queensland Government, NSW Lotteries, DP World, Virgin Blue and Commonwealth Bank to name just a few.
ComOps is a Microsoft Gold Partner, Progress Premier Partner, is ISO 9001:2008 Quality Accredited and Government Endorsed.
