HRM107 Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Health Promotion, Absenteeism, Stress Management
30 May 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
Week 12 WHS and Employee Wellness
WHS and strategic HRM
- Adopt strategic interventions; they drive business productivity and profitability
- Focus on the common causes and trends of site accidents and injuries
- Develop appropriate preventive work systems or more effective administrative
and rehabilitation programs
The Problem
- 40 Australians have been killed at work this year
- 3207 have died between 2003-2015
- Hazards include:
- Physical factors, chemical,hazardous substances, workplace organisation,
stress, violence or harm from colleagues
Various Approaches to WHS
- Self regulation (failing approach)
- Running tests of safety procedures with dummies
- Policing standards by regulators
- Site inspections for ladders, ropes for building sites
Employee Wellness
- Aims to encourage employees to maintain their fitness and health
- Aims to reduce the risks of heart disease and cancer
- Programs include employee lifestyle issues eg need for regular exercise,
weight control, proper nutrition – through nutrition education, exercise
schedules, meditation classes, volunteering programs
Theoretical Perspectives of WHS
Medical Model
- An emphasis on diagnosis and treatment rather than the prevention of
illnesses and disease
- narrowly focused or unable to fully explain causes or to devise suitable
preventative strategies
Occupational Epidemiology
- Research ‘epidemics’, or the incidence of diseases and illnesses in
workplaces, and attempt to establish their causes and solutions
Industrial Psychology
- Study of employees’ psychological reactions to their workplace
- Focus on individuals
Industrial Sociology
- Study of interpersonal communications and relationships in the workplace
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- Attributes many WHS issues to lack of work control, production imperatives,
associated reward systems
Ergonomics and Occupational Hygiene
- Aim to eliminate risks and improve productivity by modifying the physical
arrangements and conditions of the workplace
- Criticised for having an overly narrow focus and causative approach.
WHS in Australia
- Reflects UK (self regulation) over US (standards and penalties)
- Principal elements are:
- Self regulation, with active involvement of employers, unions and gov
- Duty of employers to provide a safe system of work
- Workplace based tripartite committees with responsibilities to provide
training, inspections, consultation, information, issue provisional
improvement notices, order that unsafe work ceases
Tripartite Approach
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Adopt strategic interventions; they drive business productivity and profitability. Focus on the common causes and trends of site accidents and injuries. Develop appropriate preventive work systems or more effective administrative and rehabilitation programs. 40 australians have been killed at work this year. Physical factors, chemical,hazardous substances, workplace organisation, stress, violence or harm from colleagues. Running tests of safety procedures with dummies. Site inspections for ladders, ropes for building sites. Aims to encourage employees to maintain their fitness and health. Aims to reduce the risks of heart disease and cancer. Programs include employee lifestyle issues eg need for regular exercise, weight control, proper nutrition through nutrition education, exercise schedules, meditation classes, volunteering programs. An emphasis on diagnosis and treatment rather than the prevention of illnesses and disease. Narrowly focused or unable to fully explain causes or to devise suitable preventative strategies. Research epidemics", or the incidence of diseases and illnesses in workplaces, and attempt to establish their causes and solutions.
