By Louise Butcher
DEFENCE
will begin new research on Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S)
practices across the organisation in March.
The study, entitled Behavioural Baseline Research (BBR), began
after the F-111 Deseal/Reseal inquiry uncovered flaws in safety
management applicable across Defence.
The BBR forms part of a broader Defence approach to develop a
corporate health and safety system, under the guidance of the
Defence Occupational Health and Safety Committee.
The OH&S Project, which will run the BBR, aims to establish a
baseline of OH&S practices throughout Defence based on the results.
The BBR will enable Defence to take a “snapshot” of attitudes
and practices on OH&S and analyse and track changes.
The Director of the Project, Group Captain David Richardson, said
the BBR would look at the organisational pressures on personnel
that compromised safety, high-risk areas, good practice and the
drivers of behaviour related to OH&S.
“Information obtained from this research will help determine areas
that need work and identify areas where changes will achieve the
greatest effect,” GPCAPT Richardson said.
“A random sample of full-time ADF members, Reserves and cadets,
public servants and contractors will be targeted. “We estimate
that around 27,000 people across Defence will eventually be surveyed
as part of this research.”
The research will be done in two parts, collecting data from personnel
across Defence. Between March 9 and April 8 personnel will be
asked to take part in a hardcopy or intranet survey that focuses
not only on OH&S issues but also leadership and management issues,
operational tempo and adequacy of resources and training.
To accommodate local needs, the project personnel will provide
on-site distribution and collection of hard copy surveys to particular
areas. Results from the survey will help define what information
is sought during the second part of the research, scheduled for
May and June.
Targeted focus groups from different levels, ranks and work types
will aim to delve into the reasons behind some of the survey responses.
The RAAF Group Safety Coordinator, Group Captain Bill Spears,
said, “The Behavioural Baseline Research will assist in informing
us about the current safety culture within the Air Force so we
can develop and embed the necessary initiatives into our OHS Management
System known as RAAFSAFE.
RAAFSAFE will focus on preserving our people and enhancing capability.”
On completion the results will be analysed and a report detailing
the findings and recommendations will be produced and distributed
to Service Chiefs and Group Heads.
Feedback on the results will be provided to all participating
personnel in October.
For further information visit http://defcare.dcb.defence.gov.au/Main/dOH&Sp/dOH&Spdefault.htm
or phone (02) 6266 8496.
