NOHSAC - National Occupational Health and Safety Advisory Committee - Komiti Tohutohu Mahi A-Motu Hauora me te Haumaru
  

Review of key characteristics that determine the efficacy of OHS instruments

This project will determine the key and common elements associated with effective and ineffective regulator and industry developed OHS codes of practice and guidance materials. Characteristics which will be examined include:

  • the purpose of this type of instrument.
  • development drivers for these instruments including:
    • cultural, legal, enforcement, fear, economic/political climate, or technological factors; access to resources; the regulatory approach; enforcement model; self- governance or conflict models of change.
    • under what circumstances are codes of practice developed (for example, a widespread problem, lack of knowledge or awareness, lack of regulation)?
  • design and development processes:
    • who designs the codes of practice?
    • what form/structure do they take?
    • do codes of practice conflict with other OHS instruments, and if so, which instruments and how do they conflict?
  • implementation processes (by regulators, by duty holders and by workplaces):
  • how do regulators, duty holders and workplaces implement codes of practice?
    • what is the uptake of codes of practice in the workplace?
    • when is it appropriate to use a code of practice rather than another OHS instrument?
    • is the alternative to a code of practice a more prescriptive OHS instrument?
  • impact & outcome evaluation:
    • how are the impacts and outcomes determined (level of awareness of codes of practice, impediments or enablers to the effectiveness of the codes of practice)?
    • how are codes of practice evaluated?
    • if evaluated what are the do's and don'ts for modeling success?
    • where not evaluated, are they assumed to have a positive impact?
    • what informs the decision to stay with such a process and to continue to produce such instruments?
    • which codes of practice are having the greatest impact?
    • is there a difference in the impact of industry developed codes compared with approved codes developed by regulators?
    • which parties developed the codes of practice which are having the greatest impact?
  • resources required (by regulators and by duty holders) to underpin development and implementation.

This report is being undertaken in conjunction with the Office of the Australian Safety and Compensation Council, Canberra. The final report will be released in April 2008.