Review of the Healthy Workers Initiative for the Office of Industrial Relations
Status: Completed June 2023
Client: Office of Industrial Relations
About the Project
The Workplace has become an increasingly-recognised environment for addressing chronic diseases, due to the substantial time people spend at work and the current global impact of these health issues. The Healthy Workers Initiative (HWI) was launched back in 2011 as a core strategy to prevent work-related injuries and diseases.
Beacon Strategies was pleased to engage with the Office of Industrial Relations (OIR) to complete this project in the first half of 2023. During the project, we engaged with a comprehensive number of people, documents and data to review the Healthy Workers Initiative and explore avenues to enhance health and safety outcomes in workplaces.
Project Methodology
We went with a comprehensive mixed-method approach in order to review the HWI.
Firstly, we conducted a ‘Current State Analysis’ which included a review of documentation and data related to the HWI, along with consultations with 19 internal stakeholders. The analysis provided insights into the HWI's positioning, objectives, achievements, challenges, and opportunities.
We also undertook a ‘Future State Analysis’ which focused on the ‘best practice’ in managing chronic disease hazards in the workplace. This involved consultations with 23 external stakeholders, including national and international regulators, content experts, and researchers.
Desktop research was also used to gather information on leading approaches and programs in different jurisdictions.
About the final document
The final review was a document which included six key considerations to address the challenges noted from the research into the HWI. These considerations highlighted the importance of building a strong case for addressing chronic disease hazards, offering industry-specific support, fostering sector integration, increasing employer awareness, providing targeted assistance, and identifying synergies between various hazard types.
How will this project impact the community?
The findings and recommendations of the HWI project hold the potential to make significant improvements for workplace health and safety. By adopting the suggested changes, regulatory bodies and businesses can better address work-related chronic disease hazards. This could help to create healthier and safer work environments.
The HWI can establish a more integrated and effective approach if there is a greater emphasis on chronic disease hazards, targeted support for vulnerable industries, and improved awareness among employers and workers, Implementing evidence-based strategies to combat chronic diseases will enhance workers' health, safety, and overall well-being.
Outcome
The outcomes of this project present a promising opportunity to drive positive change in workplace health and safety. With a clear vision for the HWI's future as well as a well-defined implementation plan, workplaces can become more productive and healthier spaces. As the transition from the current state to the future state takes shape, we anticipate a reduction in work-related chronic disease hazards and a brighter, safer future for the workforce.
We specialise in evaluating programs and services for organisations in the health and social sectors. If you would like to have your program or service reviewed, please get in touch.
