The emergence of integrated approaches to worker health, safety and wellbeing in Australia
Nerida Joss A B E , Eliette Dupré-Husser A C , Amanda Cooklin A D and Brian Oldenburg A BA School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Level 5, 99 Commercial Road, Vic. 3004, Australia
B Present address: Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Level 4, 207 Bouverie Street, Carlton, Vic. 3010, Australia.
C Present address: Arts Research and Business Development Office, Faculty of Arts, Monash University, Level 3, Building 20, Chancellors Walk, Clayton Vic. 3800, Australia.
D Present address: Judith Lumley Centre, Latrobe University, 2015 Franklin Street, Melbourne, Vic. 3000, Australia.
E Corresponding author. Email: nerida.joss@unimelb.edu.au
Australian Journal of Primary Health 23(2) 154-161 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY16065
Submitted: 2 August 2015 Accepted: 9 August 2016 Published: 8 September 2016
Abstract
Integrated approaches to worker health, safety and wellbeing have been progressively developed and implemented internationally for over a decade; however, implementation in the Australian context is still in the early stages. Integrated workplace interventions recognise the interaction between health protection and health promotion to create a workplace culture in which health, safety and wellbeing are valued and managed efficiently, together with a view to improve organisational productivity. The present paper describes the progress of integrated approaches in six Victorian workplaces considered early adopters and identifies the drivers for further policy and program development in this area. Using a qualitative exploratory multiple case study design, organisational documents were systematically analysed and semi-structured interviews were conducted in six organisations that met criteria for an integrated approach. Key mechanisms to support this approach were observed, including active leadership, the development of an integrated committee for activities, clear strategies to engage employees and an existing commitment to safety practices. The prioritisation within a workplace to integrate health, safety and wellbeing, and ensure sustainability of these approaches, was detected as a gap for future development.
Additional keywords: health promotion, human resources, occupational health and safety, workplace.
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