Research Report: Current and Future Labour Market Issues Facing the OHS Profession in BC’s Manufacturing Sector
This report presents findings from industry-led labour market research conducted by the Graham Lowe Group into the occupational health and safety (OHS) labour market needs of British Columbia’s manufacturing sector. Click here to download the full report.
The research was undertaken by a Sector Labour Market Partnership (Sector LMP) led by the Manufacturing Safety Alliance of BC, with oversight provided by a Steering Committee consisting of representation from manufacturing firms, industry and business associations, labour organizations and post-secondary educational institutions.
The future of BC’s manufacturing sector depends on how effectively companies meet a number of significant economic, technological, workforce and regulatory trends. These trends present significant OHS risks and challenges. It is essential that manufacturers are able to acquire the expertise and resources needed to address these issues. Indeed, improvements in workplace safety are a precondition for a thriving manufacturing sector in BC, especially given the relatively high injury rates in the industry today.
Information was gathered through a survey of BC manufacturers, 5 regional focus groups and 13 key-informant interviews. Background research included an analysis of relevant statistical data and a review of academic and grey literature on OHS topics relevant to manufacturing.
Based on this research, the report identifies seven practical implications for BC manufacturers and industry partners, including:
- Training effectiveness. Given that OHS training is essential for workplace safety, its effectiveness could be improved by incorporating more options for individual self-paced and internet-based learning in short modules. Evaluation should be incorporated into all OHS training in order to determine if learning and behavioural change goals are being met, and to identify opportunities for improvement.
- Mid-career entry into OHS roles. The prevalence of mid-career transitions into OHS roles for manufacturing workers signals a continued and possibly growing need for certificate programs as a convenient route to upgrading OHS knowledge and skills. Manufacturing-specific courses could meet some of the requirements for one or more existing OHS post-secondary programs.
- Safety certifications. Health and safety management systems contribute to a safe workplace. Encouraging the adoption of OHS management systems through safety certifications is one pathway to improved OHS performance.
- Joint health and safety committees. These committees have a positive influence on a firm’s safety performance. To be effective, committee members require appropriate education and training, must feel empowered, and need resources and capabilities to monitor leading safety indicators.
- Regional resources. The availability of regionally-based safety advisors and other shared resources are crucial for small and medium-size firms (SMEs) to acquire the OHS expertise they require to implement OHS management systems, provide employee training and embark upon a safety certification process.
- OHS value proposition. Helping senior management understand the value of OHS – and the crucial role that OHS professionals play in delivering that value – is an on-going challenge in BC and in other jurisdictions. Project partners can help to address this challenge by developing an OHS ‘value proposition’ for BC manufacturers, which defines the core competencies of an OHS professional in manufacturing.
- Target SMEs. Also required is on-going education and awareness-raising efforts targeted at SMEs, especially medium-size firms given their relatively high lost-time injury rates. It may be helpful to approach OHS as a quality improvement initiative. Developing easy-to-use diagnostic tools would also help SMEs to identify opportunities to make their workplaces safer.