A Systems Model for the Design of Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems Inclusive of Flexible Workers

This paper examines the outcomes of a co-design process for OHS management systems inclusive of flexible workers. This qualitative research study utilised a series of co-design focus groups involving Australian regulators, health and safety managers and practitioners, senior managers, middle managers and flexible workers, to better understand the types of measures that organisations can apply to improve their health and safety management systems. Such measures are likely to promote the inclusion of employees working remotely within a psychologically safe work environment. The study focused on factors across the work system affecting the healthy and safe engagement of employees in flexible and remote working arrangements. Using a systems approach to psychological hazards, consideration was given to the organisation of the flexible working system, the home-work interface for remote workers, the competencies of managers and employees in regard to their occupation health and safety (OHS) responsibilities, and the complexity of identifying, reporting and monitoring psychosocial hazards for employees working flexibly from home or other alternative locations. The study identified a need for tools designed to support both managers and workers in promoting psychologically safe remote working