A large, Australian-owned retailer self-insured for workers’ compensation engaged Verus after Queensland's Office of Industrial Relations (OIR) stepped up the number of workplace health and safety (WHS) audits self-insurers had to complete for licence renewal. The changes meant a significantly expanded proportion of the client’s sites now needed auditing, an increase largely driven by a desire for increased oversight following a range of industrial disasters.
For consistency across audits and reporting, the client wanted to appoint a consulting firm that had OIR-approved auditors who were practical in engaging with site personnel and reviewing evidence. Timeframes were critical, with self-insurers unable to negotiate revised deadlines and only a finite number of approved auditors available with multiple licences due.
Project Goals
- Complete a significant number of WHS audits for multiple entities with different WHS management systems. This required extensive travel over a large area.
- Deliver consolidated audit reports that effectively summarised the self-insurers' WHS management system performance.
- Develop audit plans for multiple self-insurers that met the critical timelines set by OIR, based on licence conditions.