A Task Analysis (or a job breakdown) is simply the reduction of a complex job into its individual tasks accompanied by step by step procedures for accomplishing each task. A detailed breakdown of roles provides you with a comprehensive analysis of the particular roles and physical demands performed by each member of your staff. This provides you with a complete overview of the requirements, duties and responsibilities of a role helping you ensure the correct safety and injury management measures are in place.
Given that WHS standards and requirements are constantly evolving, managers and executives are expected to know the ins and outs of roles within their organisation. They are also expected to meet and embrace any role specific changes.
Many businesses assume that workers understand how their role and wellbeing directly affects the success of the company. However, if the roles in your workplace are not well defined, employees may fail to understand their responsibilities and accountabilities.
The importance of having a detailed breakdown of roles in your workplace go beyond simply reducing role confusion. Below are some of the benefits of having a detailed breakdown of roles done by a Job Task Analysis.
Knowing the individual tasks of a job can help management identify potential workplace hazards. By analysing the relationship between the worker, the tools of work, and the task, you will be able to take steps to eliminate safety risks, establish proper work procedures and minimise the risk of injury.
Pre-employment tests provide a baseline health assessment for workers and can assist you to determine whether an employee is medically suitable for a particular role. With a clear picture of the individual tasks of a job, employers are able to design your pre-employment health checks to suit the available job. This helps you recruit the most suitable candidate for each role.
>> Read more about the benefits of pre-employment assessments here <<
Workplace safety training will give your employees the knowledge and skills to safely operate equipment and protect each other against unintentional injuries and accidents while working. Organisations with a detailed breakdown of roles are able to provide your employees with task specific training for your employees.
A detailed breakdown of job roles offers employers a great platform for analysing alternative duties for workers. This simplifies your company’s return to work programs as you are able to easily locate suitable duties. This is achieved by comparing employee’s capacities, skills and experience as well as medical limitations to the requirements of each task. When injured workers are allocated suitable duties on returning to work they are more likely to be able to sustain their return.
A detailed breakdown of job roles also enhances communication with Treatment Providers, Insurers and Return to Work Coordinator’s as it provides a clear expectation of physical demands assisting treatment and physical expectations upon return to work.
Well defined roles eliminate confusion in the workplace. It ensures employees are aware of their responsibilities, improving collaboration in the workplace, and as a result increasing productivity.
Having a detailed breakdown of roles in your workplace can improve the health and safety of your employees, and also help avoid increased compensation costs.
At Recovery Partners, we can help you assess your work systems and assign employees the most suitable roles. In so doing, you will be able to improve your organisation’s workplace health and safety performance resulting in fewer lost work hours, decreased insurance rates and compensation premiums.
Our services are available in multiple locations nationwide. For more information, you can make enquiries here.
Alternatively, our consultants love to have a chat, so go ahead and give us a call on 1300 OHS RTW (647 789).