Although the statistics of work-related injuries in Australia are still far from the desired level, it can be stated that a large number of current safety policies have played an important role in reducing those numbers. The majority of workplaces in Australia have realized the importance of health and safety policies at the workplace and adopted HRM practices that promote a safe work environment and other security standards (Sklad, 2019). As a result, current policies can be expected to be highly relevant for further developing workplace safety standards in the field of human resource management in the future.
Strategic HRM has proved to have a positive effect on organizational processes, improving the outcomes of the company’s work. Thus, theories on SHRM are one of the major aspects of the latest thinking approach on work health and safety that will remain relevant and important for future HRM in organizations. Theories such as transaction cost theory, human capital theory, behavior role theory, and resource-based theory provide valuable guidance and a sound foundation for future development (Wong & Chan, 2018). Researchers and managers can use these theories when analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of SHRM frameworks applied in their organizations, as well as specific effects and outcomes caused as a result of introducing these theories.
Research on work-related injuries and current safety policies is another factor that will be highly valuable to study for the managers of tomorrow. By analyzing the particular cases of companies’ behaviors in terms of workplace safety, HR managers will be able to identify the advantages and disadvantages of certain policies and strategic models (Potter et al., 2017). This will help to get closer and eventually achieve the main goal of most occupational health and safety systems, which is preventing all possible occupational hazards.
The role of government and political involvement in the issue of workplace health and safety will also play a significant role in the development of organizational HRM in the future. Governmental agencies, as well as the policies they implement and the standards they issue, are arguably the most influential actors since these efforts have the best potential for making a difference. Safe Work Australia is currently the most important national agency in the field of work health and safety. Its principles and goals are essential for the future development of HRM in organizations (Lingard & Wakegield, 2019). These principles and functions include informing the public about common occupational hazards and providing guidance on the measures to prevent work-related injuries. In addition, it is crucial to instruct employees on the steps to take if they or one of their co-workers is injured at work. Although future HRM systems might focus on preventative measures and strategies, policy-makers and managers should not forget about raising awareness and teaching employees to give first aid.
Understanding the connection and relevance of the latest approaches to workplace safety is essential because they can act as the foundation for developing better strategies. HRM systems are constantly changing, and new trends are predicted to be used in the near future (Lingard & Wakegield, 2019). These include digital technologies and artificial intelligence, which are expected to revolutionize the field of work health and safety. In spite of this, one of the critical goals of current management systems is to create the best possible prevention measures in all work settings. This can only be achieved by way of a thorough review of current working methods, as well as safety standards and policies.
References
Lingard, H., & Wakefield, R. (2019). Integrating work health and safety into construction project management. John Wiley & Sons.
Sklad, A. (2019). Assessing the impact of processes on the occupational safety and health management system’s effectiveness using the fuzzy cognitive maps approach. Safety Science, 117, 71-80. Web.
Potter, R. E., Dollard, M. F., Owen, M. S., O’Keeffe, V., Bailey, T., & Leka, S. (2017). Assessing a national work health and safety policy intervention using the psychosocial safety climate framework. Safety Science, 100, 91-102. Web.
Wong, K., & Chan, A. (2018). Emerging issues in occupational safety and health. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 15(12), 2897. Web.