Measuring Performance Flashcards
6 cards from real IOSH practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Measuring Performance flashcards as text
What is 'reactive monitoring' of health and safety?
Answer: Monitoring based on events that have already occurred, such as accident investigation, ill-health analysis, and complaint review
Reactive monitoring involves reviewing and learning from events that have already occurred — accidents, incidents, near misses, cases of ill health, complaints, and enforcement actions. It identifies what went wrong and why, so that corrective measures can be implemented.
How can near-miss reporting rates be used as a performance indicator?
Answer: An increasing near-miss reporting rate can indicate a positive safety culture where workers feel confident to report, enabling proactive risk reduction
A high or increasing near-miss reporting rate is generally a positive indicator — it suggests workers trust the system and are willing to report. This provides valuable data for proactive risk reduction. A low rate may indicate under-reporting due to fear, apathy or a blame culture.
What is a 'safety observation programme'?
Answer: A structured programme where trained observers watch work activities to identify safe and unsafe behaviours, providing feedback
A safety observation programme involves trained observers systematically watching work activities to identify both safe and unsafe behaviours. Observations are recorded, feedback is provided (usually immediately), and data is analysed to identify trends. It is a form of behavioural safety monitoring.
What is a 'Key Performance Indicator' (KPI) for health and safety?
Answer: A measurable value that demonstrates how effectively the organisation is achieving its health and safety objectives
A KPI is a measurable value used to evaluate the success of an organisation in meeting its health and safety objectives. KPIs should be SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) and include both leading and lagging measures.
What is the role of management review in safety performance measurement?
Answer: Regular review of safety performance data by management to identify trends, allocate resources, set objectives, and drive continuous improvement
Management review is a critical part of the PDCA cycle. Senior management should regularly review all safety performance data (leading and lagging indicators, audit results, investigation findings), identify trends and areas for improvement, allocate resources, and set objectives for continuous improvement.
What is the difference between 'quantitative' and 'qualitative' safety performance data?
Answer: Quantitative data uses numbers and statistics (accident rates, inspection scores); qualitative data uses descriptions and observations (culture surveys, worker feedback)
Quantitative data is numerical and can be measured objectively (accident frequencies, training percentages, inspection scores). Qualitative data is descriptive and captures perceptions, attitudes and observations (interview responses, survey feedback, observation notes). Both types are valuable for a complete picture.