Acting an incentive for change, we have relied heavily on ever increasing fines and penalties for non performance including a further upgrading of punitive and compliance measures required under the new act.

I wonder, however, whether we are treating the symptom and not the cause.

To a certain extent, business reflects what is important in the communities in which they exist. We hear constantly from politicians, business groups, trade unions, media, investors etc on mainstream business issues such as industrial relations, environment, health and wellbeing (particularly obesity and diabetes), carbon tax, and mining tax and so on. The barrage of debate in public arenas and information on these issues is immense.

I read the papers and watch programs such Business Lateline, Q&A, 4 corners and others and find myself wondering whether we will ever see an entire program dedicated to the debate on Safety. Why are we so apathetic about an issue that does more damage than road trauma, yet we are continuously bombarded with messages about driving fatality rates, speed and drink driving?

If we want to change Director thinking, perhaps we need the community, through our politicians and media, to make more noise. The old saying applies, what interests my boss fascinates me. If politicians, shareholders, media and the community demand more, then maybe we would see greater momentum for change though business. I am not suggesting business is absolved from its obligation to provide a safe working environment, we need to keep that pressure on. But we should broaden our influence from just the boardroom to the wider community.

Maybe someone needs to say a great big Safety tax and then we might wake up from our slumber!! But that would be silly.