Summary
Analysis of a large international heavy machinery supplier’s safety record demonstrated that candidates identified as ‘high risk’ on a 10 minute online work safety assessment were responsible for nearly 300 paid leave days and work cover claims costing over $100,000.
Business Problem
Some hiring managers in this company were sceptical about the validity of the Onetest Work Safety Assessment (OWSA). Some "high risk‟ candidates were hired, contrary to senior management expectations and Onetest recommendations.
Impact Study
Three years after the introduction of Onetest Work Safety Assessment, an impact study of 1,243 employees was commissioned to determine how effectively the assessment predicted safety incidents.
Employees were categorised into two groups based on their scores in the OWSA:
- High Risk – safety scores below the 20th percentile
- Low Risk –safety scores equal to or above the 20th percentile.
This study clearly demonstrated that the 81 ‘high risk’ employees:
- Received average work cover payments of $1,643, over 4 times higher than ‘low risk’
- Received an average of 4.38 paid leave days (as a result of workplace accident or injury), over 6 times more than ‘low risk’.
Business Implications
Had this organisation not employed the 81 people identified as ‘high risk’, they would have saved $101,620 on work cover claims and nearly 300 paid leave days. This would have significantly improved the company’s profitability.
These clear findings resulted in the establishment of new hiring policies and procedures requiring candidates who score in the bottom 20% on this assessment to be excluded from the selection process.
Read more about the Onetest Work Safety Assessment or request more information.