Systematic literature review on the effects of occupational safety and health (OSH) interventions at the workplace
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this review was to assess the evidence that occupational safety and health (OSH) legislative and regulatory policy could improve the working environment in terms of reduced levels of industrial injuries and fatalities, musculoskeletal disorders, worker complaints, sick leave a...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nordic Association of Occupational Safety and Health (NOROSH)
2019-03-01
|
| Series: | Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: |
https://www.sjweh.fi/show_abstract.php?abstract_id=3775
|
| _version_ | 1818921349012258816 |
|---|---|
| author | Johan H Andersen Per Malmros Niels Erik Ebbehoej Esben Meulengracht Flachs Elizabeth Bengtsen Jens Peter Bonde |
| author_facet | Johan H Andersen Per Malmros Niels Erik Ebbehoej Esben Meulengracht Flachs Elizabeth Bengtsen Jens Peter Bonde |
| author_sort | Johan H Andersen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | OBJECTIVES: The aim of this review was to assess the evidence that occupational safety and health (OSH) legislative and regulatory policy could improve the working environment in terms of reduced levels of industrial injuries and fatalities, musculoskeletal disorders, worker complaints, sick leave and adverse occupational exposures. METHODS: A systematic literature review covering the years 1966‒2017 (February) was undertaken to capture both published and gray literature studies of OSH work environment interventions with quantitative measures of intervention effects. Studies that met specified in- and exclusion criteria went through an assessment of methodological quality. Included studies were grouped into five thematic domains: (i) introduction of OHS legislation, (ii) inspection/enforcement activity, (iii) training, such as improving knowledge, (iv), campaigns, and (v) introduction of technical device, such as mechanical lifting aids. The evidence synthesis was based on meta-analysis and a modified Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. RESULTS: The search for peer-reviewed literature identified 14 743 journal articles of which 45 fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were eligible for meta-analysis. We identified 5181 articles and reports in the gray literature, of which 16 were evaluated qualitatively. There was moderately strong evidence for improvement by OHS legislation and inspections with respect to injuries and compliance. CONCLUSIONS: This review indicates that legislative and regulatory policy may reduce injuries and fatalities and improve compliance with OHS regulation. A major research gap was identified with respect to the effects of OSH regulation targeting psychological and musculoskeletal disorders. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T01:36:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-68d9bf25377841358a6ec7e090d80f7d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0355-3140 1795-990X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T01:36:14Z |
| publishDate | 2019-03-01 |
| publisher | Nordic Association of Occupational Safety and Health (NOROSH) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-68d9bf25377841358a6ec7e090d80f7d2022-12-21T19:58:00ZengNordic Association of Occupational Safety and Health (NOROSH)Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health0355-31401795-990X2019-03-0145210311310.5271/sjweh.37753775Systematic literature review on the effects of occupational safety and health (OSH) interventions at the workplaceJohan H Andersen0Per MalmrosNiels Erik EbbehoejEsben Meulengracht FlachsElizabeth BengtsenJens Peter BondeJohan Hviid Andersen, Professor, Department of Occupational Medicine, Danish Ramazzini Centre, Regional Hospital West Jutland – University Clinic, Gl. Landevej 61, 7400 Herning, Denmark.OBJECTIVES: The aim of this review was to assess the evidence that occupational safety and health (OSH) legislative and regulatory policy could improve the working environment in terms of reduced levels of industrial injuries and fatalities, musculoskeletal disorders, worker complaints, sick leave and adverse occupational exposures. METHODS: A systematic literature review covering the years 1966‒2017 (February) was undertaken to capture both published and gray literature studies of OSH work environment interventions with quantitative measures of intervention effects. Studies that met specified in- and exclusion criteria went through an assessment of methodological quality. Included studies were grouped into five thematic domains: (i) introduction of OHS legislation, (ii) inspection/enforcement activity, (iii) training, such as improving knowledge, (iv), campaigns, and (v) introduction of technical device, such as mechanical lifting aids. The evidence synthesis was based on meta-analysis and a modified Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. RESULTS: The search for peer-reviewed literature identified 14 743 journal articles of which 45 fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were eligible for meta-analysis. We identified 5181 articles and reports in the gray literature, of which 16 were evaluated qualitatively. There was moderately strong evidence for improvement by OHS legislation and inspections with respect to injuries and compliance. CONCLUSIONS: This review indicates that legislative and regulatory policy may reduce injuries and fatalities and improve compliance with OHS regulation. A major research gap was identified with respect to the effects of OSH regulation targeting psychological and musculoskeletal disorders. https://www.sjweh.fi/show_abstract.php?abstract_id=3775 regulationcampaigntraininginterventionsystematic reviewoccupational safety and healthworkplace interventionoshsystematic literature reviewosh interventiongraderegulatory policylabor policylabor regulationlabor lawreviewlabor inspectionmeta-analysisintroduction of technical devices |
| spellingShingle | Johan H Andersen Per Malmros Niels Erik Ebbehoej Esben Meulengracht Flachs Elizabeth Bengtsen Jens Peter Bonde Systematic literature review on the effects of occupational safety and health (OSH) interventions at the workplace Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health regulation campaign training intervention systematic review occupational safety and health workplace intervention osh systematic literature review osh intervention grade regulatory policy labor policy labor regulation labor law review labor inspection meta-analysis introduction of technical devices |
| title | Systematic literature review on the effects of occupational safety and health (OSH) interventions at the workplace |
| title_full | Systematic literature review on the effects of occupational safety and health (OSH) interventions at the workplace |
| title_fullStr | Systematic literature review on the effects of occupational safety and health (OSH) interventions at the workplace |
| title_full_unstemmed | Systematic literature review on the effects of occupational safety and health (OSH) interventions at the workplace |
| title_short | Systematic literature review on the effects of occupational safety and health (OSH) interventions at the workplace |
| title_sort | systematic literature review on the effects of occupational safety and health osh interventions at the workplace |
| topic | regulation campaign training intervention systematic review occupational safety and health workplace intervention osh systematic literature review osh intervention grade regulatory policy labor policy labor regulation labor law review labor inspection meta-analysis introduction of technical devices |
| url |
https://www.sjweh.fi/show_abstract.php?abstract_id=3775
|
| work_keys_str_mv | AT johanhandersen systematicliteraturereviewontheeffectsofoccupationalsafetyandhealthoshinterventionsattheworkplace AT permalmros systematicliteraturereviewontheeffectsofoccupationalsafetyandhealthoshinterventionsattheworkplace AT nielserikebbehoej systematicliteraturereviewontheeffectsofoccupationalsafetyandhealthoshinterventionsattheworkplace AT esbenmeulengrachtflachs systematicliteraturereviewontheeffectsofoccupationalsafetyandhealthoshinterventionsattheworkplace AT elizabethbengtsen systematicliteraturereviewontheeffectsofoccupationalsafetyandhealthoshinterventionsattheworkplace AT jenspeterbonde systematicliteraturereviewontheeffectsofoccupationalsafetyandhealthoshinterventionsattheworkplace |