A Systematic Review of Occupational Health and Safety Business Cases

Workplace Health Saf. 2018 Feb;66(2):95-104. doi: 10.1177/2165079917730073. Epub 2017 Nov 9.

Abstract

Business cases are arguments developed to secure management commitment and approval for investment in an intervention. This systematic review evaluated 12 experimental and quasi-experimental studies on occupational health and safety interventions (OHSI) in various settings. The search engines used in this systematic review include PubMed, CINAHL, and Scopus. A cost and benefit analysis of OHSI was completed at the organizational level in these studies. The focus of this analysis included sample, design, theoretical framework, interventional strategies, and threats to validity and outcomes. Positive returns on investment of OHSI outcomes were shown in 10 of the studies. The other two studies concluded that their chosen OHSI were not cost-effective.

Keywords: business case; cost–benefit analysis; economic evaluation; occupational health and safety intervention; return on investment.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • Commerce / methods
  • Commerce / trends*
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis / standards
  • Health Promotion / methods
  • Health Promotion / trends
  • Humans
  • Investments / trends
  • Occupational Health / trends*