Sofia Åström Paulsson1, Lisa Schmidt2, Tomas Eriksson1, Teresia Nyman3, Marianne Parmsund4, Margareta Torgén1, Magnus Svartengren1. 1. Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. 2. IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute & KTH, School of Technology and Health, Stockholm, Sweden. 3. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden. 4. Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Stockholm, Sweden.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Employers are required to get expert advice whenever needed to ensure a safe work environment. Providers of Occupational Health Services (OHS) could be such experts, but their services are usually used to provide health-related support to individuals, not preventive Occupational Health and Safety Management (OHSM) or other group-focused interventions. OBJECTIVE: To investigate how contracts with OHS providers in Sweden are established and implemented. METHODS: Written OHS contracts were reviewed, and follow-up interviews were conducted with Human Resource (HR) managers, management, safety representatives, and OHS professionals in seven organizations. RESULTS: Generally, the HR departments drew up the contracts with the OHS providers. The contracts were not integrated with the companies' occupational health and safety management. Managers lacked knowledge on how to utilize services offered by their OHS provider. Terms and conditions of contracts were found to be inconsistent with services actually utilized. CONCLUSIONS: The procurement and implementation process promotes reactive rather than preventive interventions. Employers should include managers and safety representatives in procurement- and implementation processes and define relevant and measurable goals regarding the collaboration.
BACKGROUND: Employers are required to get expert advice whenever needed to ensure a safe work environment. Providers of Occupational Health Services (OHS) could be such experts, but their services are usually used to provide health-related support to individuals, not preventive Occupational Health and Safety Management (OHSM) or other group-focused interventions. OBJECTIVE: To investigate how contracts with OHS providers in Sweden are established and implemented. METHODS: Written OHS contracts were reviewed, and follow-up interviews were conducted with Human Resource (HR) managers, management, safety representatives, and OHS professionals in seven organizations. RESULTS: Generally, the HR departments drew up the contracts with the OHS providers. The contracts were not integrated with the companies' occupational health and safety management. Managers lacked knowledge on how to utilize services offered by their OHS provider. Terms and conditions of contracts were found to be inconsistent with services actually utilized. CONCLUSIONS: The procurement and implementation process promotes reactive rather than preventive interventions. Employers should include managers and safety representatives in procurement- and implementation processes and define relevant and measurable goals regarding the collaboration.
Entities:
Keywords:
Human resource manager; contract; occupational health and safety zzm321990management; purchase; work environment expertise
Authors: Fredrik Molin; Sofia Åström Paulsson; Therese Hellman; Magnus Svartengren Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-06-16 Impact factor: 3.390