Procurement and implementation processes for Occupational Health Services in Sweden.
Human resource manager
contract
occupational health and safety
management
purchase
work environment expertise
Journal
Work (Reading, Mass.)
ISSN: 1875-9270
Titre abrégé: Work
Pays: Netherlands
ID NLM: 9204382
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
2020
2020
Historique:
pubmed:
3
3
2020
medline:
22
10
2020
entrez:
3
3
2020
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
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. To investigate how contracts with OHS providers in Sweden are established and implemented. 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. 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. 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.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
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
OBJECTIVE
To investigate how contracts with OHS providers in Sweden are established and implemented.
METHODS
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
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
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.
Identifiants
pubmed: 32116279
pii: WOR203115
doi: 10.3233/WOR-203115
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM