A systematic review of occupational health and safety interventions with economic analyses

Emile Tompa, Roman Dolinschi, Claire de Oliveira, Emma Irvin

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: We reviewed the occupational health and safety intervention literature to synthesize evidence on financial merits of such interventions.

METHODS: A literature search included journal databases, existing systematic reviews, and studies identified by content experts. Studies meeting inclusion criteria were assessed for quality. Evidence was synthesized within industry-intervention type clusters.

RESULTS: We found strong evidence that ergonomic and other musculoskeletal injury prevention interventions in manufacturing and warehousing are worth undertaking in terms of their financial merits. We also found strong evidence that multisector disability management interventions are worth undertaking.

CONCLUSIONS: While the economic evaluation of interventions in this literature warrants further expansion, we found a sufficient number of studies to identify strong, moderate, and limited evidence in certain industry-intervention clusters. The review also provided insights into how the methodological quality of economic evaluations in this literature could be improved.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1004-23
Number of pages20
JournalJournal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
Volume51
Issue number9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2009

Keywords

  • Accidents, Occupational/economics
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis
  • Female
  • Health Promotion
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Occupational Diseases/economics
  • Occupational Health
  • Occupational Health Services/economics
  • Ontario
  • Primary Prevention/organization & administration
  • Safety Management

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