Article Review: Employee Safety and Health
The article was titled, “The Effectiveness of Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSMS) Interventions: A Systematic Review” by Robson et al. The article investigates OHSMS-based guidelines, standards, and audits that have been developed and used for the past 20 years (Robson, et al, 2007). The study also investigates the economic outcomes of the various OHSMS. The researchers accomplished the purpose of the study; establishing whether the current guidelines, standards, and audits as established in various interventions and studies is satisfactory and applicable over public, private, and not-for-profit sectors.
In this study, the researchers managed to review the literature from eight bibliographic databases. They found out that thirteen articles met a set relevance criteria and one was termed to have a “high methodological quality” (Robson, e al, 2007). Although some literatures had some moderate limitations, the article concluded that the OHSMS literatures currently in place have a positive impact on employee health and safety (Robson, e al, 2007). The study had some null findings, but it did not have any negative findings. Although the study obtained positive results, it was not conclusive on the absolute suitability or unsuitability of the current OHSMSs. Some of the shortcomings of the study included the heterogeneity of the methods that were used as well as the small number of selected OHSMS and a relatively weak methodological quality (Robson et al., 2007). In spite of these shortcomings, the study offers employers a significant level of confidence to continue using the current OHSMS. The review also offers researchers on Health and Safety a chance to remedy their weak areas such as methodological quality and the generalizability of their findings. The development of clear standards against which employers and employees can evaluate themselves is essential. The articles showed a high degree of generalizability and it can find applications in the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors. Some countries such as Canada are developing management standards for occupational health and safety (Robson et al., 2007). As such, this study serves as a timely boost to such efforts.
The use of a systematic review uses explicit and through methods to identify, select, appraise, and synthesize a set of literature studies befits the weight of the study. The study was, therefore, less vulnerable to biases of single researchers. The study sifted through enormous literature to find studies that address several safety and health issues such as employee participation, OSH policies, performance measurements, OHSMS manual and procedures, management commitment and allocation of adequate resources. Other issues critical in the establishment of OHS standards are communication system, training system, preventive and corrective action system, continual integration, hazard control and evaluation system among others (Mahadevan, 2009). All these issues are pertinent to the establishment of effective occupational health and safety plans. While the study may not have been affirmative as to the reliance on the current OHSMS plans, it offers an insight into areas that need more refining such as the methodologies used in research.
In almost all countries, there exist bodies that look into the occupational health and safety of employees. The results of this study form a good basis for such bodies to borrow the best recommendations and practices in OHSMS. The study compares the studies to the standards set by the International labor Organization (ILO), the Chemical Industries Association, and the Central organization of Trade Unions (COTU) bodies among others. The study recommends the application of Legislations, the enforcement of the same and other proactive responses to health and safety of employees rather than passive and reactionary measures.
References
Robson, L., Clarke, J., Cullen, K., Bielecky, A., Severin, C., Bigelow, P., et al. (2007). The Effectiveness Of Occupational Health And Safety Management System Interventions: A Systematic Review.Safety Science, 45(3), 329-353.
Mahadevan, H. (2009). Employee participation in achieving industrial safety and health - Vision 2020. Indian Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine,13(2), 57.
