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Abstract
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A review of the literature was undertaken to assess the evidence that the occupational safety and health professional improves the occupational safety and health performance of an organisation. Also assessed were the knowledge, skills and attributes of the occupational safety and health professional that might be linked with their effectiveness and that may vary depending on industry and organisational size.
Of the 58 articles retrieved during the literature search only two (2) studies were classified at level one on a hierarchy of evidence developed for the research. Both studies were conducted in the construction industry and both studies demonstrated the value of employing a suitably qualified in-house occupational safety and health professional, measured by reductions in fatality and injury rates. Two themes that emerged from the literature and which warrant further research are the importance of the line of report and the personal attributes of the occupational safety and health professional. It is suggested that knowledge without power and the ability to influence senior decision makers may negatively impact the occupational safety and health professional's ability to add value.
While there is evidence that the occupational safety and health professional has an important role to play in reducing fatality and injury rates, missing from the evidence is the role they play in reducing the rates of disease and ill-health. There is also a lack of evidence for the value proposition for the occupational safety and health professional in high risk industries other than construction.
Language: en |