Economic evaluation of interventions for occupational health and safety : developing good practice ; [the workshop, which was entitled 'Developing Good Practice in the Economic Evaluation of Workplace Interventions for Health and Safety', was held in Toro

Undertaking economic evaluations of workplace-based occupational health and safety interventions can be difficult, reflected by the significant lack of literature, evidence and guidance on the subject. Particular difficulties include: complex labour legislation; differences in the perception of health risks associated with work experiences amongst workplace parties and policy makers; the burden of costs and consequences being borne by different stakeholders in the system; conflicting incentives and priorities between the multiple stakeholders; lack of consensus about what ought to count as a benefit or cost of intervening or not intervening; multiple providers of indemnity and medical care coverage; and industry-specific human resources practices making it difficult to identify all work-related illnesses and injuries. In addition, most health economics methods books are designed for use in a clinical setting, which cannot be adapted for the workplace setting. In the face of such barriers, it is not surprising that few studies of occupational health and safety interventions contain an economic evaluation. This book aims to lay the foundations for a systematic methodology of economic evaluation of workplace interventions, by identifying the main barriers to research of high quality and practical relevance, and proposing a research strategy to remedy these weaknesses. Context chapters provide a wealth of background material ranging from a presentation of the broad conceptualization of work and health, to suggestions for strategies in confronting the dearth of data often experienced by occupational health and safety researchers. They take into account the varying institutional and regulatory approaches in different international jurisdictions. Specific topic chapters delve into the principles and application of economic evaluation methods relevant to this setting: study design, type of analysis, costs, consequences This Book Aims To Lay The Foundations For A Systematic Methodology Of Economic Evaluation Of Occupational Health And Safety Interventions By Identifying The Main Barriers To Research Of High Quality And Practical Relevance, And Proposing A Research Strategy To Overcome Them. Context Chapters Provide A Wealth Of Background Material Ranging From A Presentation Of The Broad Conceptualization Of Work And Health, To Suggestions For Strategies On How To Confront The Dearth Of Data Often Experienced By Occupational Health And Safety Researchers. The Institutional And Regulatory Approaches In Different International Jurisdictions Are Covered In One Of The Context Chapters. Specific Topic Chapters Delve Into The Principles And Application Of Economic Evaluation Methods Relevant To Workplace And System Level Interventions. Study Design, Type Of Analysis, Costs, Consequences, Uncertainty, And Equity Are All Covered, Providing Guidance On Meeting Many Analytical And Decision-making Challenges. The Final Chapter Synthesizes The Summaries, Conclusions, Challenges, And Recommendations From Across The Book, Presenting The Synthesis As A Reference Case. This Book Is Essential Reading For Researchers, Practitioners, Policy Makers, And Both Educators And Students Involved In Occupational Health And Safety, Public Health, Health Promotion, And Health Economics.--jacket. The Broad Conceptualization Of Work And Health / Cameron Mustard -- What Is A Little More Health And Safety Worth? / Anthony J. Culyer, Benjamin C. Amick Iii, And Audrey Laporte -- A Critical Review Of The Application Of Economic Evaluation Methodologies In Occupational Health And Safety / Emile Tompa [and Others] -- Lessons From Health Technology Assessment / Anthony J. Culyer And Mark Schulpher -- Lessons From The Literature On Valuing Reductions In Physical Risk / Richard Cookson And Peter Dorman -- The Institutional And Regulatory Settings For Occupational Health And Safety : An International Survey / Ulrike Hotopp [and Others] -- Workplace-researcher Relationship : Early Research Strategy And Avoiding The 'data Dearth' / Benjamin C. Amick Iii, Phil Bigelow, And Donald C. Cole -- Study Design / William Gnam, Lynda Robson, And Thomas Kohstall -- Kind Of Analysis And Decision Rule / Jeffrey S. Hoch And Carolyn S. Dewa -- Costs / Audrey Laporte, Roman Dolinschi, And Emile Tompa -- Consequences / Emile Tompa, Roman Dolinschi, And Claire De Oliveira -- Adjusting For Time Preference And Addressing Uncertainty / William Gnam, Michel Grignon, And Roman Dolinschi -- Equity / Anthony J. Culyer And Emile Tompa -- Suggestions For A Reference Case / Emile Tompa, Anthony J. Culyer, And Roman Dolinschi. Edited By Emile Tompa, Anthony J. Culyer, Roman Dolinschi. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [267]-282) And Indexes. Undertaking economic evaluations of occupational health and safety interventions can be difficult for a number of reasons. This is reflected by the significant lack of evidence on their cost-effectiveness. Particular challenges include: complex labour legislation, differences in the perception of health risks associated with work experiences amongst workplace parties and policy makers, costs and consequences being borne by different stakeholders in the system, conflicting incentives and priorities between the multiple stakeholders, lack of consensus about what ought to count as a benefit or cost of intervening or not intervening, multiple providers of indemnity and medical care coverage, and industry-specific human resources practices that make it difficult to identify all work-related illnesses and injuries. Advancement of the application of economic evaluation methods in this literature is further hindered by the fact that most methods books are designed for use in a clinical setting and cannot be easily applied to the workplaces. In the face of such barriers, it is not surprising that few studies of occupational health and safety interventions contain an economic evaluation. This book aims to lay the foundations for a systematic methodology of economic evaluation of workplace interventions, by identifying the main barriers to research of high quality and practical relevance, and proposing a research strategy to overcome them. Context chapters provide a wealth of background material ranging from a presentation of the broad conceptualization of work and health, to suggestions for strategies in confronting the dearth of data often experienced by occupational health and safety researchers. The institutional and regulatory approaches in different international jurisdictions are covered in one of the context chapters. Specific topic chapters delve into the principles and application of economic evaluation methods relevant to workplaces and system level interventions. Study design, type of analysis, costs, consequences, uncertainty, and equity are all covered, providing guidance on meeting many analytical and decision-making challenges. The final chapter synthesizes the summaries, conclusions, challenges and recommendations from across the book, presenting the synthesis as a reference case. Contents 12 Preface 6 Acknowledgements 10 Abbreviations 14 Contributors 16 Part 1 Scene setting and context 18 1 The broad conceptualization of work and health 20 2 What is a little more health and safety worth? 32 3 A critical review of the application of economic evaluation methodologies in occupational health and safety 54 4 Lessons from health technology assessment 68 5 Lessons from the literature on valuing reductions in physical risk 88 6 The institutional and regulatory settings for occupational health and safety: an international survey 110 7 Workplace-researcher relationship: early research strategy and avoiding the ‘data dearth’ 134 Part 2 Specific topics 150 8 Study design 152 9 Kind of analysis and decision rule 164 10 Costs 182 11 Consequences 196 12 Adjusting for time preference and addressing uncertainty 218 13 Equity 232 Part 3 Conclusions 250 14 Suggestions for a reference case 252 Glossary 262 A 262 B 263 C 264 D 267 E 268 F 270 G 271 H 271 I 272 L 273 M 274 N 275 O 276 P 276 Q 278 R 278 S 279 T 281 U 282 V 282 W 283 Bibliography 284 Author index 300 A 300 B 300 C 300 D 300 E 300 F 300 G 300 H 301 J 301 K 301 L 301 M 301 N 301 O 302 P 302 Q 302 R 302 S 302 T 302 V 302 W 302 Y 302 Z 302 Subject index 304 A 304 B 304 C 304 D 306 E 306 F 307 G 307 H 307 I 307 J 308 L 308 M 308 N 308 O 308 P 309 Q 309 R 309 S 310 T 310 U 310 V 311 W 311 Y 312 This book lays the foundations for a systematic methodology of economic evaluation of occupational health and safety interventions, by identifying the main barriers to research of high quality and practical relevance, and proposing a research strategy to remedy these weaknesses.