Determining the Optimal Economic Evaluation Model in Occupational Safety and Health Investments

Abstract

Background and Objective: Investment in health and safety has long been considered costly and inevitable, and the cost has been always a barrier to the achievement of safety and health interventions. Decision-makers in this area need to demonstrate that such interventions are not only effective in the obtainment of their goals but also have high economic efficiency. The present study aimed to determine an optimal model for the economic evaluation of occupational safety and health investments. Materials and Methods: The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method and Expert Choice® software were used to determine the optimal model. To this end, the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) economic evaluation models were initially identified based on a review of previous studies. Thereafter, considering seven main criteria, the models were evaluated and the optimal model was introduced. Results: A number of 20 models/tools were identified after literature review and screening of the findings. Firstly, the specifications of models were extracted and compared using a decision matrix; thereafter, four models were identified for prioritization with AHP. The accuracy and precision with a final weight of 0.490 and the comprehensiveness with a final weight of 0.076 were the most and least important criteria, respectively. After prioritizing the alternatives over the target, the ROHSEI model, ToolKit method, Productivity Assessment tool, and Potential Method weighed 0.320, 0.281, 0.240, and 0.159, respectively. Conclusion: As evidenced by the obtained results, HSE experts can use the ROHSEI model to demonstrate the financial incentives for their goals, allocate limited resources, and improve the economic efficiency of their projects

Keywords

• accident cost
• ahp
• economic evaluation
• safety economic