[Models of economic evaluation of health and safety interventions at workplace]

Abstract

Economic analyses and evaluation of the effect of workers' health on the national economy have begun to play a significant role in decision-making processes in terms of relations between health and safety in the work environment and the financial policy of enterprises. The economic dimension of consequences of occupational diseases and accidents at work is more frequently associated with the financial policy of enterprises understood as an element of costs involved. This gains particular significance when enterprises must maintain and improve economic effectiveness especially in the case of limited resources and permanent competition on the market. Therefore, the evaluation of economic interventions in the area of health and safety at workplace and its results are so important in the enterprise decision-making process. Several models of economic evaluation are used in assessing effectiveness of actions aimed at improving health and safety at workplace against a background of the overall economic situation of enterprises. The author presents the principles of six models, which have been used in the evaluation process. These models are based on information about costs of interventions/programs designed to reduce harmful effects of working conditions on workers' health and information concerning the results of individual ventures. They also take account of the influence of changes in working conditions on reduced sick absence, increased effectiveness of enterprises, production costs, and changes in productivity. The relationship between costs of intervention and its effects in financial terms based on cost-benefit analysis is the measure of effectiveness of health investments. The models presented show in practice a number of limitations, resulting mostly from the way the data are recorded in individual enterprises. Therefore, it is recommended that evaluation should be preceded by a precise definition of its aims, the range of the intervention and effects to be attained, which should provide the basis for defining the means and resources necessary for its implementation. This mainly applies to availability of data on costs and effects as well as to calculation methods, which can be used in view of collected numerical data.