Ergonomics and occupational health and safety: A cost-benefit analysis model

2012 ◽  
pp. 727-736
1995 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 105-124 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Holland ◽  
Jean Cross

This paper examines the application of the techniques of economic analysis to occupational health and safety regulations using occupational noise as an example. The paper explores the extent to which economic impact studies are practically feasible and useful in relation to occupational health and safety legislation. Six studies of the same regulatory change, from four countries were analysed. The results of these studies ranged from a strongly negative to a significantly positive net present value, depending on the assumptions made. The factor which had the greatest influence on these differences was the way in which benefits are costed. It is shown that in the field of Occupational Health and Safety, economic analysis does not produce a single valid net present value or benefit to cost ratio on which a decision to legislate can sensibly be based. However the analysis can, if properly directed provide useful information on factors which will enable organisations to optimise their response to the regulation and authorities to introduce regulations in a way which does not bear with unreasonable weight on specific sectors of the community.


Author(s):  
Sherry D. Ryan ◽  
Michael S. Gates

Researchers have attempted to augment the traditional cost/benefit analysis model used in the IT decision process. However, frequently social subsystem issues are inadequately considered. Survey data, collected from a U.S. sample of 200 executives, provides an empirical assessment of how these issues compare with other IT decision criteria given differing decision types. The social subsystem issues considered most important by decision makers are also identified and the manner by which they consider these issues is investigated.


2014 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret Simonson McNamee ◽  
Petra Andersson

Author(s):  
Sirous F. Yasseri ◽  
Peter Menhennett

A key principle for achieving Tolerable Risk under the UK Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) approach is the reduction of risks to “As Low As Reasonably Practicable” or ALARP. This principle is founded on the ideal of reducing risks to a point of diminishing returns where additional risk reduction would cost “disproportionally” more than the risk reduction benefit achieved. The HSE approach of estimating the degree of disproportionality between the cost and benefits associated with a potential risk reduction measure is a variation of the Cost Effectiveness approach to ALARP Evaluation. A probabilistic cost-benefit analysis method is outlined for evaluating design options and establishing whether the conditions of ALARP are met. This paper demonstrates the value of probabilistic cost-benefit analysis for the selection of a target safety level and also presents an example of its practical application by way of a case history.


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