Successful occupational safety and health work in Finland

摘要

Successful and effective occupational safety and health activities at an organization level have demanded persistent long-lasting work. Occupational health and safety work is daily work in co-operation with management and employees. Successful occupational health and safety work has decreased the number of occupational accidents, but also improved productivity and safety climate. The study method was interviews for experts in the field of occupational safety and health and interviews for organizations, which are active in occupational safety and health work. Interviews were done twice in 2000 and 2007. Except for two, the organizations were the same in both studies. Results from the first study show that many organizations have weaknesses both in organizing occupational health and safety activities and in safety attitudes. Update study shows that occupational health and safety work has become everyday work and it is not anymore separated from other management like quality management. Risk assessment has become routine and a systematic mode of action. Measurement and follow-up procedures are very important and interviewees see them as a central method to improve occupational health and safety. All in all, experts and representatives of organizations agreed on most safety and health issues handled. The main elements of a good occupational safety management system are a safety policy, defined obligations and responsibilities, risk assessment, measurement and follow-up as well as education and interaction. Effects of renewed Occupational Safety and Health Act and Occupational Health Care Act were slight, because organizations interviewed in the study already followed requirements of the renewed acts.