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Tomczak MT, Ziemiański P. Autistic Employees' Technology-Based Workplace Accommodation Preferences Survey-Preliminary Findings. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:5773. [PMID: 37239501 PMCID: PMC10218232 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20105773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There has been an increase in the number of research studies focused on the design of accommodations aimed at improving the well-being and work performance of autistic employees. These accommodations took various forms; some of them were based on modification of management practices, for example, support in the area of effective communication, or involved modifications to the physical working environment aimed at limiting sensory vulnerabilities. Many of these solutions were based on digital technology. METHODS This quantitative research aimed to learn about the opinions of the autistic respondents as potential end users and their assessment of the proposed solutions within four main challenge areas: (1) effective communication; (2) time management, task prioritizing, and organization of work; (3) stress management and emotion control; and (4) sensory sensitivities. RESULTS Respondents gave the highest ratings to solutions aimed at limiting overstimulation and a flexible approach toward working time, support of a job coach, remote work, and support by allowing electronic-mediated communication based on non-direct contact. CONCLUSIONS The results can be the starting point for further research on the highest rated solutions dedicated to improving working conditions and the well-being of autistic employees and can be an inspiration for employers who plan to introduce such solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michał T. Tomczak
- Faculty of Management and Economics, Gdańsk University of Technology, 80-233 Gdańsk, Poland;
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Schulte PA, Delclos GL, Felknor SA, Streit JMK, McDaniel M, Chosewood LC, Newman LS, Bhojani FA, Pana-Cryan R, Swanson NG. Expanding the Focus of Occupational Safety and Health: Lessons from a Series of Linked Scientific Meetings. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:15381. [PMID: 36430096 PMCID: PMC9690540 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192215381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
There is widespread recognition that the world of work is changing, and agreement is growing that the occupational safety and health (OSH) field must change to contribute to the protection of workers now and in the future. Discourse on the evolution of OSH has been active for many decades, but formalized support of an expanded focus for OSH has greatly increased over the past 20 years. Development of approaches such as the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)'s Total Worker Health® concept and the World Health Organization (WHO)'s Healthy Workplace Framework are concrete examples of how OSH can incorporate a new focus with a wider view. In 2019, NIOSH initiated a multi-year effort to explore an expanded focus for OSH. This paper is a report on the outputs of a three-year cooperative agreement between NIOSH and The University of Texas School of Public Health, which led to subject matter expert workshops in 2020 and an international conference of global interest groups in 2021. This article traces the background of these meetings and identifies and assesses the lessons learned. It also reviews ten thematic topics that emerged from the meetings: worker health inequalities; training new OSH professionals; future OSH research and practice; tools to measure well-being of workers; psychosocial hazards and adverse mental health effects; skilling, upskilling and improving job quality; socioeconomic influences; climate change; COVID-19 pandemic influences; and strategic foresight. Cross-cutting these themes is the need for systems and transdisciplinary thinking and operationalization of the concept of well-being to prepare the OSH field for the work of the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul A. Schulte
- Advanced Technologies and Laboratories International, Inc., Gaithersburg, MD 20878, USA
| | - George L. Delclos
- Southwest Center for Occupational and Environmental Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Sarah A. Felknor
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA
| | - Jessica M. K. Streit
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH 45226, USA
| | - Michelle McDaniel
- Southwest Center for Occupational and Environmental Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - L. Casey Chosewood
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA
| | - Lee S. Newman
- Center for Health, Work & Environment and Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Colorado School of Public Health, CU Anschutz, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | | | - Rene Pana-Cryan
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Washington, DC 20024, USA
| | - Naomi G. Swanson
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH 45226, USA
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Cunningham TR, Guerin RJ, Ferguson J, Cavallari J. Work-related fatigue: A hazard for workers experiencing disproportionate occupational risks. Am J Ind Med 2022; 65:913-925. [PMID: 35088430 PMCID: PMC9325913 DOI: 10.1002/ajim.23325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Long working hours and fatigue are significant occupational safety and health (OSH) hazards for working populations who experience disproportionate risks of injury and illness. These groups include young or new workers, aging workers, contingent and temporary workers, immigrant and nonnative workers, female workers, minority workers, workers with low levels of education and lower socioeconomic status, and small business employees. An increasing focus on newer determinants of health in the workplace, such as health equity and work-life conflict, in worker populations at greater risk for injury or illness, provides an opportunity for researchers to address the causes and consequences of work-related fatigue in high-risk populations. METHODS Articles in the OSH literature that addressed fatigue in higher-risk workers were identified by the authors or recommended by subject matter experts in workplace fatigue as part of a Working Hours, Sleep and Fatigue Forum. Additional articles were identified by searching for a combination of specific at-risk worker group titles (e.g., female workers, temporary workers) with fatigue or working hours. RESULTS There remains a paucity of research specifically addressing working hours and fatigue among disproportionately at-risk worker populations. The literature reviewed in this paper suggests that several of these populations are at increased risk of fatigue due to multiple factors, such as irregular shifts, lack of access to fatigue management resources, and socioeconomic barriers. CONCLUSIONS More research is needed to identify solutions to address fatigue in working populations who may be at greater risk for its consequences by virtue of adverse socioeconomic and related factors. Interventions to address work-related fatigue in specific at-risk worker groups should also consider the multiple and overlapping categories of risk within these populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas R. Cunningham
- Division of Science Integration, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Heath, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Rebecca J. Guerin
- Division of Science Integration, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Heath, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Jacqueline Ferguson
- School of Public Health, Division of Environmental Health Science, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA,School of Medicine, Stanford Center for Population Health Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Jennifer Cavallari
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, Connecticut, USA
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Claxton G, Hosie P, Sharma P. Toward an effective occupational health and safety culture: A multiple stakeholder perspective. JOURNAL OF SAFETY RESEARCH 2022; 82:57-67. [PMID: 36031280 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsr.2022.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION This paper uses an extensive review of the safety culture literature to identify three key themes (a) role of new employees, (b) absence of a pro-active approach, and (c) need for a 'No-blame' culture, and explores their impact on the occupational health and safety culture (OHS). METHOD We use a qualitative study with a constructivist phenomenological approach consisting of 55 in-depth interviews with a diverse range of participants, including business owners, line managers and supervisors, OHS advisors, workers, and union representatives in Western Australia. A workplace vignette was used to elicit cultural norms derived from the participants' attitudes and beliefs, which were analyzed using NVivo software to conduct a thematic analysis to classify the interview text into specific concepts and phrases. RESULTS Findings confirm the three themes identified from our literature review and provide useful insights into the challenges faced by the participants in the implementation of safety policies. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Besides extending the occupational health and safety literature, these findings have important managerial implications in view of the evolving nature of work and workplaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Garry Claxton
- Piper Alderman, Allendale Square, Level 29/77, St Georges Terrace, Perth, WA 6000, Australia
| | - Peter Hosie
- Helix Management, 22 Clonmel Mews, Waterford, WA 6152, Australia
| | - Piyush Sharma
- School of Management and Marketing, Faculty of Business and Law, Curtin University, Bentley, WA 6102, Australia.
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Guerin R, Glasgow R, Tyler A, Rabin B, Huebschmann A. Methods to improve the translation of evidence-based interventions: A primer on dissemination and implementation science for occupational safety and health researchers and practitioners. SAFETY SCIENCE 2022; 152:105763. [PMID: 37854304 PMCID: PMC10583726 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssci.2022.105763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
Objective A limited focus on dissemination and implementation (D&I) science has hindered the uptake of evidence-based interventions (EBIs) that reduce workplace morbidity and mortality. D&I science methods can be used in the occupational safety and health (OSH) field to advance the adoption, implementation, and sustainment of EBIs for complex workplaces. These approaches should be responsive to contextual factors, including the needs of partners and beneficiaries (such as employers, employees, and intermediaries). Methods By synthesizing seminal literature and texts and leveraging our collective knowledge as D&I science and/or OSH researchers, we developed a D&I science primer for OSH. First, we provide an overview of common D&I terminology and concepts. Second, we describe several key and evolving issues in D&I science: balancing adaptation with intervention fidelity and specifying implementation outcomes and strategies. Next, we review D&I theories, models, and frameworks and offer examples for applying these to OSH research. We also discuss widely used D&I research designs, methods, and measures. Finally, we discuss future directions for D&I science application to OSH and provide resources for further exploration. Results We compiled a D&I science primer for OSH appropriate for practitioners and evaluators, especially those newer to the field. Conclusion This article fills a gap in the OSH research by providing an overview of D&I science to enhance understanding of key concepts, issues, models, designs, methods and measures for the translation into practice of effective OSH interventions to advance the safety, health and well-being of workers.
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Affiliation(s)
- R.J. Guerin
- Division of Science Integration, National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1090
Tusculum Ave., MS C-10, Cincinnati, OH 45226, USA
| | - R.E. Glasgow
- Dissemination and Implementation Science Program,
University of Colorado Adult and Child Center for Outcomes Research and Delivery
Science, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
- University of Colorado Department of Family Medicine,
Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - A. Tyler
- Dissemination and Implementation Science Program,
University of Colorado Adult and Child Center for Outcomes Research and Delivery
Science, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
- University of Colorado Department of Pediatrics, Section
of Hospital Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - B.A. Rabin
- Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human
Longevity Science, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- UC San Diego Altman Clinical and Translational Research
Institute Dissemination and Implementation Science Center, University of California
San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - A.G. Huebschmann
- Dissemination and Implementation Science Program,
University of Colorado Adult and Child Center for Outcomes Research and Delivery
Science, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
- University of Colorado Division of General Internal
Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
- University of Colorado Ludeman Family Center for
Women’s Health Research, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
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Roehl MT. Putting implementation into context: Exploring the influence of physical, social, and task contexts on the implementation of health promotion programs. GERMAN JOURNAL OF HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT-ZEITSCHRIFT FUR PERSONALFORSCHUNG 2022. [DOI: 10.1177/23970022221108117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this paper is to empirically examine the influence of organizational context on the implementation effectiveness of human resource management (HRM) practices with the aim of maintaining the health and well-being of employees, known as health promotion programs (HPPs). HPPs are a strategic function in HRM and play a crucial role in creating and maintaining human capital. Effective implementation is typically viewed as a critical prerequisite for the success of HPPs. By exploring the influence of organizational context on the implementation of HPPs, this paper offers a fresh approach to understanding HRM implementation in a relatively neglected area of research. To uncover contextual influences a multiple-case study in four German organizations operating in the chemical industry was conducted. Data was collected using a multi-method design consisting of an analysis of documents and 28 semi-structured interviews. The study is among the first to apply the categorical model of context by Johns to the investigation of the implementation of health promotion programs. The results contribute to a more nuanced view of HRM implementation by highlighting the interrelationships between contextual factors stemming from the physical, social, and task context and implementation fidelity. By providing initial empirical evidence of the mechanisms underlying this relationship, this study sheds light on the complexity and breadth of contextual influences during the implementation of HPPs and offers several theoretical and practical implications.
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Oakman J, Weale V, Kinsman N, Nguyen H, Stuckey R. Workplace physical and psychosocial hazards: A systematic review of evidence informed hazard identification tools. APPLIED ERGONOMICS 2022; 100:103614. [PMID: 34844149 DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2021.103614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Revised: 10/10/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Prevention of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) requires the identification of physical and psychosocial hazards. This systematic review aimed to identify accessible and validated tools, for the assessment of workplace physical and psychosocial hazards, and consolidate the results into a matrix for use by work health and safety (WHS) professionals. Web of Science, Medline, ProQuest Central, and PsychInfo electronic databases, along with grey literature, were searched (Jan 1990 to July 2020). Studies that included tools with evidence of validity for the identification of physical hazards, psychosocial hazards, or both were included. A total of 83 tools were identified and then reviewed to ensure the tools were accessible. The final matrix included a total of 26 tools (16 physical, 4 psychosocial, and 6 comprehensive [physical and psychosocial]). Evidence on best practice for MSD mitigation supports the need for a comprehensive approach; however, the current review identified limitations in the availability of such tools to support WHS professionals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jodi Oakman
- Centre for Ergonomics and Human Factors, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Kingsbury Drive, Bundoora, Victoria, 3086, Australia.
| | - Victoria Weale
- Centre for Ergonomics and Human Factors, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Kingsbury Drive, Bundoora, Victoria, 3086, Australia
| | - Natasha Kinsman
- Centre for Ergonomics and Human Factors, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Kingsbury Drive, Bundoora, Victoria, 3086, Australia
| | - Ha Nguyen
- Centre for Work Health and Safety, NSW, Australia
| | - Rwth Stuckey
- Centre for Ergonomics and Human Factors, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Kingsbury Drive, Bundoora, Victoria, 3086, Australia
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Russell DW, Russell CA, Lei Z. Development and testing of a tool to measure the organizational safety climate aboard US Navy ships. JOURNAL OF SAFETY RESEARCH 2022; 80:293-301. [PMID: 35249609 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsr.2021.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Revised: 07/25/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Safety climate is a critical human factor that can increase safety-related behaviors and reduce accidents. This research reports on a three-phase program of development and validation of a safety climate survey tool initiated by U.S. Naval Surface Forces after numerous accidents and near misses. METHOD The initial survey was administered to 4,042 sailors aboard 30 warships, and factor analysis supported a three-factor measure of a safety climate composed of operational compliance, positive work environment, and organizational resources. The predictive validity of the newly developed safety climate measure was tested against the number of accidents reported in the 12 months after the safety climate survey. RESULTS This analysis revealed that a positive work environment and operational compliance were linked to fewer accidents; surprisingly, organizational resources were linked to more accidents. Implications for future research on safety climate and occupational safety are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dale W Russell
- Department of Psychiatry, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, United States.
| | - Cristel Antonia Russell
- Pepperdine University, Graziadio Business School, 24255 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, CA, United States.
| | - Zhike Lei
- Pepperdine University, Graziadio Business School, 24255 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, CA, United States.
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Dissemination and Implementation Science Approaches for Occupational Safety and Health Research: Implications for Advancing Total Worker Health. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph182111050. [PMID: 34769573 PMCID: PMC8583149 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182111050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2021] [Revised: 10/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Total Worker Health® (TWH), an initiative of the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, is defined as policies, programs, and practices that integrate protection from work-related health and safety hazards by promoting efforts that advance worker well-being. Interventions that apply the TWH paradigm improve workplace health more rapidly than wellness programs alone. Evidence of the barriers and facilitators to the adoption, implementation, and long-term maintenance of TWH programs is limited. Dissemination and implementation (D&I) science, the study of methods and strategies for bridging the gap between public health research and practice, can help address these system-, setting-, and worker-level factors to increase the uptake, impact, and sustainment of TWH activities. The purpose of this paper is to draw upon a synthesis of existing D&I science literature to provide TWH researchers and practitioners with: (1) an overview of D&I science; (2) a plain language explanation of key concepts in D&I science; (3) a case study example of moving a TWH intervention down the research-to-practice pipeline; and (4) a discussion of future opportunities for conducting D&I science in complex and dynamic workplace settings to increase worker safety, health, and well-being.
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An Exploratory, Qualitative Study of How Organizations Implement the Hierarchy of Controls Applied to Total Worker Health®. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph181910032. [PMID: 34639334 PMCID: PMC8508424 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph181910032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Revised: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Understanding of how Total Worker Health® (TWH) guidelines are implemented in employment organizations in the USA is not well understood. The purpose of this study is to explore how the principles of the Hierarchy of Controls Applied to NIOSH Total Worker Health (TWH HoC), have been implemented among organizations featured as Promising Practices for TWH between 2012–2019, with special focus on the work-related issues of fatigue, stress, sedentary work, and tobacco control. We also sought to identify benefits, obstacles, and lessons learned in the implementation of the TWH HoC. Eighteen organizations were identified to be included in the study. Using a qualitative cross-sectional design and purposive sampling, seven in-depth interviews were conducted with thirteen key informants. The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research was used to guide the thematic analysis and interpretation of qualitative data. Four themes identified include recognition of the TWH approach and TWH HoC, implementation of the TWH HoC, barriers and facilitators in addressing specific work-related issues, and implementation climate primes benefits, obstacles, and lessons learned. The inner setting (i.e., culture, implementation climate, readiness for implementation) of organizations was a prominent determinant of the implementation of integrated worker safety, health, and well-being interventions.
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Sousa SRDO, Melchior C, Da Silva WV, Zanini RR, Su Z, da Veiga CP. Show you the money – firms investing in worker safety have better financial performance: insights from a mapping review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF WORKPLACE HEALTH MANAGEMENT 2021. [DOI: 10.1108/ijwhm-11-2020-0200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
PurposeThis study aims to (1) investigate the association between companies' investment in occupational safety and their financial performance and (2) discuss the importance of occupational safety to overall performance.Design/methodology/approachOccupational safety is often considered to be a practice that can yield suboptimal return on investment. However, it is not known whether this belief is substantiated by evidence. A mapping review of the eligible research literature (N = 36) regarding firms' investment in occupational safety and their financial performance, published between 1945 and2018, was carried out in the Web of Science database.FindingsBy dispelling myths regarding return on investment associated with occupational safety, the findings of this study underscore financial gains firms can obtain by promoting occupational safety measures in their organizations.Originality/valueThese issues are important because they can help policymakers understand the pressures companies face in terms of occupational safety and financial performance sustainability.
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