Employer Adoption of Voluntary Health and Safety Standards
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About the Study
In 2018, the Chief Evaluation Office (CEO) partnered with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and funded contractor Eastern Research Group, Inc (ERG) to conduct a study focused on the use of consensus standards for occupational safety and health management systems (Employer Adoption of Voluntary Health and Safety Standards). This systematic review aims to provide a clear understanding of the various voluntary, consensus-based Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems (OHSMS) standards, how they are developed and by whom, and the similarities and differences across them. The report also describes what kinds of employers choose to adopt the standards and become certified to them, and how many have done so.
This Department of Labor-funded study was a result of a result of the Department’s research priorities. It contributes to the labor evidence-base to inform Worker Protection, Labor Standards, and Workplace-Related Benefits programs and policies and addresses Departmental strategic goals and priorities.
- How do the various organizations that develop and promote voluntary consensus standards administer their accreditation systems? What are the strengths and weaknesses in their respective accreditation processes?
- What are the perceived benefits and costs associated with obtaining accreditation for safety and health management standard systems?
- What are the similarities and differences in safety and health management practices between OSHA standards used in enforcement and the most common systems that develop voluntary consensus standards? Can the nature and magnitude of the gaps and overlap between OSHA standards and voluntary consensus standards suggest potential advantages or concerns with respect to compliance?
- Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems: Processes for Development of National and International Voluntary Consensus Standards (Final Report, July 2023)
- Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems: System Certification and Accreditation (Knowledge Development Report, December 2021)
Project Duration: 53 months
Contract End Date: February 2023
Contractor: ERG
For More Information: ChiefEvaluationOffice@dol.gov
The Department of Labor’s (DOL) Chief Evaluation Office (CEO) sponsors independent evaluations and research, primarily conducted by external, third-party contractors in accordance with the Department of Labor Evaluation Policy and CEO’s research development process.