Investigation into qualitative discourses of the occupational safety and health inspectors in order to promote enforcement

Abstract

The aim of this study is to conduct an ex-post evaluation of the OSH Enforcement Act. The focus of the study was to collate the views of occupational safety and health (OSH) inspectors on how the OSH Enforcement Act and the practices of the governmental OSH inspectorate operate from an effectiveness perspective. The questionnaire included open questions addressed to OSH inspectors. The results indicated that there is a tension between the quantitative performance targets, e.g., the number of inspections and the effectiveness of the practical enforcement work. Harmonizing the enforcement practices should be implemented at two levels: OSH local agencies and individual inspectors. OSH inspectors believe that developing the professional skills of OSH inspectors and the monitoring of OSH management systems are important ways of promoting the effectiveness of OSH enforcement.

Keywords:

• enforcement
• inspection
• legislation
• effects
• administration
• safety
• health

Acknowledgements

The author is grateful to Riikka Ruotsala, Hanna Uusitalo, Jorma Lappalainen, Päivi Piispanen and Tarja Mäkelä in the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health for help with the questionnaire. The author is very grateful for the suggestions of the two anonymous referees for the important comments they provided which improved the quality of the article.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.