Economic Evaluation of Occupational Safety and Health Interventions From the Employer Perspective: A Systematic Review

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of occupational safety and health interventions from the employer perspective. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search (2005 to 2016) in five electronic databases was conducted. Pre-2005 studies were identified from the reference lists of previous studies and systematic reviews, which have similar objective to those of this search. RESULTS: A total of 19 randomized controlled trials and quasi-experimental studies were included, targeting diverse health problems in a number of settings. Few studies included organizational-level interventions. When viewed in relation to the methodological quality and the sufficiency of economic evidence, five of 11 cost-effective occupational safety and health (OSH) interventions appear to be promising. CONCLUSION: The present systematic review highlights the need for high-quality economic evidence to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of OSH interventions, especially at organizational-level, in all areas of worker health.