Evaluation of an occupational health and safety management system performance measurement tool-II: scoring methods...

With the proliferation of occupational health and safety management systems (OHSMSs) in the 1990s, an assessment instrument was developed at the University of Michigan to measure a wide range of OHSMSs. Due to the range of systems it was designed to measure, the instrument is referred to as a universal assessment instrument (UAI). This article is part of a series of UAI-related articles and presents methods used in the UAI's initial field evaluation efforts. The UAI's measurement scale, case study methods, data management methods, and test site selection criteria are presented. Three test sites were selected from a pool of 15 that responded to a study solicitation. The case study methods, measurement scales, and data management system were found to be effective in performing the initial validation efforts. It is concluded that the qualitative methods used were effective in collecting the necessary information to further understand the complex nature of management system measurement. Companion articles address the actual evaluation assessment.