Procurement and implementation processes for Occupational Health Services in Sweden

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health and Safety Management (OHSM)
• Health Services Administration

Background:

• Employers require expert advice for workplace safety.
• Occupational Health Services (OHS) providers offer expertise but are typically used for individual health support, not preventive group-focused interventions.
• Current practices often neglect preventive Occupational Health and Safety Management (OHSM).

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the establishment and implementation of contracts with OHS providers in Sweden.
• To understand how OHS services are procured and utilized by organizations.

Main Methods:

• Review of written OHS contracts.
• Follow-up interviews with HR managers, management, safety representatives, and OHS professionals.
• Study conducted across seven organizations.

Main Results:

• HR departments predominantly drafted OHS contracts.
• Contracts were not integrated with existing OHSM systems.
• Managers demonstrated limited knowledge of OHS provider services.
• Contract terms often mismatched actual service utilization.

Conclusions:

• The current procurement and implementation processes favor reactive interventions over preventive strategies.
• Employers should involve managers and safety representatives in procurement and implementation.
• Defining relevant, measurable goals is crucial for effective OHS collaboration.