[Cost-benefit analysis--occupational health and safety]

Cost-benefit analysis (CBA) as an economic tool for evaluating activities undertaken in different branches of the national economy may be also used in the field of occupational health and safety at workplaces. A growing economic approach to all actions concerning the work performance and the work environment increases the interest in this kind of analysis, what is reflected by numerous international conferences and seminars. A supporting role of CBA in the decision-making processes compels the development of methodology and empirical verification of its assumptions. International studies aimed at elaborating uniform guidelines for cost-benefit analyses apply mostly to interventions for prevention of accidents at work, health promotion, rehabilitation of workers and occupational disease prevention.