title: Analysis of third-party certification approaches using an occupational health and safety conformity-assessment model.
abstract: The occupational health and safety conformity-assessment model presented in this article was developed (1) to analyze 22 public and private programs to determine the extent to which these programs use third parties in conformity-assessment determinations, and (2) to establish a framework to guide future policy developments related to the use of third parties in occupational health and safety conformity-assessment activities. The units of analysis for this study included select Occupational Safety and Health Administration programs and standards, International Organization for Standardization-based standards and guidelines, and standards and guidelines developed by nongovernmental bodies. The model is based on a 15-cell matrix that categorizes first-, second-, and third-party activities in terms of assessment, accreditation, and accreditation-recognition activities. The third-party component of the model has three categories: industrial hygiene/safety testing and sampling; product, equipment, and laboratory certification; and, occupational health and safety management system registration/certification. Using the model, 16 of the 22 programs were found to have a third-party component in their conformity-assessment structure. The analysis revealed that (1) the model provides a useful means to describe and analyze various third-party approaches, (2) the model needs modification to capture aspects of traditional governmental conformity-assessment/enforcement activities, and (3) several existing third-party conformity-assessment systems offer robust models that can guide future third-party policy formulation and implementation activities.
authors.affiliation: Erb Environmental Management Institute, World Health Organization Collaborating Center, Ann Arbor, Mich., USA. redinger@jps.net
authors.forename: C F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Redinger
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Levine
mesh_terms: D000068:Accreditation / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003284:Contract Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005161:Facility Regulation and Control / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D017146:Models, Organizational; D014481:United States; D014489:United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration