A systematic review of occupational health and safety interventions with economic analyses.
OBJECTIVE
We reviewed the occupational health and safety intervention literature to synthesize evidence on financial merits of such interventions.


METHODS
A literature search included journal databases, existing systematic reviews, and studies identified by content experts. Studies meeting inclusion criteria were assessed for quality. Evidence was synthesized within industry-intervention type clusters.


RESULTS
We found strong evidence that ergonomic and other musculoskeletal injury prevention interventions in manufacturing and warehousing are worth undertaking in terms of their financial merits. We also found strong evidence that multisector disability management interventions are worth undertaking.


CONCLUSIONS
While the economic evaluation of interventions in this literature warrants further expansion, we found a sufficient number of studies to identify strong, moderate, and limited evidence in certain industry-intervention clusters. The review also provided insights into how the methodological quality of economic evaluations in this literature could be improved.
Tompa
Emile
E
Institute for Work & Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 2E9. etompa@iwh.on.ca
Dolinschi
Roman
R
de Oliveira
Claire
C
Irvin
Emma
E
D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000191:economics* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016272:Occupational Health; D009786:Occupational Health Services / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009864:Ontario; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000458:organization & administration; D017751:Safety Management