title: Development of an indirect-cost calculation model suitable for workplace use.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) stakeholders rarely factor the cost of workplace accidents into prevention spending decisions. The lack of consideration of this key information is related to the fact that the scientific literature has failed to provide OHS stakeholders with a cost-calculation tool that is both sufficiently accurate and does not require a data-collection stage ill-suited to the time constraints of workplace decision-makers.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study reviews the recent literature to identify key elements that should foster the use of indirect-cost calculation methods by decision makers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A "local" approach currently appears to be the best method for calculating indirect costs of workplace incidents or accidents in comparison to "bottom-up" or "top-down" approach. This paper discusses four criteria that this type of approach must satisfy to be compatible with the time constraints and accuracy demands of OHS stakeholders in organizations. In addition, four bases for the development of a new indirect cost estimation model are presented and discussed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  this study provides bases and criteria to help the development of indirect-cost calculation models better suited to workplace use than those currently available.
authors.affiliation: École Polytechnique de Montréal, Département de Mathématique et de génie industriel, C.P. 6079, Succ. Centre-Ville, Montréal, Quebec, Canada H3C 3A7. romain.jallon@polymtl.ca
authors.forename: Romain
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jallon
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Imbeau
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: de Marcellis-Warin
mesh_terms: D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis / Q000379:methods; D006804:Ergonomics; D006801:Humans; D016272:Occupational Health / Q000191:economics*; D011792:Quebec; D017132:Workplace