Is ownership the decisive factor in collaborations between occupational health services and client companies?

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Schmidt, Lisa^{a; b; *} | Sjöström, John^a | Antonsson, Ann-Beth^{a; b}

Affiliations: [a] IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, Stockholm, Sweden | [b] KTH Royal School of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden

Correspondence: [*] Address for correspondence: Lisa Schmidt, IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, Box 21060, 100 31 Stockholm, Sweden. Tel.: +46 10 788 65 28; Fax: +46 10 788 65 90; E-mail: lisa.schmidt@ivl.se.

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Swedish employers are required to use external resources such as Occupational Health Services (OHS providers) if their own knowledge of occupational health and safety is insufficient. Some large employers have their own in-house OHS units but it is more common to engage the services of an external provider. However, no studies have been carried out from a critical perspective regarding how ownership of the OHS provider is related to a successful collaboration with client companies. OBJECTIVES: This study explores the extent to which the six key factors for a successful collaboration are related to ownership and seeks to identify the challenges that the different models of ownership pose. METHODS: Interviews with 15 client companies and their OHS providers were conducted in order to identify key factors in achieving a successful collaboration with an OHS provider. This study utilizes existing data to identify challenges related to ownership. RESULTS: Two key factors were identified with challenges related to ownership of the OHS provider: The importance of having a long-term perspective when building a relationship; and ensuring that collaboration extends beyond the client’s HR Department to the various organisational levels of the company. CONCLUSIONS: Whatever form the ownership of an OHS provider may take, each comes with its own specific set of challenges that must be managed in order to achieve a successful collaboration with the client company.

Keywords: Ownership, occupational health services, occupational health and safety management, work environment

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-172498

Journal: Work, vol. 56, no. 2, pp. 309-318, 2017