Context | Workplace health information tracking and evaluation system (WHITE) developed within a bipartite healthcare agency for all health sector sites in a wealthy province, but site-specific OH departments poorly resourced. |
Labour relations volatile and unions relatively weak in this period. | |
With time, collaboration between system users (practitioners), management and system developers became weaker, with no systematic use by H&S committees. | |
Mechanism | Governance: Developed by a university researcher working with bipartite provincial agency, but no affiliation agreement between the agency and university partner; later the IS was transferred from the bipartite agency to employer-control, with no rights to access for researchers. |
Technology: Customized web-based software developed, using proprietary database technology. | |
Outcome | Decrease in injury rates and time loss due to injuries demonstrated; information has not been able to be sustainably used to improve workforce health, or initiatives such as vaccination programs, nor foster ongoing research. |
Conclusion | Useful to employers for ongoing claims management, |
Limited use of data either to promote bipartite collaboration for reducing workplace hazards or to support programs that require OH staff in place, or for ongoing high quality research. | |
Web-based system made it useful across entire province, including multiple workplaces, but expensive to maintain. | |
“Tool” for employers and regulators; | |
“Weapon” to busy OH practitioners who are stretched to their limit with no time for data entry, and possibly to workers concerned that the greater ‘efficiency’ in absenteeism control and time-loss reduction could hurt vulnerable workers in a climate of weaker job security. |