Table 7 Power-relations checklist for implementing occupational health information systems (IS)

MICRO: WITHIN THE WORKPLACE OHS DEPARTMENT –

WHO MIGHT BENEFIT OR FEEL THREATENED BY THE IS?

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Will only specific occupational health practitioners enter data and access system? Or all? If only some, is there good consensus on this amongst the OHS personnel?

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What will be the impact on staff workload? Is staffing adequate?

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Are personnel adequately trained to capture data correctly?

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Will health and safety representatives be able to access any aspects of the system?

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If so, are they trained adequately?

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Are all appropriate personnel trained to interpret and act on the data?

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Who will receive aggregated reports?

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How often will aggregated reports be generated? Who will write commentaries?

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Is the local technology adequate – (i. e. computers, bandwidth, etc. )?

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Have policies and procedure been written to guide system use, confidentiality of data, and access to reports?

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Is there a communications plan established between system implementers and the workplace staff who will use the system?

MESO: WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION

WHO MIGHT BENEFIT OR FEEL THREATENED BY TH IS?

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Have the unions or worker representatives been adequately consulted about the introduction of such a system?

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Were frontline managers adequately consulted about the introduction of such a system?

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Was the information technology department of the workplace adequately involved?

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Did all the appropriate workplace parties have input to the design, policies and procedures regarding use of the system?

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Are all the workplace parties throughout the organization aware of how they might benefit from the system?

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Are there clear channels of communication between units within the organization to ensure equity and foster shared involvement/ownership?

MACRO: BEYOND THE ORGANIZATION

WHO MIGHT BENEFIT OR FEEL THREATENED BY THE IS?

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Who designed the system? If the design occurred out of the jurisdiction where the IS is being implemented, were local stakeholders adequately involved in adaptations?

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Is the governance of system use and financing clear?

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Who governs the maintenance, upgrade, or system design modifications?

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How is the maintenance and upgrade of the IS being financed? Are the financial benefits fair?

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Are the terms and conditions sustainable even if the current decision-makers and/or technical personnel all change?

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What aspects of the local, regional, national or international political climate may impact the system? If a less worker-friendly government come in, will this impact system use?

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If financial issues and governance involve multi-scalar (i. e. hospital- province/state –national-international) cooperation, what other political issues may arise and how can these be managed?