Factors that influence the maintenance and improvement of OHSAS 18001 in adopting companies: A qualitative study

Many organizations are adapting to the requirements of occupational health and safety management
systems worldwide. Despite the considerable acceptance of the systems for managing occupational
health and safety in organizations, there is still no clear consensus on their effectiveness. The present
study aimed to identify potential areas for improvements based on the experience and perception of the
managers who worked in companies that are adopting the occupational health and safety assessment
series 18001 standard in Iran. Sixteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with the managers. A
qualitative study design using a grounded theory approach was used to analyze the gathered data. Eleven
categories emerged to explain the influencing factors that hinder or facilitate the effectiveness of the
standard in the companies: (1) management commitment; (2) safety communication; (3) employee
involvement; (4) integration; (5) training; (6) safety culture; (7) internal incentives; (8) enforcement; (9)
occupational health and safety authority' support, (10) auditing, and (11) external incentives. Moreover, a
conceptual model was developed based on the categories. The commitment of the senior managers to
safety and their support of the system in practice can facilitate the improvement of the adaptation to the
standard in the companies. Conducting efforts to train employees about occupational health and safety
and to involve them in the practices required by the standard can help the companies in creating a
positive safety culture. The development of a new inspection program with more enforcement on
occupational health and safety legislation by the authorities would help the companies to adopt the
requirements of the legislation. The application of an enforced policy by accreditation bodies to check the
third-party auditing process could also increase the quality of auditing and help to improve the effec
tiveness of their systems to achieve a better occupational health and safety performance