Cost-benefit analysis of investment in occupational health and safety in Colombian companies
Riaño-Casallas, M.I.; Tompa, E.
American Journal of Industrial Medicine 61(11): 893-900
2018
ISSN/ISBN: 1097-0274 PMID: 30284313 DOI: 10.1002/ajim.22911Document Number: 379202
To determine whether investment in preventive measures by a Colombian insurer reduces rates of work-related injuries and results in positive returns from these investments. The study is based on monthly panel data of 2011-2015 of 303 medium and large companies affiliated with a private insurer in Colombia. We undertook regression modeling analysis to assess the effectiveness of incremental investments in occupational health and safety (OHS) prevention measures. The cost-benefit analysis is from the insurer's perspective. Investment in OHS per full-time equivalent was statistically significant at the 1% level. We estimated that 4919 injuries were averted through these investments, resulting in the avoidance of $3 949 957 in costs. Our results suggest that the investments were worth undertaking from the insurer's perspective. This paper provides new empirical evidence on the effectiveness and cost-benefit of OHS investments in a middle-income country. Incremental investment in OHS can be effective and cost-beneficial.