A comparative analysis of Inspector responses to complaints about psychosocial and physical hazards

• 成果类型: Article; Early Access
• 署名作者: Popple, Sam; Way, Kirsten; Johnstone, Richard; Croucher, Richard; Miller, Peta
• 署名单位: University of Queensland; Queensland University of Technology (QUT); Middlesex University
• 刊物名称: REGULATION & GOVERNANCE
• ISSN/ISSBN: 1748-5983
• DOI: 10.1111/rego.12447
• 发表日期: 2021
• 关键词: risk-factors; MENTAL-ILLNESS; WORK DESIGN; HEALTH; stigma; ENFORCEMENT; job

摘要

Work Health and Safety Inspectors are at the forefront of efforts to protect workers from harm from psychosocial hazards, yet the application of regulatory theory to their practice has been limited. Drawing on models of responsive regulation and strategic enforcement, we analyze extensive (N = 46,348) complaint and incident notification data from an Australian Work Health and Safety Inspectorate, to compare Inspectors' responses to psychosocial versus non-psychosocial hazards. We found psychosocial hazards were less likely to be actioned than non-psychosocial hazards. When they were actioned, psychosocial hazards saw more Inspector activity, but fewer enforcement notices than non-psychosocial hazards. These findings are inconsistent with the version of responsive regulation espoused by the regulator. Our theoretical conclusion is that Weil's strategic enforcement approach is likely to offer greater possibilities for guiding future resource allocation.