Developing the management standards approach within the context of common health problems in the workplace: a Delphi study

The primary objective of the research reported here is to provide evidence, arguments and recommendations in relation to the development of a more unified framework for the Health & Safety Executive’s programme on ‘Health, Work and Wellbeing’. Essentially, it is to answer the key question ‘can the Management Standards approach be used more widely to address the most common health problems at work?’ In order to answer this question, a better understanding of the current strengths and weaknesses of the Management Standards approach and its potential had to be developed. The identified information needs have been addressed using a Delphi methodology, framed by a focussed review of the relevant scientific and professional literatures, to elicit, harvest and explore expert knowledge in this area. The programme of work took six months to complete starting in March 2008 and finishing in September 2008. This report and the work it describes were funded by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Its contents, including any opinions and/or conclusions expressed, are those of the authors alone and do not necessarily reflect HSE policy.