Economic Appraisal in Occupational Health and Safety Regulation: A Study of Some Standard Methods

Abstract

In Denmark, Parliament has decided that economic appraisal must be undertaken prior to the establishing of new standards for the working environment. The purpose of this survey of certain standard methods commonly used in economic appraisal is to investigate the usefulness and applicability of these methods in assisting a decision-maker to reach a rational decision when establishing these new standards. The conclusion is that the commonly used methods are, generally speaking, of no use. This is not to say that there may not exist some very particular circumstances in which they might yet apply. But this will not be the case generally. When undertaking economic appraisal is seems more reasonable to tackle the problem from the other end and start the investigation with the political objectives connected with the establishing of any proposed new standard, and then look at the degree to which the various standards can be expected to meet the political objectives.