System Dynamics Modelling of Occupational Safety: A Case Study Approach’ Unpublished Doctoral Dissertation

Occupational safety is a complex phenomenon. If occupational safety management is to be successful, not only the systematic but also the systemic aspects of safety need to be understood. System dynamics modelling appears to be an appropriate methodology for exploring the array of occupational safety strategies open to employers. Many system dynamics models of industrial systems have been built entirely for specific host firms. This paper illustrates an alternative approach. The process of developing a generic system dynamics model of occupational safety and testing it in an industrial setting is outlined. Particular emphasis is placed on building confidence in the model through the use of a rigorous set of structural, behavioural and policy tests. The findings of discussions with senior managers and other workforce employees are summarised. This discourse demonstrated that the model had both empirical validity and pedagogic utility. The outcome of this study is a robust system dynamics model. This model should have the capacity to be parameterised for any workplace in order to aid learning and policy making in the domain of occupational safety