Background: Labour inspectors play a central role at the interface between workplace and institutional occupational safety. As an essential component of occupational safety and health systems worldwide, they monitor compliance with legal regulations and thus experience the transformation of work at first hand. At the same time, they themselves are affected by the changing world of work in the course of their duties. A comprehensive literature review highlights high work intensity and demanding social interactions with company representatives. In parallel, digitalisation is driving the use of technology in labour authorities. However, little is known about the implementation and participation processes or the impact of introducing new technologies on labour inspectors. The sparse body of research regarding inspectors’ working conditions and digital transformation in labour inspectorates prompted an effort to take a “behind-the-scenes” look and gain new insights through an exploratory analysis.
Target groups: The research provides labour inspectorates and policy makers with guidance for creating resource-oriented working conditions and building a reliable, task-oriented technology base for effective inspections.
Deliverables: The quantitative survey is expected to generate a broad overview of existing working conditions in European labour inspectorates. Planned deliverables include a PEROSH report, scientific publications, and dissemination activities such as workshops or conference presentations.
Research methods: A cross-sectional, online survey is used to identify task-related, technological, and contextual support and risk factors among labour inspectors in Europe. The questionnaire combines standardised instruments with self-developed items, is available in multiple languages, and takes approximately 15–20 minutes to complete.
Scientific relevance: The goal of the survey is to provide a baseline assessment of labour inspectors’ working conditions and technology use across Europe, thereby generating a unique dataset that allows for systematic cross-country comparison and addresses an important research gap.
Practical and societal relevance: Results of the study provide input for developing sustainable HR strategies within labour inspectorates and promote evidence-based approaches to health promotion. In addition, the findings support policy-making at national and European level by fostering cross-country learning and mutual exchange on inspectors’ working conditions and technology use in times of digital transformation.
Project leader: Swantje Robelski, Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health in Germany (BAuA)
Project participants: Giulia la Rocca, BAuA; Bjørnar Finnanger Garshol, STAMI; Marie Jelenko, AUVA; Georg Effenberger, AUVA; Stefan Gravemeyer, DGUV
Participation: you can access the survey via the following link: https://link.webropolsurveys.com/S/D60CD109CFC50294
