- Project number: F 2481
- Institution: Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA)
- Status: Completed Project
Description:
The central objective of this project was to evaluate the operational application of the INQA company check. This is a low-threshold self-assessment tool developed by the Offensive Mittelstand (OM) specifically for small and medium-sized companies aiming to improve their work design and organisation. In addition to possibility of carrying out the INQA company check independently, the option of accompanying advice by authorised consultants become established in practice.
The project aimed at elaborating reliable statements on the effects achieved by the INQA Check at company level. To this end, the two established company application patterns, with and without accompanying consultation, were to be compared. Three levels of impact were defined to differentiate the effects achieved: 1. sensitisation, 2. analysis and 3. derivation and implementation of measures.
The project comprised two sub-studies, which were carried out using a mixed-method design. A total of 174 companies were lead into to the six-month intervention period, 131 of which answered the online questionnaire. Twelve companies were subsequently available for semi-structured interviews.
The evaluation showed that 32% of the companies had reached impact level 1, 18% impact level 2 and 51% impact level 3. This demonstrates the positive effects of the check application.
A comparison of the application patterns showed a significantly higher drop-out rate in the application pattern without consultation than in the one with consultation. The companies without consultation dealt with the check more intensively, but reached impact level 3 significantly less often than the companies with consultation. The former often left the lead processing of the check to the consultants, but then worked on more in-depth measures independently.
The management or executives were usually responsible for processing the check and implementing measures. The involvement of the employees and the active commitment of the management proved to be success factors. Existing experience and resources in the company were also beneficial.
The check was predominantly rated positively by the participating companies. The companies in both application patterns used the low-threshold tool to work on both occupational science and business management topics and derived and implemented measures in both areas. Both application patterns are needed - but, like the check, need further development so that companies can take even better action. Overall, the findings of the project provide valuable information for the design of future research in the field.