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Is There an Estimation Bias in Occupational Health and Safety Surveys? The Mode of Administration and Informants as a Source of Error

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  • Yvonne Fondevila-McDonald
  • Emília Molinero-Ruiz
  • Montse Vergara-Duarte
  • Montserrat Guillén
  • Laia Ollé-Espluga
  • María Menéndez
  • Joan Benach

Abstract

Information quality deficiencies have been detected in occupational safety and health surveys in Europe, which typically gather self-reported data responded by employers or their representatives. For instance, their low response rates and informant profiles make estimations on establishments with safety representatives (SRs) unreliable. We tested the mode of administration and informants as sources of error regarding establishments with SRs in Catalonia, Spain. Two sources of information were compared: the Second Catalan Survey of Working Conditions 2011 (IICSWC)—with a methodology similar to surveys conducted at the state and European level—and the Progam on Prevention of Risks Management in Companies (PPRMC)—in which the labor authority collected data using a documentary verification in another sample of establishments. Percentage of establishments with SRs was estimated using the data from the PPRMC and also the differences in percentage between sources and informant profiles (with 95 percent confidence interval). Results show that the IICSWC overestimates the percentage of establishments with SRs.

Suggested Citation

  • Yvonne Fondevila-McDonald & Emília Molinero-Ruiz & Montse Vergara-Duarte & Montserrat Guillén & Laia Ollé-Espluga & María Menéndez & Joan Benach, 2019. "Is There an Estimation Bias in Occupational Health and Safety Surveys? The Mode of Administration and Informants as a Source of Error," Sociological Methods & Research, , vol. 48(1), pages 185-201, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:somere:v:48:y:2019:i:1:p:185-201
    DOI: 10.1177/0049124116672681
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Barry Reilly & Pierella Paci & Peter Holl, 1995. "Unions, Safety Committees and Workplace Injuries," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 33(2), pages 275-288, June.
    2. Jones, Melanie K. & Latreille, Paul L. & Sloane, Peter J. & Staneva, Anita V., 2013. "Work-related health risks in Europe: Are older workers more vulnerable?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 18-29.
    3. Marta-Pedroso, Cristina & Freitas, Helena & Domingos, Tiago, 2007. "Testing for the survey mode effect on contingent valuation data quality: A case study of web based versus in-person interviews," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 62(3-4), pages 388-398, May.
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    1. Laia OLLÉ-ESPLUGA & Johanna MUCKENHUBER & Markus HADLER, 2019. "Job Quality in Economy for the Common Good Firms in Austria and Germany," CIRIEC Working Papers 1921, CIRIEC - Université de Liège.

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