Using Soft Systems Methodology as a Systemic Approach to Safety Performance Evaluation

The purpose of this paper is to present a case study in order to show how Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) may be used for the systemic evaluation of occupational safety and health (OSH) performance and support decision making for safety improvement programs. SSM has been implemented in a large Greek Civil Service organization, which required an overall assessment of its current OSH performance, in order to formulate a program of improvement actions. Results proved that SSM provides a framework which can be used towards this purpose. The implementation of SSM resulted in a more holistic picture of the current situation, by identifying not only a wider range of problematic factors but also multiple perspectives for the same factors. Proposals for improvement changes to the existing safety management system were made. The three SSM performance evaluation criteria – efficacy, efficiency, effectiveness, were specified for each proposed safety management activity system. Finally, it was recognized that the methodology provides valuable insights into the different stakeholders’ perspectives on OSH performance and that it creates motivation through its learning participatory process