Drivkræfter i virksomhedernes arbejdsmiljøarbejde

– baseret på 25 års artikler i Tidsskrift for Arbejdsliv

Abstract

Over the past 25 years, Tidsskrift for Arbejdsliv has addressed both psychosocial working conditions and workplace health and safety efforts. However, there has been no comprehensive analysis of the underlying drivers that have shaped workplace-level occupational health and safety (OHS) practices across this period. This article examines what has driven the development of workplace OHS efforts in Denmark over the past 25 years, and how these drivers have been analysed and understood through contributions in Tidsskrift for Arbejdsliv. Approximately one hundred journal issues were systematically reviewed. Relevant articles were selected and analysed using Dyreborg’s (2009) categorisation of drivers. Coding was carried out with AI-assisted text analysis (ChatGPT) and subsequently validated through researcher triangulation. 23 articles were included in the analysis. Four key categories of drivers were identified: (1) regulatory requirements (legislation, inspections, enforcement), (2) employee democracy and participation (social partner institutions, local involvement), (3) corporate social responsibility (market and reputational pressures), and (4) professionalisation and evidence-based knowledge translation (advisors, standards, tools, and data). The review demonstrates a shift from democratic employee participation towards a more strategic, externally oriented approach, where OHS efforts increasingly form part of corporate leadership and legitimacy strategies. This highlights the need for continued critical research on the dynamics that shape workplace OHS practice.