In today's global and national economies, businesses increasingly rely on the
outsourcing of parts of their activities and processes. Companies thus function
and compete more and more on a supply-chain level, in specific networks with
their suppliers and service providers. This outsourcing trend and growing
importance of supply chains has its implications for the working conditions and
health and safety of workers of supplier and contracting companies. This report
therefore sheds light on occupational safety and health (OSH) within these
complex supply chain networks. Based on a literature, policy and case study
review it attempts to give an overview of how OSH can be managed and promoted
through the supply chain, and which drivers, incentives and instruments exist
for companies to encourage good OSH practices among their suppliers and
contractors.

The report by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work focuses
specifically on two main networks or relationships between companies and the
members of their supply chain: the primary network (a company and its suppliers
of certain goods and materials) and the secondary network (a company and its
contractors and subcontractors providing specific services such as maintenance,
construction, cleaning or catering activities). Both networks are affected by
stakeholders such as the government, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and
customers. The secondary network has already been explored in previous reports
by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA). This is less
the case for OSH in relation to the primary supply chain network.

This report sheds light on occupational safety and health (OSH) within complex
supply chain networks. Based on a literature, policy and case study review it
attempts to give an overview of how OSH can be managed and promoted through the
supply chain, and which drivers, incentives and instruments exist for companies
to encourage good OSH practices among their suppliers and contractors.

More information:

AplusA-online.de - Source: European Agency for Safety and Health at Work