Design Thinking in Occupational Health and Safety Management

Description

Design Thinking (DT) has been a successful approach for innovation. The project rests on the assumption that DT offer methods that can help Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) professionals solve complex OHS problems in a participatory way.
DT may be defined by the double diamond model of a non-linear and user-centred problemsolving process iterating through divergent and convergent phases. The Double Diamond process offers a general overall problem-solving process and still having flexibility in selection of tools and methods.
The project objectives were two-fold:
1. To train OHS professionals to apply Design thinking tools to handle complex OHS
problems
2. To develop Design Thinking as an OHS management method
The research design was an interactive project. We trained 6 OHS professionals to apply Design Thinking tools in a full day course followed by a learning by doing process. The OHS professionals then conducted 2-3 design sprints in four companies focused on complex psychosocial or musculoskeletal problems.
Quantitative and qualitative data were used to evaluate the learning outcome. We questioned the professionals in surveys and interviews at regular intervals and observed and documented all sprint activities. Based on the results we developed a guide to apply the method in an iterative process using prototypes and feedback from practitioners and stakeholders. Observations and interviews confirmed that the OHS consultants were able to plan and facilitate design sprints in their company. OHS professionals are key players if the Design Thinking approach is to be used in the field of OHS management.

Number of audience

10

Period	27 Nov 2023
Event title	23rd World Congress on Safety and Health at Work, Sydney 2023
Event type	Conference
Conference number	23
Location	Sydney NSW 2000., Australia, New South WalesShow on map
Degree of Recognition	International