Enforcing Health and Safety Regulation

This book examines the enforcement of occupational health and safety (OHS) regulation from the perspective of law and economics. It starts with an extensive survey of the economic literature on regulation and enforcement and subsequently provides an overview of the international legal framework for OHS enforcement. In particular it discusses the ILO and EU law provisions which are relevant for enforcement at the national level. The book continues with an empirical investigation of regulatory enforcement at the national level and takes a careful look at the work of OHS inspectorates in England and Wales and in Germany. In a quest for cost-effective enforcement techniques, the book discusses issues surrounding proactive and reactive inspection, post-detection discretion and sanctions. Although the book primarily concerns the field of OHS, it will be of interest for all academics and practitioners interested in regulation and enforcement.