Economic Analysis of Occupational Risk Prevention in the Construction Sector

The construction sector has one of the worst occupational safety and health records in Europe. The costs of this scenario are very high, namely costs for workers and their families, costs to organizations, resulting from the absence of workers due to illness, insurance premiums, costs resulting from reduced productivity, cost of replacement and training of workers, etc., and costs to society, which in turn increases the costs of health systems. This paper presents and discusses the development of a methodology for economic evaluation in the context of risk management, which will allow senior management to support decision making. The possible application of this methodology to the construction sector is discussed.

Direito Fundamental de Iniciativa Privada, Branqueamento de Capitais e Terrorismo

1-Resumo: A iniciativa privada é um Direito humano fundamental que está consagrado nos ordenamentos jurídicos modernos. No caso português, na Constituição portuguesa. A Declaração Universal dos Direitos Humanos consagra o Direito à propriedade. E, por conseguinte, também a iniciativa privada. A iniciativa privada é tanto mais eficaz na sociedade, quanto mais democrático e livre for o Estado respectivo. A iniciativa privada está ligada ao financiamento público, mas também ao financiamento privado. Seja o financiamento de pessoas singulares, seja o financiamento de pessoas colectivas, organizações. O terrorismo pode ser financiado por outrem, assim como o terrorismo pode financiar actividades lícitas. Por acção ou por omissão. Assim, a isto tudo, está associado o ilícito de branqueamento de capitais. O crime de branqueamento pode ter por origem o crime de terrorismo e/ou o crime de organização terrorista. O branqueamento de capitais também pode servir para financiar o terrorismo. Neste contexto, se desenham zonas de contraste entre Direitos Humanos e Segurança. Entre crime e paz pública. Assim como se geram zonas de confluência entre Segurança e Direitos Humanos. O Direito Humano Fundamental à iniciativa privada e ao financiamento – passivo ou activo – pode sofrer restrições. As restrições podem existir desde que sejam proporcionais, adequadas, necessárias. Ou seja, as restrições têm que respeitar uma intervenção mínima. Assim, em nome da segurança, a prevenção do crime de terrorismo e do crime de branqueamento provoca novas dificuldades também ao próprio sistema económico capitalista. Provoca novas dificuldades ao Direito fundamental da iniciativa privada. Uma vez que o branqueamento de capitais, ou o próprio financiamento, podem estar associados ao crime de terrorismo.§ 1.1-Abstract: The private sector is a fundamental human right that is enshrined in modern legal systems. In the Portuguese case, in the Portuguese Constitution. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights enshrines the right to property. And therefore also the private sector. The private sector is much more effective in society, if the state is more democratic and free. Private initiative is linked to the public funding, but also to private funding. It could be the financing of individual persons, but also the financing of legal persons, organizations. Terrorism can be financed by others, as well as terrorism can finance legal activities. By act or omission. Thus, all this is associated with money laundering. Money laundering may have been originated in the crime of terrorism and / or in the crime of terrorist organization. Money laundering may also be used to finance terrorism. In this context, we have conflict zones between human rights and security. Between crime and public peace. As well as generates confluence zones between security and human rights. The Fundamental Human Right to the private sector and its financing - passive or active - can be restricted. Restrictions would be acceptable if are proportionate, appropriate and necessary. In other words, restrictions must comply with minimum intervention. So in the name of security, the prevention of the crime of terrorism and the Money laundering causes new difficulties also to the capitalist economic system. Causes new problems to the fundamental right of private enterprise. Money laundering or the financing itself may be associated with terrorist crime. The question is also: what could do the criminal lawmaker?

Financial and economic analysis of prevention of needlesticks in the hospital sector

This paper discusses the financial and economic analysis of prevention of needlestick accidents related to Occupational Health and Safety projects and presents the application to a case study involving a Hospital.

Use of Performance Measurement in the Public Sector: the case of the police service

Many public organisations have been under great pressure in recent years to increase the efficiency and transparency of outputs, to rationalise the use of public resources, and to increase the quality of service delivery. In this context, public organisations were encouraged to introduce the New Public Management reforms with the goal of improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the performance organisation through a new public management model. This new public management model is based on measurement by outputs and outcomes, a clear definition of responsibilities, the transparency and accountability of governmental activities, and on a greater value for citizens. What type of performance measurement systems are used in police services? Based on the literature, we see that multidimensional models, such as the Balanced Scorecard, are important in many public organisations, like municipalities, universities, and hospitals. Police services are characterised by complex, diverse objectives and stakeholders. Therefore, performance measurement of these public services calls for a specific analysis. Based on a nationwide survey of all police chiefs of the Portuguese police force, we find that employee performance measurement is the main form of measurement. Also, we propose a strategic map for the Portuguese police service.

The use of quantitative performance information by local elected politicians in top managers’ performance evaluation: case studies

This paper studies the use of results oriented performance information (outputs and outcomes) by local elected politicians (aldermen) in top managers’ performance evaluation. The main goal is to understand the top managers’ performance evaluation process conducted by Portuguese aldermen and to identify the dominant evaluation style. In line with Bogt (2001), an exploratory field research was developed in three large municipalities: Porto, Braga and Matosinhos. We intend to answer the following research questions: to what extent are local politicians (aldermen) 1 using results information (about outputs and outcomes) to evaluate top managers’ performance? Do aldermen give any importance to quantitative output information and report them on current planning and control documents? Will the output performance information be used on performance evaluation in a different way concerning policy field (task orientation)? Based on the Hopwood evaluation styles (adapted from the private to the public sector by Bogt, 2001), we have found that the performance evaluation process of top managers is more featured by the ‘operations-conscious styles’ (or ‘implicit style’). Portuguese aldermen recognize the importance to quantify outputs and outcomes, but these days they focus on the information about activities and the realized operations when they evaluate performance. We haven´t found significant differences between different tasks (some exceptions for culture and environment areas). However, the municipality of Matosinhos paid more attention on quantitative performance information. This finding is reinforced by the quality of quantitative data on outputs reported on its management report. Generally speaking, aldermen are aware that more attention should be paid to quantitative information about results and performance, taking into account recent reforms introduced in Portuguese municipalities (PLG) on this field, but the ‘implicit’ style is dominant.