Research Information System
STANOVNISTVO, vol.64, no.1, pp.55-69, 2026 (Scopus)
Occupational safety and health (OSH) outcomes are increasingly shaped not only by regulatory frameworks and workplace-level practices, but also by the governance capacity of institutions operating at local and regional levels. This study examines the role of local governments within multi-level OSH governance systems, addressing a critical gap in safety science literature where municipalities are often treated as peripheral or auxiliary actors. Adopting a qualitative and comparative research design, the study analyzes documentary evidence from Germany, Serbia, and Türkiye to explore how different governance arrangements shape local involvement in OSH prevention, coordination, and crisis management. The findings indicate that European systems integrating local authorities through formal mandates, coordination platforms, and preventive infrastructures demonstrate stronger preventive capacity, improved stakeholder collaboration, and greater resilience to regional disparities. In contrast, Türkiye exhibits a highly centralized OSH structure in which limited municipal integration constrains prevention-oriented practices and contributes to uneven safety outcomes across regions. Serbia represents a transitional model with partial local engagement but limited institutionalization. The study concludes that local governments constitute a structurally significant yet under-integrated component of OSH governance. Strengthening local institutional capacity and coordination mechanisms—while maintaining national oversight—emerges as a key lever for enhancing prevention, equity, and system resilience in occupational safety governance.