AbstractResearch analyzing the effects of occupational health and safety management systems (OHSMS) has been divided roughly between support for and criticism of these systems. This article adopts a new, explorative perspective by analyzing how different national institutional environments are likely to affect the functioning of OHSMS. The argument of this article is that such functioning is greatly dependent on the features of the national institutional environment in which such systems are implemented. The article discusses three ideal types of market economy (i.e., liberal market economy, coordinated market economy, and particularistic environment) in relation to industrial relations systems, prevailing organizational templates, and patterns of skills formation. It assesses the possible impact of these features on the functioning of OHSMS. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.