More about our scoring system

To enhance OshWeb's user-friendliness and to enable the webpages covered to be evaluated rapidly and efficiently, a scoring system has been developed based on the following three criteria: content, form and ease of use.

I. CONTENT

Source & Date

Who is the author or producer?
What authority or expertise does the author or group managing the site have?
How well known is the author in this field?
Is the site recommended or sponsored by other sites?
When was the site created? Is it regularly adapted and revised?
Are the author's name and other details indicated clearly?
Is the publication date clearly indicated?

Information that is provided

Only general information about the institution or organisation
Online documents
What is the purpose of the webpage?
How comprehensive is the site?
What is its target public?
How complete and accurate are the information and links?
How well is the subject treated?
What is the site's relative value compared with other sources of information about the same subject?
Is the information provided original? (Is the document also available in other formats, e.g. in print or on CD-ROM?) What advantages does the electronic source offer over the printed source? Is some information added that does not appear in the printed version? Does the electronic source supplement the printed version? Does it offer any added value?
Is there any reference to sponsoring or support from a third party?
Is there any advertising on the site, and if so, does this have any impact on the content?
Are some areas of the site paying?

Links & references

On what basis are the links selected?
Are they relevant to and appropriate for the site?
Does the site also refer to non-Internet sources?
Are the criteria that determine which sources are to be listed there explained?

II. FORM & PRESENTATION

Appearance

Are the pages clearly organised? Are there illustrations (though not too many)? Are the pages also easy to read when printed out?
Are the site’s graphics effective? Are graphics overused in order to dazzle the reader?
Is use made of video, audio or illustrations in order to provide clarification?

Navigation

Is a virtual table of contents (including one to other links) provided?
Is the site sufficiently interactive?
Are other pages from the site accessible in one document?
Search engine: can this be used to carry out fast, efficient searches?

Structure

Is the text divided into uniform and well-labelled sections?
Is a site map provided to save the user from getting lost?
Does the presentation of the text conform with usual standards within the discipline?
Which format are documents offered in?

User-friendliness

Is the source user-friendly? Is there a page offering support or help with regard to using the site?
Is an interface used to make the text easier to read? (HTML format, FTP format, etc.)

III. EASE OF USE

Are tools provided?
Are examples of the implementation of legislation given?
Are there online forms (e.g. META, NAVB, etc.)?
Does the site include checklists?
Is there any illustrative or awareness-raising material provided? Are there slides that could be used for giving a presentation?
Are there calculation methods (NIOSH, DINED tables, etc.)?
Are there online articles (complete or just tables of contents)?
Does the site feature a course?
Are legal texts quoted directly, or are they merely referred to in the bibliography?
Are guidelines provided on how to set up prevention programmes (e.g. PPEs), health campaigns, etc.?

IV. RATING

***** = excellent

The website stands head and shoulders above most others.

**** = very good

The website is certainly worth a visit.

*** = good

The website is of average quality.

** = moderate

The website fails to meet the criteria in several respects.

* = does not really meet the criteria.