Comparison of practices related to occupational health and safety in microscale wood-product enterprises

Abstract

Risk factors in the workplace vary according to the sector and scale of the business. Small and medium-sized enterprises, especially those within the scope of the wood-products manufacturing industry, are considered to be risky, and have a relatively high accident rate. Here, we focus on the timber and furniture industries, two subsectors of the wood-products industry. A total of 47 enterprises was visited and asked to participate in a formal structured questionnaire. The findings show that the usage of personal protective equipment (PPE) was low, that lighting was often inadequate, and that these enterprises typically lacked routine organising and cleaning practices. The subsectors and the occupational health and safety practices were found to be independent, and a statistically significant relationship could only be established between the subsectors in terms of the use of dust masks and goggles. Despite the unfavourable working conditions, only one business out of 47 reported having an employee with symptoms of occupational diseases.