Safety In Small Businesses Research Articles

Occupational health and safety in small businesses - a South African perspective

This article focuses on health and safety criteria for small businesses. The awareness, knowledge and attitude of small business managers in South Africa regarding occupational health and safety compliance were determined. Quantitative research generated descriptive data and measured respondents' perceptions of knowledge and attitude regarding occupational health and safety compliance. The findings revealed awareness of occupational health and safety criteria. Respondents were conversant with the required knowledge to adhere to compliance regarding occupational health and safety; and their attitude confirmed their priority to occupational health and safety criteria. Researching the occupational health and safety compliance of small businesses is important for economic growth, as a lack of compliance results in financial and employee losses through occupational injuries and diseases. The findings have implications for government, policymakers, practitioners and management teams to consider occupational health and safety management systems and improvement plans. Such interventions are required to improve occupational health and safety compliance.

Occupational health and safety in small businesses: The rationale behind compliance

Occupational health and safety (OHS), as a fundamental human right, forms the basis of the obligation of employers to employees, requiring employers to do what is right. Responsible management practices encompass cognisance of sustainability, responsibility as well as legal, financial and moral aspects related to OHS compliance. As point of departure, an overview of core OHS criteria for small businesses is provided, with reference to awareness of these criteria in the G20 countries. This article utilises quantitative and qualitative data analysis to examine the reasons why small business owners/managers comply with occupational health and safety directives, such as the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHS Act) and the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act (COIDA) in South Africa, determine if such reasons for compliance culminate in actual compliance, and determine the perceived effect of direct and indirect costs of OHS incidents. A total of 350 small business owners/managers took part in this study. The findings indicate that whilst small business owners/managers realise the rationale behind OHS compliance in terms of moral, legal and financial components, moral aspects related to OHS compliance are deemed most important. Small business owners/managers thus seem to realise the importance of OHS compliance. However, when it comes to adhering to their responsibility in terms of general safety regulations of the OHS Act and registration with the Compensation Fund as specified in the COIDA (as examples of actual compliance), small business owners/managers’ compliance does not reflect such realisation. A model to enhance OHS standards in small businesses, encompassing legal, moral and financial rationales, is proposed.

Improving Health and Safety in Small Businesses in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: The Role of Information and Financial Linkage

Improving Health and Safety in Small Businesses in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: The Role of Information and Financial Linkage

A comparison of the perceptions and beliefs of workers and owners with regard to workplace safety in small metal fabrication businesses

Problems of improving safety in small business establishments may include a lack of resources, limited unionization, and an informal management structure. We evaluated worker and manager perceptions of worksite health and safety using Social Cognitive Theory. We used a business safety scorecard to audit the safety conditions, policies and programs, and work practices. Comparisons were made between the different measures. Businesses with safety committees had 1.7-2.1 times higher proportion of positive safety scorecard items than businesses without committees. Union status and business size were not associated with business safety audit results. Non-English-speaking and less educated employees reported higher levels of knowledge about safety than did their more educated and/or English-speaking peers. The presence of a safety committee is the single most important indicator of workplace safety. Self-reported understanding of workplace safety is greater among employees who do not speak English or have lower levels of formal education. Future worksite interventions should consider the need for participatory worksite safety committees. Multilingual training programs would help reach a greater proportion of workers.

Mechanical equipment injuries in small manufacturing businesses

Factors contributing to mechanical equipment injuries in small manufacturing businesses were investigated. Thirty-five small businesses participated in the study. Interviews were carried out with all 35 managers, and 145 employees returned completed questionnaires. Fifty-eight per cent of respondents reported having experienced an injury. Grinding machines and printing presses were found to have a high ratio of accidents per number of hours used. Factors contributing to the causes of accidents were investigated. Failure to follow known safe work procedures, non-existent and inadequate guarding and poor machine design and poor machine condition were common contributing factors. The implications of these findings for improving safety in small businesses are discussed.

Mechanical Equipment Injuries in Small Manufacturing Businesses. Knowledge, Behavioral, and Management Issues

This paper presents findings from an extensive study intofactors that impact upon the high rate of injuries due to mechanical equipment, especially in small manufacturing firms. Issues relating to knowledge of health and safety issues and to management practices have been shown to be extremely important with regards to safety in smaii businesses. Knowledge and awareness of hazards were found to be relatively low and few respondents, especially managers, had received adequate safety training. Managers did not regard the identification and control of risks as a priority. Workplaces generally lacked effective safety management procedures such as safety rules and regulations, procedures for recording and learning from accidents, and clearly defined responsibilities for safety. Some issues requiring further investigation, and some recommendations for improving safety in small businesses, are presented.