Improving Occupational Safety And Health In Smes

SMEs (Small and Medium-sized Enterprises) are important contributors to European competitiveness, with most new jobs in Europe being created by micro-enterprises with up to six employees. However, they also face particular difficulties including effective management of safety and health and Member States have set up measures to assist entrepreneurship. The Agency has carried out several important projects to improve occupational safety and health in SMEs, including special funding schemes of good safety and health practice in SMEs initiated by the European Parliament and the European Commission. As part of these efforts the Agency has also made a study of practical examples of successful occupational safety and health assistance services to SMEs.

Safety is an important aspect of everyday business operations. It can have an impact on the operations of an enterprise as well as the wellbeing of the workers. Literature shows that SMEs face extra problems in this area due to limited resources and lack of knowledge. A potential accident on the premises, in many cases, has devastating consequences. SMEs make up the vast majority of private companies in the EU and beyond. Despite the importance of the issue, the information found in literature is scattered and often not aimed at SMEs. This book aims to gather the latest information and become the full reference point for designing and adopting an appropriate safety strategy for SMEs.

Increasing Occupational Health and Safety in Workplaces argues for greater reporting of workplace accidents and injuries. It also incorporates stress as a factor in rates of accidents and injuries, and suggests ways in which workplace safety cultures can be fostered and improved. This book will be an invaluable tool for students of management, especially those with an interest in small businesses. p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Arial}

Small and medium sized enterprises constitute the vast majority of businesses in most developed economies. Although a large number of people are employed in such organizations, research and practice in occupational health and safety has largely ignored the unique challenges of this sector. In this highly relevant book, international experts in the field summarize existing knowledge and identify the best practices for enhancing occupational health and safety in small and medium sized enterprises. The authors specifically identify solutions that are appropriate for small businesses. Covering a full range of topics from traditional safety to psychosocial health, this insightful book will appeal to multidisciplinary audience, including researchers and graduate students in occupational health psychology; academics in the area of small business; practicing occupational health psychologists; as well as small business owners.

Global economy and its business environment, and thus the world of work, have recently been influenced by demographic and social changes, globalisation, as well as rapid development and introduction of novel, sophisticated and previously unknown technologies and new business models, especially in the context of the so-called fourth industrial revolution. These changes pose a number of challenges in terms of maintaining and improving occupational safety and health (OSH) management performance, as traditional approaches to OSH management in new working environments may no longer be effective. In view of the above, the overall goal of this book is to present new approaches and methods for improving the effectiveness of OSH management. They are based on state-of-the-art research and are in line with the latest trends and concepts in the field. The book focuses on five thematic areas, which are discussed in respective chapters: 1) Implementing the process approach to OSH management; 2) Improving OSH management systems with fuzzy cognitive maps; 3) Implementing strategic thinking approaches in relation to OSH management; 4) Integrating OSH management within the framework of the CSR concept; 5) Enhancing OSH management processes through the use of smart digital technologies. The methods and solutions discussed may be considered as specific "opportunities" for the improvement to be taken into account in the processes of implementing and maintaining an OSH management system in light of the requirements of the new ISO 45001 standard.

Safety is an important aspect of everyday business operations. It can have an impact on the operations of an enterprise as well as the wellbeing of the workers. Literature shows that SMEs face extra problems in this area due to limited resources and lack of knowledge. A potential accident on the premises, in many cases, has devastating consequences. SMEs make up the vast majority of private companies in the EU and beyond. Despite the importance of the issue, the information found in literature is scattered and often not aimed at SMEs. This book aims to gather the latest information and become the full reference point for designing and adopting an appropriate safety strategy for SMEs.