Report - Occupational safety and health and economic performance in small and medium-sized enterprises: a review
The present review examines the link between Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) and economic
performance, especially as it relates to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). It is essential to
stress from the outset that while there is no clear definition of economic performance, there are
indicators that can examine the concept and its importance to businesses.
OSH is not usually viewed as a contributory factor to the economic viability of an organisation.
Compliance with government guidelines, regulations and laws is generally the primary focus of OSH
policies. Perceptions of the connection between effective OSH and the resulting financial benefits
could, and should be improved. The strong economic advantages of good occupational health
practice need to be highlighted continuously to organisations because the failure to acknowledge the
importance of this link will limit the effectiveness of interventions aimed at preventing disease and
injury (Lahiri, Levenstein, Nelson and Rosenberg, 2005; Toffel and Birkner, 2002). Additionally, while
the cost of ensuring safety is important, “unsafety” is also costly (Rimington, 1993). For example, a
reduction of accidents, damage and improvements to poor health can lead to a reduction in costs and
a greater availability of people and plant. This, in turn, can improve efficiency and thereby heighten
the effectiveness of businesses (Smallman and John, 2001).
:
European Agency for Safety and Health at Work
:
07.07.2009
Available in:
[English]
One conclusion from the EU-OSHA economic incentives project is that incentives schemes should not only reward past results of good OSH management (such as accident numbers in experience rating), but should also reward specific prevention efforts that aim to reduce future accidents and ill-health. Experts from the economic incentives project therefore suggested the development of compilations of innovative and evidence-based preventive solutions, starting with the three sectors construction, health care and HORECA (hotels, restaurants, catering). The preventive measures from these compilations are worth promoting in their own right, as well as being applied in economic incentives schemes. These preventive solutions can be used as a basis for incentive-providing organisations to develop their own incentive scheme, adapted to the specific situation in their sector and country.
This Guide on Economic Incentives Schemes is intended to serve as a practical and user-friendly guide to help incentive providers to create or optimise their own economic incentive schemes. Incentives schemes should not only reward past results of good OSH management (such as low accident numbers), but should also reward specific prevention efforts that aim to reduce future accidents and ill-health. Therefore the expert group suggested the development of compilations of innovative and evidence-based preventive solutions, starting with the three sectors construction, health care and HORECA.
Occupational safety and health culture, or more briefly 'OSH culture', can be seen as a concept for exploring how informal organisational aspects influence OSH in a positive or negative way. The aim is to convey up-to-date information on this complex topic in a straightforward, condensed way, trying to build a bridge between research and practice. The main approaches and methods that exist to assess the safety culture in an organisation are presented and discussed. This review gives an overview and selection of useful tools and techniques from the EU domain and abroad.
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