osh prevention in eu

GTZ - Progress Social & EnvironGTZ - Progress Social & Environmental Standarts. Alberto Cerda Mmental Standarts. Alberto Cerda Micoico

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The European Network for The European Network for Workplace Health Promotion Workplace Health Promotion

(ENWHP) 2001 (ENWHP) 2001

Report of the Current Status Report of the Current Status of WHP in Small & Medium of WHP in Small & Medium

Enterprises (SMEs)Enterprises (SMEs)(19 countries)(19 countries)


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Objectives:Objectives: provide overview provide overview current practice in workplace OHS pro-current practice in workplace OHS pro-

motionmotion in SMEs in the European Union in SMEs in the European Union We will analyse:We will analyse:

I - general economic and health I - general economic and health conditions conditions

II - current procedures and II - current procedures and regulations regulations

III - conditions which inhibit or III - conditions which inhibit or promote practice in both fields promote practice in both fields


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SpecialSpecial features of SMEs features of SMEs

The role of the enterprise ownerThe role of the enterprise owner regard themselves as independent/enjoy regard themselves as independent/enjoy

personal autonomy to make decisions.personal autonomy to make decisions. very sceptical about formal legal require-very sceptical about formal legal require-

ments.ments. If health-related strategies are implemented, If health-related strategies are implemented,

they tend to be of a short-term nature.they tend to be of a short-term nature. Longer-term strategic and conceptionalLonger-term strategic and conceptional programmes, required for preventive action, programmes, required for preventive action,

are therefore less developed or not promoted.are therefore less developed or not promoted.


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Social relationships in Social relationships in enterpriseenterprise

strong family atmosphere = tend to be strong family atmosphere = tend to be family ownedfamily owned

employees tend to feel trust and loyalty employees tend to feel trust and loyalty towards the ownertowards the owner

owner shows consideration/understanding owner shows consideration/understanding towards staff towards staff

Not surpris-ing Not surpris-ing institutionalised institutionalised representatives – e.g. works councils – representatives – e.g. works councils – have little significance than in large have little significance than in large companiescompanies


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Work requirementsWork requirements

characterised by simple characterised by simple organisational structuresorganisational structures

Fewer routine activitiesFewer routine activities significant degree of direct significant degree of direct

communicationcommunication Ad-hoc decisions & Ad-hoc decisions & improvisation are improvisation are

common than rigid regulations laid common than rigid regulations laid down in writing.down in writing.


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I General economic I General economic conditionsconditions

SMEs play a key role in the economic SMEs play a key role in the economic development of Europedevelopment of Europe

almost 20 million companies within almost 20 million companies within the 19 European states * employ the 19 European states * employ fewer than 250 peo-plefewer than 250 peo-ple

That is more than 99% of all That is more than 99% of all companiescompanies

77 million people work in SMEs77 million people work in SMEs


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II Structures II Structures occupationaloccupationalhealth and safety for SMEshealth and safety for SMEs

Legislative frameworkLegislative framework Labour inspectionLabour inspection Occupational health & safety Occupational health & safety

servicesservices Employees representationEmployees representation


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b) Labour inspectionb) Labour inspection despite different structures, qualifications, skills despite different structures, qualifications, skills

and responsibilities of the labour inspectors, their and responsibilities of the labour inspectors, their OHS strategies show more and more similaritiesOHS strategies show more and more similarities

The inspection mandate has been extended to The inspection mandate has been extended to include consultancy and information. The include consultancy and information. The employers are to be advised and informed by the employers are to be advised and informed by the inspectors as to how they should carry out their inspectors as to how they should carry out their obligations.obligations.

Although inspection and monitoring, linked with Although inspection and monitoring, linked with action in the case of blatant infringements are action in the case of blatant infringements are still relevant, a new, revised understand-ing of a still relevant, a new, revised understand-ing of a labour inspector’s role can be seenlabour inspector’s role can be seen


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b) Labour inspectionb) Labour inspection

the aim is no longer short-term, one-off the aim is no longer short-term, one-off elimination of all acute deficiencies, but the elimination of all acute deficiencies, but the detection of underlying (frequently detection of underlying (frequently organisational) shortcomingsorganisational) shortcomings

the labour inspector more as a mediator the labour inspector more as a mediator and advisor on OHS and less as an inspectorand advisor on OHS and less as an inspector

Remaining Problems: subject to restrictions Remaining Problems: subject to restrictions in terms of resources (few staff and in terms of resources (few staff and insufficient funds)insufficient funds)


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The smaller the enterprise/the less chances The smaller the enterprise/the less chances inspectedinspected

Swedend: typical situation in SMEs: labour inspec-torate Swedend: typical situation in SMEs: labour inspec-torate visits 15,000 of the 160,000 enterprises with fewer than 10 visits 15,000 of the 160,000 enterprises with fewer than 10 employees annuallyemployees annually- 75% of visits made to small enterprises- 75% of visits made to small enterprises- However the largest companies are contacted on average - However the largest companies are contacted on average almost three times a yearalmost three times a year- the smallest enterprises see a labour inspector once in ten - the smallest enterprises see a labour inspector once in ten years.years.

Problems: Problems: - Labour inspectorate perceived by SMEs as costly and time-- Labour inspectorate perceived by SMEs as costly and time-consumingconsuming


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- bureaucratic structures are less pronounced - bureaucratic structures are less pronounced than in large companiesthan in large companies

- formalised statutory procedures for occupational - formalised statutory procedures for occupational health and safety represent a majorhealth and safety represent a major burden = need for documentation, identification, burden = need for documentation, identification, self-monitoringself-monitoring

- limited resources = labour inspection is - limited resources = labour inspection is concentrated on high-risk work sitesconcentrated on high-risk work sites


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c) Occupational health and c) Occupational health and safety servicessafety services

the employers are legally obliged to the employers are legally obliged to provide care through OHS servicesprovide care through OHS services

size of the enterprise = the smaller the size of the enterprise = the smaller the enterprise, the less favourable the enterprise, the less favourable the situation issituation is- Although risk assessment is obligatory, it - Although risk assessment is obligatory, it only takes place in 30 to 50 % of small only takes place in 30 to 50 % of small enterprises (< 50 employees)enterprises (< 50 employees)- whereas in larger companies (> 100 - whereas in larger companies (> 100 employees) the proportion isemployees) the proportion isroughly 90%.roughly 90%.


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c) Occupational health and c) Occupational health and safety servicessafety services

OHS Preventive services: minimum OHS Preventive services: minimum requirementrequirement

only permitted or approved if at least four only permitted or approved if at least four different disciplines are represented: different disciplines are represented:

- occupational medicine (normally - occupational medicine (normally externalized),externalized),

- safety speciality- safety speciality

- occupational hygiene- occupational hygiene

- psycho-sociology and ergonomics - psycho-sociology and ergonomics


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c) Occupational health and safety c) Occupational health and safety servicesservices

In Sweden there are 700 preventive service units with In Sweden there are 700 preventive service units with 7,000 doctors, nurses,7,000 doctors, nurses,psychologists, ergonomists, and physiotherapists working in psychologists, ergonomists, and physiotherapists working in joint private and branch ser-vicesjoint private and branch ser-vices

In Spain more than 1000 (Accident non profitable Funds In Spain more than 1000 (Accident non profitable Funds and Private Servicesand Private Services

In Finland the municipal model is the most importantIn Finland the municipal model is the most important The “Good Neighbour Scheme” is a programme (Irish) to The “Good Neighbour Scheme” is a programme (Irish) to

encourage OHS in SMEs:encourage OHS in SMEs:- large enterprises with a good occupa-tional health and - large enterprises with a good occupa-tional health and safety infrastructuresafety infrastructure- act as mentors for small enterprises in their region- act as mentors for small enterprises in their region- they help and advise local SMEs, support them with their - they help and advise local SMEs, support them with their OHS services (including training) OHS services (including training)


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d) Health and safety committees d) Health and safety committees and representativesand representatives

health and safety representatives are frequently health and safety representatives are frequently closely linked to the trade unions. They are either closely linked to the trade unions. They are either nominated directly by the trade unions (UK) or nominated directly by the trade unions (UK) or approved byapproved bytrade unions following an election by the trade unions following an election by the workforce (DK) or simply elected by workers workforce (DK) or simply elected by workers (Spain) (Spain)


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d) Health and safety d) Health and safety committees and committees and representativesrepresentatives

they present a forum for employers’ and they present a forum for employers’ and employees’ delegates to discuss OHS and employees’ delegates to discuss OHS and together to find solutions together to find solutions

the committees also play important role in the committees also play important role in monitoring OHS measures and holding training monitoring OHS measures and holding training courses and information eventscourses and information events

they are useful tool to implement OHS in practicethey are useful tool to implement OHS in practice their establishment only obligatory for businesses their establishment only obligatory for businesses

of aof acertain size upwards. The limit is between 20 and certain size upwards. The limit is between 20 and 50 employees, depending on the country.50 employees, depending on the country.


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osh prevention in eu

Small Business & Entrepreneurship