1. Improving occupational safety and health in micro and small enterprises
Malgorzata Milczarek, EU-OSHA
3rd ACSH Workshop on National OSH Strategies, Luxembourg 21-22/09/2016

2. Improving OSH in micro and small enterprises (EU-OSHA, 2014-2017)
What works and why it works: specific mechanisms shaping OSH in MSEs
Evidence-based support for policy recommendations
Good practices in terms of policies, strategies and interventions
Research methods: desk research and field analyses (structured interviews and focus groups with MSEs and the key actors)
Contractor: SESAME consortium
Belgium (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven), Denmark (Aalborg University), Estonia (Tallinn University of Technology), France (Institut Polytechnique de Bordeaux), Germany (Kooperationsstelle), Italy (Politecnico di Milano), Romania (INCDPM), Sweden (IVL Svenska Mijoeinstitutet), United Kingdom (Cardiff University)

3. Some of the challenges:
Phase 1: ‘Contexts and arrangements for OSH in micro and small enterprises in the EU’
Some of the challenges:
Poor OSH in MSEs determined by a ‘general and multifaceted lack of resources’: a weak economic position, limited knowledge, awareness and competence of owner- managers, low investment in OSH, limited capacity to manage OSH systematically, attitudes and priorities, concerns for economic survival.
Regulation: weak compliance practices of owner-managers in MSEs. Few research attempts to evaluate or analyze national or EU policies in relation to OSH in MSEs. No previous research fully exploring the regulatory or economic contexts.
Interventions: no general and scientific-based understanding of how they can be tailored to MSEs, little known concerning contextual determinants of effectiveness.
Most research on OSH in MSEs is focused on the situation of their owner-managers. Limited consideration of experience of workers and what determines it.

4. Policy seminar: MSEs in Europe: How can we make sure they are safe, healthy and productive places to work?
28 June 2016, Brussels

5. ESENER-2: Challenges in handling OSH are significant as enterprises get smaller
Lack of risk assessment or other checks (% establishments, EU-28)
Use of OSH services by enterprise size (% establishments, EU-28)

6. ESENER-2: Reasons why workplace risk assessments are not carried out regularly
% establishments, EU-28
Base: establishments in the EU-28 that do not carry out risk assessments regularly

7. Phase 2: Qualitative in-depth interviews with MSEs (2015-16)
Structured inteviews with owners/managers and workers (160 case studies)
Some of the initial findings:
- reactive approach prevailing
- reliance on ‘common sense’
- ‘limited time, financial and human resources’ to manage OSH often reported
- owner’s attitude and knowledge is a key factor
- low level of worker representation, low interest among employees in this role
- low awareness of psychosocial risks (with some exceptions)
- external services often employed to, first of all, assure compliance
- however, examples of good practices have also been found!

8. Phase 3: OSH policies, strategies, interventions and existing support (2016-17)
Identifying mechanisms and contexts of successful practices
Actions by national authorities, employer associations, trade unions and other sectoral and professional OSH bodies
Tools and methods supporting OSH management: consultancy, expert or financial support, training, online courses, E-tools, checklists, guidelines, campaigns, promoting good practices, etc.
Influence of the business chain or customer requirements
Integration of OSH with other business activities
Etc.
The role of intermediaries
National workshops focusing on construction, manufacturing and private service industry
Phase 4: Final analysis and conference (2017)

9. Thank you!
EU-OSHA: