Small business study: Using safety approaches early can help limit injuries - Safety+Health Magazine
Toronto — Small businesses that put worker safety strategies and resources in place soon after beginning operation can help “decrease injuries and related burden,” according to a study from the Institute for. . .
Toronto — Small businesses that put worker safety strategies and resources in place soon after beginning operation can help “decrease injuries and related burden,” according to a study from the Institute for Work and Health. Researchers examined previous studies while interviewing 11 individuals experienced with issues related to small-business occupational safety and health. Although evidence shows that educating leaders of small or new businesses about OSH management was the most common intervention, the group found that multiple other strategies were successful. Among them:Enablement:Providing onsite consultations, coaching and tools for risk assessments to “help increase capacity or reduce barriers” to OSHTraining:Focused on building skills in risk assessments, stress management, leadership and OSH management; provided in-person or online- Digital Partners -Persuasion:Intended to instill positive or negative emotions to convince organizations to take OSH management actionOrganizations often used a combination of strategies, the study states. Whatever an employer’s approach, the researchers agree about the importance of early intervention, as small businesses can experience increased worker injury and fatality rates because of a gap in knowledge and resources. “As soon as they hire someone, a business owner or the person responsible for the day-to-day operations should be ready to manage the health and safety risks posed to that employee,” Lynda Robson, study co-author and IWH scientist, said in a press release. - Digital Partners -Andrew Mudge, executive director of the Workers Health and Safety Centre in Markham, Ontario, agrees. “Small businesses are a vital engine in our economy, but it is clear too many lack the tools and confidence to keep workers safe,” Mudge said in separate release. “By making health and safety resources easier to access, especially early on, and combiningeducation and trainingwith clear requirements, we can help employers build strong lifesaving health and safety practices from Day One. ”The study waspublishedin theAmerican Journal of Industrial Medicine.