Despite the large number of small businesses (SBs) employing fewer than 50 workers and their contribution to the economy, occupational safety management in these workplaces has not been widely studied. Various sources conclude that workers in small businesses are at higher risk than those in larger businesses. To identify avenues of research and intervention, an exploratory study of employers in the garment and metal products manufacturing sectors was undertaken, with the collaboration of two joint sector-based associations. The results of this telephone survey indicate that employers in SBs are most often the ones responsible for safety management, despite the fact that they are isolated and completely lack information and resources. Moreover, they tend to underestimate the magnitude of health and safety problems and blame workers for industrial accidents. The research described the wide range of approaches to OHS management in the SBs studied, and highlighted the importance of worker participation, the integration of health and safety considerations into production strategies, and access to information and support networks.
