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Updated by AS. Approved by EC. Last update: 30.11.2004.
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IOHA Report to ILO on an International OHSMS - Appendix C/15
[Title page] [Table of Contents] Chapters: I II III Appendices: A B C D E F G |
Analysis Summary
"Safety and Health Management in SME’s: Best EU Practices Regarding Safety and Health Management in Small and Medium enterprises (SME’s), How Can Labour Inspection Support Labour Prevention."
A report published by the Phare Programme to Polish State, Labour Inspection. Prepared by the Danish National Working Environment Service, November, 1996.
This document was received directly from the ILO and reviewed as part of the analysis conducted herein. The report presents "a collection of the best EU practices and describes various models for dealing with safety and health management in small and medium-sized enterprises (SME’s)." It was prepared for the Polish National Labour Inspection (PIP) and its Worker Protection Programme. The specific objective of the Worker Protection Programme:
...is to strengthen the ability of the Polish National Labour Inspection (PIP) and enable it to fulfill its mandate more effectively. Furthermore the objective is to reinforce PIP’s efforts to promote a preventive approach to occupational safety and health at the enterprise level, not the lest because of: the restructuring and privatization of the economy; a dramatic growth in the number of small and medium-sized enterprises (SME’s) which has contributed to increased infringements; and, workers who often accept the infringements and forego their rights for fear of unemployment.
The report presents a comprehensive review and evaluation of OHS issues and challenges found in SME’s throughout the EU. Strictly speaking, a management system is not presented in the report. Recommendations presented include:
a. tripartite and bipartite structures to support worker protection;
b. employers’ obligations according to legislation;
c. quality management systems in relation to safety and health;
d. economic incentive systems-safety and health budgets;
e. help to SME’s by means of advisory, consulting and training activities;
f. risk-assessment systems;
g. systems of occupational health/services/multidisciplinary services;
h. systems of employee participation; and,
i. regulations concerning rights in case of imminent danger.
In the report section devoted to management system, general aspects of systems approaches are discussed. Specifically, in relation to management systems, the report makes the following recommendations:
• Labour protection, environmental protection, quality control and innovation can all benefit from a closer coordination and integration of monitoring quality systems.
• SME’s can benefit from using the methods from the environmental standards (ISO 14000, BS7750 and EMAS) with necessarily being certified. They can benefit from the dynamic and systematic way of thinking that is part of these standards.
An important point to be garnered from the information and findings in this report is that the impact of a potential international OHSMS must consider its impact on SME’s.
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