Safety Management in Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs)

Safety is an important aspect of everyday business operations. It can have an impact on the operations of an enterprise as well as the wellbeing of the workers. Literature shows that SMEs face extra problems in this area due to limited resources and lack of knowledge. A potential accident on the premises, in many cases, has devastating consequences. SMEs make up the vast majority of private companies in the EU and beyond. Despite the importance of the issue, the information found in literature is scattered and often not aimed at SMEs. This book aims to gather the latest information and become the full reference point for designing and adopting an appropriate safety strategy for SMEs.

• Addresses the complete spectrum of safety needs in a small and medium sized enterprise environment
• Provides a reference point for the understanding of safety priorities in an SME environment
• Presents a comprehensive source of information for SME owners/managers to develop, implement, and monitor an obligatory safety strategy
• Offers a comprehensive source of information for governmental regulators and inspectors to understand the daily realities leading to the safety vulnerability of SMEs
• Includes insight into the special safety conditions for micro firms

Preface

Chapter 1 : Introduction
Chapter 2 : Risk Assessment: Getting the ‘Big Picture’
Chapter 3 : Safety Management
Chapter 4 : Safety Performance in an SME Environment
Chapter 5 : Safety Climate of Small-to-Medium Enterprises
Chapter 6 : Competences for a Culture of Prevention: Conditions for Learning and Change in SMEs
Chapter 7 : Micro-SMEs : A Special Case
Chapter 8 : Monitoring and Modifying a Safety Management System
Chapter 9 : Risk Communication in SMEs

Index