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In recent years, in both the UK and throughout the EU, there has been a renewed interest in finding better ways of helping small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) to meet the objectives of occupational safety
and health law (OSH) law. This has been due partly to accumulated evidence from enforcing authorities and other key OSH system stakeholders about low standards in small firms; partly to on-going review of health and
safety performance which has shown a marked lack of progress in SME dominated sectors; and partly as a result of the need to examine alleged ‘burdens on business’ - specifically in relation to small firms in the context of calls for de-regulation. In the UK, both the previous chair of the Health and Safety Commission (HSC), Sir Frank Davies as well as, the current chair, Bill Callaghan, have made the issue one which is central to their strategies for
OHS performance improvement. Building on a national process of consultation to listen to small firms themselves and to probe their perceptions and needs, the HSC’s current strategy called, ‘Revitalising Health and Safety’ (RHS) has made positive engagement with small firms a clear priority. This paper reviews a range of strategic issues associated with efforts to improve OHS in small firms and sets out RoSPA’s views and suggestions on possible ways forward.
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