Exploring Health, Safety and Environment Management Practices across Small-Medium Enterprises in Oman: Review & Recommendations

Abstract

Health and Safety can be described as regulations, policies and procedures which are put in place to prevent injury or adjacent unwanted events from occurring in the workplace and further afield. When individuals are approached by the topic of Health and Safety, they more than often unaware or uninformed of what it implies. However, they have unknowingly been practicing certain aspects of it all their lives. Research has shown that due to lack of resources, SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) tend to have poorer and less effective Health and Safety implementation due to several factors. This can lead to not only increased injuries but also a dark figure of Health and Safety violations, making it difficult to fully analyse the extent of the harm. In examining the development of H&S throughout the factory processes of the Industrial Revolution, significance is placed not only on greater transparency and attention paid to risk but also in ensuring uniformity of H&S implementation in the workplace hierarchy. In specific address to Oman, SMEs are attracted to the fiscal freedom the country provides. Oman has had a good track history adhering to international standards of H&S, also providing its own regulation. Most notably by the 2008 Ministerial Decree 286. Health and Safety in organisations is a significant tool used to protect the physical and mental well-being of the employees by identifying and eliminating safety hazards and creating a safety culture and Health and Safety management practices such as safety training, employee involvement and employee communication. There are characteristics of SMEs that impact HSE implementation which are important to understand as they are vital to working towards a more effective Health and Safety culture, implementation and therefore working environment. The major challenges facing SMEs in implementing H&S practices are costs, managerial commitment and safety culture.

Sistemas de gestión de seguridad y salud en el trabajo como herramienta de prevención de riesgos laborales en las pymes

“…El proceso de implementación de un SGSST en las empresas grandes y en las Pymes, difieren por sus características propias individuales, para lo cual [2], sugiere las siguientes etapas para las Pymes:…”

“…Es así como, uno de los desafíos que las Pymes se enfrentan para implementar los SGSST son los costos, el compromiso de la gerencia y la cultura de la seguridad, dificultad de los trabajadores, complejidad de los estándares [8]. Que luego se ve reflejado en el fracaso de las implementaciones de la SST [2]. Por ello, muchas empresas pequeñas y medianas no aplican un sistema de gestión de la SST, y tratan de cumplir lo mínimo que exige la normativa legal en el ámbito de la seguridad y salud en el trabajo.…”

“…A pesar de ello, la implementación de un SGSST es fundamental en las Pymes, puesto que garantiza la protección de los trabajadores, mejora la eficiencia y productividad de la empresa, así como, cumple con la legislación, normativas relacionadas con la seguridad y salud en el trabajo. [2], [3], [4].…”

Critical Success Factors for Sustainable Marketing: A Strategical Framework Using Key Performance Indicators in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Businesses in Oman

“…Due to various concerns and challenges, it is significantly more difficult for SMEs to expand their growth tactics. These are different, where each SMEs business problem has a solution (Khan and Alam, 2019;Alraja et al, 2022;Magd et al, 2020;Dahleez and Abdelfattah, 2021). The significance of strategies for marketing transitions from one category to another, services are required, and the SMEs may evaluate external chances while keeping their internal strengths in mind.…”

“…Deductive approach through small and medium enterprises (SMEs) has the capability and potential to grow their business (Khan and Alam, 2019;Alraja et al, 2022;Magd et al, 2020;Dahleezand Abdelfattah, 2021). It is followed by financial assistance, infrastructure support, enterprise culture and the marketing orientation variables.…”