Organizational Characteristics of Small Metal-Fabricating Businessesin Minnesota

Abstract

Small U.S. businesses are underserved in terms of occupational health and safety (OHS) services. Little is known about organizational factors influencing OHS in these establishments. Machine guarding was quantitatively evaluated in 40 small businesses. Checklists were used to develop safety scores. Organizational information such as number of employees, unionization, and number of machines was obtained. Experience modification rates, annual sales, and credit ratings were also obtained. Safety scores were divided into terciles. Businesses with safety scores in the top third were unionized, had effective safety committees, and had been operational for more than 30 years. Interventions and policies targeted toward development and implementation of safety committees are needed to improve OHS in this cohort. Financial capability had no bearing on ability of a small business to mount an OHS programs. Non-unionized small businesses may be more vulnerable to occupational injuries.

Work‐related upper‐extremity amputations in Norway

“…Norwegian employers, including small businesses in construction and manufacturing are mandated to offer occupational health services to their workers [NLIA, 2010]. Samant et al [2007] documented the preventive effect of safety committees in reducing the risk of exposure to machine related hazards in small manufacturing businesses. The International Labor Organization (ILO) has underscored the critical role of the occupational health services in preventing work-related injuries [Fedotov, 2005].…”

“…The integration of a robust injury prevention program in occupational health services could yield significant preventive benefits. Samant et al [2007] documented the preventive effect of safety committees in reducing the risk of exposure to machine related hazards in small manufacturing businesses. The Norwegian Work Environment Act mandates safety committees for businesses with more than 50 workers, while safety representatives elected by and from workers are mandated for businesses with more than 10 workers [NLIA, 2006].…”

National machine guarding program: Part 2. Safety management in small metal fabrication enterprises

“…In the MN‐MGS, regardless of size, businesses with safety committees were found to have better safety practices when compared to those without ( P < 0.004 for trend) [Samant et al, ]. The MN‐MGS found that 57% of participating businesses (n = 40) had a safety committee at baseline [Brosseau et al, ] compared with 37% in the NMGP.…”

“…However, the study was constrained by a small sample size. [Munshi et al, ; Samant et al, ; Parker et al, ].…”

Individual-level and plant-level predictors of acute, traumatic occupational injuries in a manufacturing cohort

“…While workers at these plants are organised into at least one, and arguably more, level of organisation, department information was not available to us. We collapsed 56 plants into types according to the nature of the work done in the plant and modelled unionisation of the plants, with the hypothesis that stronger safety programming at unionised plants would result in lower injury rates 12 24. While we do not know if these plant-level variables are the most meaningful plant-level exposures in this workforce, by using available data from an existing survey, we have made some progress in parsing plants’ contributions to individuals’ injury rates.…”