Perceptions on safety management within South African small and medium enterprises (SMEs): research and theory

Abstract

This article is based on study of small and medium enterprise (SME) business owners on South Africa on the extent to which their businesses comply with safety legislation, the shortcomings in implementing legislation and the level of safety education of the owners and managers. A questionnaire was used to gather information and data were collected by means of computer-aided telephonic interviewing. A total of non-randomised 1 222 calls were made and 200 questionnaires were completed. The study found that although most small businesses have occupational health and safety policies there are still many that do not have. SME owners are not completely convinced that the policies are effective in influencing accidents in the workplace and, although risk assessments are conducted, this is often not done through a formal system of rating hazards. With training mostly done in-house respondents do not seem to recognise the need for formal training. This situation influences the safety situation of SMEs in the country negatively. Respondents agreed that increasing awareness of safety issues and safety training and education are important aspects in reducing accident rates. Addressing these issues will not only produce a safer working environment, but would probably lead to cost reduction and savings and, more importantly, a reduction in the accident rate in the SME sector in South Africa.