Programs of early OHS intervention with small businesses
NOW RECRUITING PARTICIPANTS
An IWH research team is conducting an environmental scan including key informant interviews with English-speaking individuals who are knowledgeable about innovative and effective occupational health and safety (OHS) interventions for small businesses. These individuals can include researchers, OHS knowledge leaders, representatives from OHS organizations, employers' and employees' representative bodies, etc., from Ontario, Canada, or beyond.
Please contact the Principal Investigator Dr. Dwayne Van Eerd (dvaneerd@iwh.on.ca) or Project Coordinator Morgane Le Pouesard (mlepouesard@iwh.on.ca) if you are interested in participating or have someone to recommend.
Reasons for the study
Small businesses pose a challenge to occupational health and safety (OHS) authorities. They contribute disproportionately to the total burden of work-related injuries, illnesses and fatalities. That is, their percentage contribution to all occupational injuries is greater than their percentage contribution to worked hours. As well, small businesses are difficult to reach because of their large number and their informal nature.
This project focuses on the OHS needs and challenges of small businesses by finding out what we already know about existing OHS interventions for small businesses that can be feasibly implemented in small business start-ups.
Objectives of the study
- Identify, describe and explore the nature of OHS interventions for small businesses in Canada and other high-income countries that can be implemented during the start-up phase of small businesses
- Determine the feasibility of adopting or adapting these interventions in British Columbia and Ontario
Target audience
Small businesses; small business association; OHS regulatory authorities
Project status
Ongoing
Research team
Collaborators and partners
Adina Croitoru, Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development
Lisa McGuire, Manufacturing Safety Alliance of British Columbia
Funded by
WorkSafeBC