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Document ID (ISN)110785
CIS number 10-0368
ISSN - Serial title 0925-7535 - Safety Science
Year 2010
Convention or series no.
Author(s) Micheli G.J.L., Cagno E.
Title Dealing with SMEs as a whole in OHS issues: Warnings from empirical evidence
Bibliographic information July 2010, Vol.48, No.6, p.729-733. 26 ref.
Abstract In Italy, 72% of the employees work in small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and they are affected by the 80% of the reported accidents. Some studies suggest that SMEs have serious problems aggravated by limited access to human, economic and technological resources. Moreover, it is now acknowledged that methods developed specifically for large enterprises (LEs) cannot be simply transferred to smaller enterprises. Although the debate concerning essentially the size of the enterprises and their corresponding accident rates is ongoing, very little attention is paid to the difference between the micro- (MiEs), the small- (SEs) and the medium-sized enterprises (MEs). Indeed, in most of the cases, SMEs are bundled together and considered as a whole, in opposition to LEs. Within the framework of the E-merging project, a project financed by the Italian National Institute for Insurance against Occupational Accidents - INAIL, who's main objective is to develop a software with a web-based interface capable of supporting SMEs in their safety management activities, some differences have been identified on the basis of two existing data sources.
Descriptors (primary) Italy; small enterprises; occupational accidents; risk factors
Descriptors (secondary) large enterprises; statistical evaluation; role of management; plant safety and health organization; role of insurance institutions; frequency rates; computerized data bases
Document type E - Books, reports, proceedings
Subject(s) Safety organization and training
Broad subject area(s) Industries and occupations
Browse category(ies) Small and medium-sized enterprises
Statistical methods