Occupational health and safety in small enterprises

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Sustainable Development
• Global Health Policy

Background:

• Health and work are integral to sustainable development, impacting the global labor force of 2.6 billion.
• Small-scale enterprises (SSEs) employ a significant portion of the workforce, particularly in developing nations.
• Workers in SSEs are often underserved regarding occupational health and safety knowledge and resources.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the characteristics of small-scale enterprises (SSEs).
• To identify relevant World Health Organization (WHO) resources for chemical hazards, safety, and emergency preparedness in SSEs.
• To explore the application of the WHO's "Occupational Health for All" concept and Global Strategy to SSEs.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of WHO publications and documents.
• Analysis of common features of small-scale enterprises.
• Examination of existing occupational health frameworks and strategies.

Main Results:

• SSEs present unique challenges in implementing health and safety measures.
• WHO provides a range of documents and strategies applicable to chemical hazards, safety, and emergency preparedness.
• The "Occupational Health for All" concept and Global Strategy offer a framework for addressing SSEs' needs.

Conclusions:

• Targeted interventions and resource dissemination are needed to improve occupational health and safety in SSEs.
• Leveraging existing WHO frameworks can enhance health and safety outcomes for workers in small-scale enterprises.
• Addressing the health and safety of SSE workers is crucial for achieving sustainable development goals.