Motivational factors influencing small construction and auto repair enterprises to participate in occupational health and safety programmes

TY - JOUR

T1 - Motivational factors influencing small construction and auto repair enterprises to participate in occupational health and safety programmes

AU - Kvorning, Laura Veng

AU - Hasle, Peter

AU - Christensen, Ulla

PY - 2015/1/1

Y1 - 2015/1/1

N2 - Small enterprises have limited resources to prioritise occupational health and safety (OHS) so regulatorsand other stakeholders have developed programmes to support them. The present study analysed thefactors influencing active participation of small construction and auto repair enterprises to engage in aDanish national OHS programme focusing on the prevention of wear and tear of the musculoskeletalsystem. The programme provided the enterprises with financial support and support from a facilitator.The study was a qualitative case study supplemented with selected survey data from the enterprisesand qualitative data from stakeholders involved in the implementation of the programme. The resultsshowed that the way the programme was introduced through labour inspectors, employer associations,or networks influenced the motivation of the enterprises to engage in the programme. The motivation foractive participation also depended on the content of the prevention package, the economic support andthe possibility for facilitation. The decision to start the implementation process depended on whether theowner-managers acknowledged the need for the new OHS approach and whether they found the processmeaningful. Contextual factors, as experienced by the owner-managers, influenced the motivation foractive participation. These included inter alia general attitude towards authorities and procedures, accessto relevant projects and technical equipment, the characteristics of the manager, and the workplace culture.It is concluded that contextual factors can limit the efficacy of programme mechanisms and shouldbe taken into account when designing programmes.

AB - Small enterprises have limited resources to prioritise occupational health and safety (OHS) so regulatorsand other stakeholders have developed programmes to support them. The present study analysed thefactors influencing active participation of small construction and auto repair enterprises to engage in aDanish national OHS programme focusing on the prevention of wear and tear of the musculoskeletalsystem. The programme provided the enterprises with financial support and support from a facilitator.The study was a qualitative case study supplemented with selected survey data from the enterprisesand qualitative data from stakeholders involved in the implementation of the programme. The resultsshowed that the way the programme was introduced through labour inspectors, employer associations,or networks influenced the motivation of the enterprises to engage in the programme. The motivation foractive participation also depended on the content of the prevention package, the economic support andthe possibility for facilitation. The decision to start the implementation process depended on whether theowner-managers acknowledged the need for the new OHS approach and whether they found the processmeaningful. Contextual factors, as experienced by the owner-managers, influenced the motivation foractive participation. These included inter alia general attitude towards authorities and procedures, accessto relevant projects and technical equipment, the characteristics of the manager, and the workplace culture.It is concluded that contextual factors can limit the efficacy of programme mechanisms and shouldbe taken into account when designing programmes.

U2 - 10.1016/j.ssci.2014.06.003

DO - 10.1016/j.ssci.2014.06.003

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0925-7535

VL - 71

SP - 253

EP - 263

JO - Safety Science

JF - Safety Science

IS - Part C

ER -