Citation

Olsen K, Harris LA, Laird I, Legg S, Perry M, Hasle P. Pol. Pract. Health Saf. 2010; 8(2): 57-76.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (Great Britain))

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to investigate new ways of managing hazardous chemicals in small businesses. This purpose is pursued by examining owner-managers' perception, knowledge and practice in relation to the management of hazardous chemicals, and the preferred information sources used in small businesses in three industry sectors. Seventy-five owner-managers of small businesses (36 hairdressers, 25 printers and 14 apple growers) in New Zealand were interviewed about their attitude towards hazardous chemicals, as well as their knowledge and management of them. The majority of the owners were not concerned about dealing with the chemicals used in their industry. In general, their knowledge about health and safety, as well as their compliance practice in relation to hazardous chemicals, was poor, although they were unaware of this fact. The apple growers stood out as having the best practical management of hazardous chemicals, and the hairdressers and printers had poorer management practices but in different respects. Suppliers and industrial associations were identified as important actors in all three industries, but the other important actors in each industry were different. The study found that there is a need to develop differential and multifaceted intervention strategies tailored to the different industries based on suppliers, industrial associations and industry-specific structures.