| Workplace health understandings and processes in small businesses: a systematic review of the qualitative literature. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 20140483 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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INTRODUCTION: Small businesses (SBs) play an important role in global economies, employ half of all workers, and pose distinct workplace health problems. This systematic review of qualitative peer-reviewed literature was carried out to identify and synthesize research findings about how SB workplace parties understand and enact processes related to occupational health and safety (OHS). METHODS: The review was conducted as part of a larger mixed-method review and in consultation with stakeholders. A comprehensive literature search identified 5067 studies. After screening for relevance, 20 qualitative articles were identified. Quality assessment led to 14 articles of sufficient quality to be included in the meta-ethnographic findings synthesis. RESULTS: This review finds that SBs have distinctive social relations of work, apprehensions of workplace risk, and legislative requirements. Eight themes were identified that consolidate knowledge on how SB workplace parties understand OHS hazards, how they manage risk and health problems, and how broader structures, policies and systems shape the practice of workplace health in SBs. The themes contribute to 'layers of evidence' that address SB work and health phenomena at the micro (e.g. employer or worker behavior), meso (e.g. organizational dynamics) and macro (e.g. state policy) levels. CONCLUSIONS: This synthesis details the unique qualities and conditions of SBs that merit particular attention from planners and occupational health policy makers. In particular, the informal workplace social relations can limit workers' and employers' apprehension of risk, and policy and complex contractual conditions in which SBs are often engaged (such as chains of subcontracting) can complicate occupational health responsibilities. This review questions the utility of SB exemptions from OHS regulations and suggests a legislative focus on the particular needs of SBs. It considers ways that workers might activate their own workplace health concerns, and suggests that more qualitative research on OHS solutions is needed. It suggests that answers to the SB OHS problems identified in this review might lie in third party interventions and improved worker representation. |
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Authors:
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Ellen MacEachen; Agnieszka Kosny; Krista Scott-Dixon; Marcia Facey; Lori Chambers; Curtis Breslin; Natasha Kyle; Emma Irvin; Quenby Mahood; |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Review |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Journal of occupational rehabilitation Volume: 20 ISSN: 1573-3688 ISO Abbreviation: J Occup Rehabil Publication Date: 2010 Jun |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2010-06-18 Completed Date: 2010-09-22 Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 9202814 Medline TA: J Occup Rehabil Country: Netherlands |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 180-98 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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The Institute for Work & Health, 481 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. emaceachen@iwh.on.ca |
Export Citation:
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| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Commerce Databases, Bibliographic Evaluation Studies as Topic Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice* Humans Occupational Health* Qualitative Research* Risk Management Work* Workplace / classification, legislation & jurisprudence, organization & administration* |
| Investigator | |
Investigator/Affiliation:
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Phil Bigelow / ; Sara Morassaei / ; Rachel Couban / ; Harry Shannon / ; Kimberley Cullen / ; Benjamin C Amick / |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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