Vulnerability of employees in businesses with fewer than five workers (micro-enterprises) to occupational safety and health problems

作者：Park Jungsun; Park Jong shik; Han Boyoung; Kim Yangho^*

来源：American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 2017, 60(12): 1056-1065.

DOI：10.1002/ajim.22783

• exposure
• micro-enterprise
• small business
• working hours

IntroductionWe assessed the characteristics of micro-enterprises (businesses with fewer than five workers) focusing on occupational safety and health (OSH) issues.
MethodsWe performed a secondary analysis of data from the Economically Active Population Supplementary Survey and the fourth Korean Working Conditions Survey of 2014.
ResultsRelative to larger businesses, micro-enterprises employ more women, temporary workers, and older workers (>55 years). In addition, more workers in micro-enterprises held elementary occupations (unskilled or under-skilled) or sales and service jobs. Key sectors of such employment included the sectors of wholesale and retail trade and hotel and restaurants. Furthermore, lower skilled workers in such micro-enterprises more frequently reported exposure to ergonomic risk factors and subsequent musculoskeletal disorders, and they also experienced a much higher fatality rate due to occupational injuries.
ConclusionOur results indicate that Korean workers in micro-enterprises are more vulnerable to OSH problems than workers in larger businesses.

• 出版日期2017-12