Workplace Safety

1. 1

   The owner is the person primarily responsible for workplace safety in three of four small businesses. Designated employees are responsible 14 percent of the time. As businesses grow larger, primary responsibility for safety shifts from employers to designated employees.

2. 2

   Forty-three (43) percent of small-business owners believe the greatest potential threat of an employee work-related injury or fatality lies with workplace accidents. But 38 percent believe it lies with traffic accidents, and 4 percent workplace violence. Fourteen (14) percent volunteer that none of the three present potential danger. Owners of larger firms are more likely to cite workplace accidents as are owners of firms in more dangerous industries (excepting transportation).

3. 3

   Work-related driving is common among small-business employees. About five of eight small firms employ people who drive as part of their jobs. Fifty-seven (57) percent of owners screen applicants for jobs with driving responsibilities for prior moving traffic violations, drunk driving convictions, etc. Sixteen (16) percent conduct driver’s training or send employees to places that do.

4. 4

   Seventy (70) percent of small businesses offer free entry to their public areas; 23 percent screen people through various methods. Sixteen (16) percent use security cameras to protect employees while 47 percent say that they check the background of job applicants for violent behavior.

5. 5

   Seventy-seven (77) percent of small-business owners including 90 percent of those employing 10 or more people personally conduct or have someone else conduct periodic safety inspections. Well over 90 percent conduct them in the manufacturing and construction industries, industries statistically among the most dangerous. Inspections occur least frequently in firms located in comparatively safe industries.

6. 6

   Twelve (12) percent of small businesses have an employee safety committee; 55 percent have written safety rules; 60 percent provide safety information during a new employee’s orientation. Larger, small firms are substantially more likely to have each of the three than smaller, small firms.

7. 7

   Nineteen (19) percent of owners report taking some type of safety training or seminar during the last 12 months. Of those not participating, 32 percent say that they would be “highly likely” to attend a half-day program if they received a “break” on their workers’ compensation insurance.

8. 8

   Twelve (12) percent requested at least one on-site safety consultation in the last five years. Consultations most frequently were given by private engineering or consulting firms, or insurance companies. The most common reason for a request was a routine safety inspection and the second most common to ensure regulatory compliance.

9. 9

   Twenty-six (26) percent of all small employers and 53 percent of those employing 20 or more people say that they received an OSHA or a state OSHA inspection in the last five years.

10. 10

    Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) may be engaged by OSHA as an intermediary to assist small employers with their workplace safety problems. Twelve (12) percent report direct experience with an SBDC and over half say that they have heard the program.

Volume 2, Issue 1, 2002
ISSN 1534-8326

William J. Dennis, Jr.
NFIB Research Foundation

• 2Which presents the greatest potential on-the-job danger to your employees? Top 100
• 7Do you personally conduct or do you have someone else conduct periodic safety inspections of your workplace(s)? Top 100
• 13Is safety training or safety awareness part of a new employee’s job orientation? Top 100
• 15Within the last five years, have you asked for help from a Small Business Development Center for any reason or attended a function sponsored by one? Top 100
• 1Compared to other industries, is your industry a relatively dangerous industry to work in, a relatively safe industry to work in, or about average?
• 3How many of your employees drive a vehicle as part of their job?
• 3aDo you screen applicants for jobs with driving responsibilities for prior moving traffic violations, drunk driving convictions, etc.?
• 3bDo you conduct driver safety training sessions for your drivers or send them to a place that does?
• 4Do your customers have free entry into your business or must they pass a guard, receptionist desk, or locked door before they enter?
• 4aDo you want or not want people to pass a security screen before entering your business? Do you feel that way strongly?
• 5Do you use security cameras to increase employee safety?
• 6Do you check the background of potential employees to determine if they have a history of violent behavior?
• 7aWho conducts those inspections?
• 8Within the last 12 months, have you personally attended a seminar, conference session, or training on workplace safety or reducing accidents?
• 8aWould you be highly likely, somewhat likely, not too likely, or not at all likely to attend a half-day seminar on workplace safety if your firm got a break on its workers’ compensation premiums?
• 9Within the last 12 months, have you sent an employee to attend a seminar, conference session, or training on workplace safety, reducing accidents, etc.?
• 9aWould you be highly likely, somewhat likely, not too likely, or not at all likely to send an employee to a half-day seminar on workplace safety if your firm got a break on its workers’ compensation premiums?
• 10Are you or is a designated employee primarily responsible for safety in your business?
• 11Do you have an employee safety committee in your business?
• 12Do you have written safety rules or policies?
• 14In the last five years, have you requested from an outside source an on-site safety consultation for your business?
• 14aDid you request the on-site safety consultation from:?
• 14bWhy did you request the on-site safety consultation?
• 14cIf you were to request an on-site visit or otherwise obtain personalized workplace safety information for your business, from whom would you probably obtain the most useful information?
• 15aWere you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, not too satisfied, or not at all satisfied with the value of what you received from the SBDC?
• 15bHave you ever heard of Small Business Development Centers?
• 16Do you participate in a Voluntary Protection Partnership, also called a VPP?
• 16aHave you every heard of a Voluntary Protection Partnership?
• 17Within the last five years, has your business been inspected by OSHA or its state equivalent?