Provision and perception of occupational health in small and medium-sized enterprises in Sheffield, UK

A random sample of managers of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) wa s selected from a database of businesses in Sheffield, UK. They were invite d to take part in a study to evaluate the provision and perception of occup ational health in SMEs in Sheffield. The study used an interviewer-led ques tionnaire, which collected quantitative and qualitative data; each intervie w took similar to 40 min to complete. Several approaches to recruitment wer e adopted during the study. Twenty-eight managers were interviewed over the 6 month study period. All of the SMEs employed <250 people; 43.2% did not have or had never reviewed a written health and safety policy. Only 18% had a written occupational health policy; 14.4% employed the services of a par t-time occupational health physician; 7.2% employed a health and safety adv isor; and 10.8% employed a part-time occupational health nurse. Twenty-five per cent had a nominated person responsible for occupational health and 67 % thought that a doctor or nurse would be the best person to provide an occ upational health service. Twenty-eight per cent of the companies carried ou t some form of pre-employment screening and 14.2% carried out health promot ion. Fifteen (53.5%) collected some form of health related absence data. Ei ght companies (28.6%) organized a formal induction programme for all new em ployees. Further work should be undertaken in an attempt to improve access to local industry and particularly to SMEs. This study has clearly shown th at access is possible, but different strategies of approach were required b efore a workable strategy could be found. Undoubtedly, this access can be i mproved by better understanding of the interaction between researchers, occ upational health providers and local managers of SMEs.