Evaluation of occupational healthcare and safety-related support for small businesses in the Health and Welfare Services by regional competence centers
Background:
The support model entitled "Alternative needs-based occupational healthcare and safety-related support through competence centers" was evaluated by the Statutory Accident Insurance and Prevention in the Health and Welfare Services (
BGW). The model provides for the participation of the company’s management in an online course as a motivation as well as in a workplace consultation. The aspects analyzed were whether the occupational safety level of the intervention group (KPZ group) had improved with the support of the competence center and whether differences in the implementation of safety regulations to other support models (comparison group, CG) were identifiable.
Methods:
The samples were taken from companies insured by the
BGW. Criteria for inclusion were a maximum of 10 employees and the lack of a support certificate (KPZ group) as well as having chosen regular support or the company model (CG). The written surveys were conducted at baseline in the KPZ group and in all groups 6-12 months after the support measure. A total score from 1 to 6 points was used to assess the occupational safety level (low; moderate; high).
Results:
The KPZ group and CG consisted of 416 and 627 companies, respectively. The occupational safety level of the KPZ group showed significant improvement: at baseline 71 Procent had a low occupational safety level and 5 Procent a high occupational safety level. At the end, a medium or high level of occupational safety was reached with around 80 Procent in both groups, whereby significantly more companies reached a high level of occupational safety in the CG.
Discussion:
The occupational safety level of small businesses can be significantly increased through the support of competence centers. There were differences in the implementation rates between the support models but the magnitude was probably overestimated due to selection bias.
