Issue Joint safety and health management for workplaces with fewer than 50 employees

Summary

Workplaces with fewer than 50 employees are singled out as the area most vulnerable to industrial accidents. The report proposes moving away from regulation aimed at each small workplace toward a joint safety and health management system. Support would be given for appointing joint safety managers at the level of industrial complexes or regions, backed by stronger support for SME and subcontracted workers. A cooperative safety management model between principal contractors and subcontractors would be introduced, with more government funding. The expected effect is a lighter safety management burden for SMEs, less safety polarisation and fewer fatal industrial accidents. The report cites the failure of small-workplace fatality rates to fall, even after the Serious Accidents Punishment Act was extended to firms with fewer than 50 employees, as the background.