Department of Occupational Health Engineering, Research Center for Health Sciences, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IR.
Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IR.
Ann Glob Health. 2019 Apr 1;85(1):51. doi: 10.5334/aogh.2438.
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) include a large part of manufacturing jobs and play an important role in developing national economics and employment.
The present study aimed to investigate occupational health problems and safety conditions among SMEs in Shiraz, Iran.
This cross-sectional study was carried out on 711 SMEs, including 371 small enterprises (fewer than 25 workers) and 340 medium enterprises (25-99 workers), in Shiraz, Iran. The participants were selected randomly among the workplaces under the coverage of social security insurance. The researcher-made questionnaire, which consisted of demographic characteristics, the frequency rate of occupational accidents, and exposure to workplace harmful agents, were distributed among participants.
The results showed there were significantly more physical and chemical harmful agents in medium enterprises compared to small ones (P < 0.001). However, the frequency rate of accidents in small enterprises was significantly higher than in medium enterprises (P < 0.001). Also, there was no significant difference between the studied enterprises in ergonomic hazards, except for awkward posture, whose frequency rate was significantly higher in small enterprises (P < 0.05). Finally, among the reported symptoms, the prevalence of eye, skin, ear, and respiratory symptoms was significantly higher in medium enterprises compared to small enterprises (P < 0.05).
Occupational health and safety (OHS) regulations in medium enterprises have led to improved OHS conditions compared to small enterprises. Therefore, small enterprises should be included in OHS regulations.
中小企业（SMEs）包含了很大一部分制造业工作岗位，在发展国民经济和就业方面发挥着重要作用。
本研究旨在调查伊朗设拉子中小企业的职业健康问题和安全状况。
这是一项横断面研究，在伊朗设拉子的 711 家中小企业中进行，包括 371 家小型企业（少于 25 名工人）和 340 家中型企业（25-99 名工人）。参与者是在社会保障保险覆盖范围内的工作场所中随机选择的。研究人员制作的问卷包括人口统计学特征、职业事故频率以及接触工作场所有害因素，分发给参与者。
结果表明，中型企业中存在的物理和化学有害因素明显多于小型企业（P<0.001）。然而，小型企业的事故频率明显高于中型企业（P<0.001）。此外，除了姿势不当的频率在小型企业中明显更高（P<0.05）外，研究企业在人体工程学危害方面没有显著差异。最后，在所报告的症状中，中型企业的眼部、皮肤、耳部和呼吸道症状的患病率明显高于小型企业（P<0.05）。
与小型企业相比，中型企业的职业健康和安全（OHS）法规导致 OHS 条件得到改善。因此，应将小型企业纳入 OHS 法规。
