Health and Safety Management in UK and Spanish SMEs: A Comparative Study

This paper reports on a survey carried out among United Kingdom (UK) and Spanish small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to establish their approach to health and safety management and determine views on participating in voluntary management accreditation schemes. The study revealed some key differences between the responding UK and Spanish SMEs. There was (a) an enhanced level of awareness of health and safety legislation; (b) a higher prevalence of safety and quality management systems, and (c) greater involvement of senior managers in managing health and safety in UK enterprises. Interest was expressed in a voluntary management accreditation scheme for health and safety by over half the UK and Spanish sample. Furthermore, those enterprises participating in a voluntary quality management accreditation scheme were more likely to be interested in a voluntary scheme for health and safety management.