Small business owners' health and safety intentions: A cross-sectional survey

Brosseau & Li, 2005

Keywords: occupational health and safety, small businesses, behavioral intentions, attitudes, theory of planned behavior

The Study: The study examines the factors influencing small business owners’ intentions to improve workplace health and safety, based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour. Three mediating variables were analyzed: attitude toward safety, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control. The sample included 348 manufacturing business owners (5–50 employees), randomly selected.

Key Findings: All three variables were significantly correlated with safety intentions, with attitude toward safety showing the strongest relationship. Path analysis confirmed that attitude has the strongest direct effect on intentions, while subjective norm and perceived behavioral control have weaker effects. Attitudes are influenced by outcome beliefs, such as making employees healthier and happier, increasing productivity, lowering compensation costs, and improving product quality. Normative and control beliefs also contribute indirectly.

Practical Implications: The findings suggest that interventions aimed at improving workplace health and safety should focus primarily on strengthening owners’ attitudes. This can be achieved by emphasizing tangible benefits, such as improved employee health, higher productivity, and cost reduction. Addressing underlying beliefs, especially those related to positive outcomes, may increase intentions and safety-related behaviors.

Reference: Brosseau, L. M., & Li, S. Y. (2005). Small business owners' health and safety intentions: A cross-sectional survey. Environmental Health, 4:23.

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