Influence of political and socio-cultural environments on health and safety management within SMEs: A Ghana case study

Construction plays a major role in the economies of developed and developing countries. Sadly, it is also a major contributor to the occupational accident and ill-health statistics. This paper explores the environments within which SMEs manage health and safety in developing countries, in this case, Ghana. The majority of construction businesses are small and medium-sized enterprises and their capacity to manage health and safety depends on an enabling policy and cultural environments. Typically, workers are not trained in health and safety and there is little investment in health and safety management by owner/managers. The results suggest the extended family system and collectivist value systems have tremendous impact on the management of health and safety. The institutional structure has made little impact on health and safety attitudes and behaviours of owner/managers. Recommendations for improving health and safety on construction sites in Ghana are suggested which draw upon values which could promote enabling environment for the adoption good practice by SMEs.