A health and safety system which works for small firms.

In 1996 the Health and Safety Commission (HSC) carried out its largest consultation exercise with small firms through the distribution of a discussion document. The document described what HSC knew about health and safety in small firms; what worries small firms had, and what HSC was doing to help. The Commission asked for views from small firms on the problems and what should be done to help. Responses to the discussion document were analysed and form the basis of the Commission’s strategy for small firms. This article describes the background and environment against which this strategy has been formulated.