ABSTRACT
Fifteen Estonian enterprises were investigated to determine the safety level, using Method for Industrial Safety and Health Activity Assessment (MISHA) method. Some of the firms have implemented OHSAS 18001 or belong to the foreign companies. One of the ideas to improve the safety level at the enterprise is learning through the interviews. The interview was based on MISHA method. The safety performance elements were divided into three parts: formal, real and combined ones. The statistics was carried out using factor analysis with Barlett’s test, ANOVA and T-square test with Wilks’ Lambda row. The main possibilities to influence on safety level in the firm to employ the Working Environment Specialists (WES), as they are more educated and supported by the law in the work safety area. In small- and medium-size enterprises, there are only few resources to hire the WES. If the OHSAS 18001 was implemented, then the assignment of tasks and responsibilities in Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) was committed to the top management (p = 0.000), the employer was revising the safety policy (p = 0.000), the personnel’s responsibilities and authorities in OHS were clearly defined (p = 0.013). The role of the working environment representative was not particularly significant in the investigated enterprises (p = 0.350). At the same time, the firm’s type was significant on the supervisor/employee communication (p = 0.001) and on general communication procedures (p = 0.006).
