Preparing an EU project:
Experimental Implementation of OSHMS for SMEs 

The general aim of the “OSHMS for SME’s” project is to design, implement, and assess effectiveness of a proposed OSHMS for SMEs. The project will be done in the following phases:
a)	Adopting an OSHMS model for SME’s, based on the recent ILO-OSH-MS.
b) Developing or adopting some basic tools for hazard identification, risk assessment, accident root cause analysis, etc., "downsized" to SME level.
c) Train OSH experts (“field mediators”) how to implement the OSHMS for SME’s.
d) Experimentally implement the OSHMS in few SMEs, while researching factors that enhance or block the implementation (with a pilot study done first).
e) Carry out effectiveness assessment of the intervention and the implemented OSHMS.
f) Writing a manual for implementing OSHMS in SMEs.
g) Disseminate the knowledge and promote future activities in the area of OSHMS for SME’s.

The project will be carried out in 8 countries, with about 20 SMEs studied in every country. The participating countries are: Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Israel, Poland, Spain and UK. Team members include 4 national OSH institutes, three universities, one management company and one non-pro-profit OSH consultant firm. The first meeting of the research team took place at Prague, on May 2001. The meeting was hosted by the Czech Republic Occupational Safety Research Institute.  In this meeting, it was decided to submit an RTD proposal to the EU DG-XII 5th Framework Programme on October 2001. 

Basic Structure of the project
The project has two levels: international and national.
The main activities in the international level will be:
-	Agreeing on a common OSHMS and general guidelines based on ILO/OSH-MS.
-	Adapting professional and managerial tools such as hazard identification forms, risk assessment forms, checklists, root-cause accident analysis methods, etc. 
-	Defining and designing the stages of the interventions at the SME level (such as: introducing the concept to management members, motivating the SME to join, preliminary survey of the current OSH in the SME, training managers and workers, implement hazard analysis tools, coach hazard analysis, accident investigation, etc.) 
-	Build a workshop for training mediators (safety professionals) who can coach the SMEs. (Each country will recruit its own mediators).
-	Design effectiveness study to assess the success of the action.

The main activities in the national level will be:
-	Final adoption of the OSHMS according to national, regional or sectorial preferences. Fine-tuning of the guidelines of the OSHMS.
-	Deciding about the number and kind of SMEs that will take part.
-	Deciding about the method of carrying out the actual experimental implementation (who will coach the SMEs, how they will be trained, involvement of the private sector (safety consultants), method of financing the implementation, etc). In principal, 3 main options can be considered: (a) Implementation carried out fully by the staff of the National organization, (b) The national organization recruits and train special experts to do the job, and (c) The National organization issues a bid, asking private companies to carry out the implementation. (In a similar project done in Israel for experimental  implementation of the Israeli Standard 18001 [identical to OHSAS18001], we  chose the third option).
-	Recruiting the SME’s.
-	Overall responsibility of carrying out the implementation of the OSHMS in the SME’s.
-	Data collection for the international team (follow ups, feedback, results of effectiveness evaluation).

Each country will enjoy independence in conducting the actual intervention, while trying to conform to the general frame of the project.

Main Activities Chart 

2st team meeting (2 days) of team members:  (Planned date: May 2002).
Project start-up 

Research Group 1:
Adapting professional tools of hazard  identification, risk assessment, root-cause analysis, etc.

Research Group 2:
Designing intervention stages, follow-up forms

Research Group 3:
Preparing international workshop for moderators

Research Group 4:
Designing effectiveness  study

Action Plan on the National Level:
Adapting the OSHMS for local needs / language.
Recruiting SME’s. 
Pilot study (3 SME’s).
Main implementation of the OSHMS for SME’s.
Effectiveness assessment

Experimental implementation of OSHMS – see next page

1st workshop (4 days) for mediators:  (July 2002 ?):
Day 1: Introducing the suggested OSHMS of SMEs. .
Day 2: Professional tools for implementing the OSHMS.
Day 3: Stages of introducing OSHMS to MSE (the project framework).
Day 4: Evaluate the Effectiveness of the implemented OSHMS
(if possible: a visit to SME(s) which successfully adopted a similar OSHMS.

Preparing workshop (4 days) for mediators (mediators recruited by national organizations). Done by a selected sub-team with additional expert help.