Occupational Safety, Health, and Ergonomics in Smes: A Conceptual Framework for Sustainable Work Performance

Occupational safety and health (OSH) and ergonomics are critical elements in ensuring sustainable workforce productivity. This is especially true for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). OSH focuses on identifying, assessing, and mitigating workplace hazards, while ergonomics ensures that tasks and environments are aligned with human capabilities to reduce strain and improve efficiency. Despite their importance, SMEs frequently encounter financial limitations, managerial capacity gaps, and low regulatory awareness, which make the implementation of OSH and ergonomic initiatives difficult. These barriers have drawn increasing concern as poor safety and ergonomics are strongly associated with health risks, reduced morale, and weaker competitiveness. Drawing from the Job Demands–Resources (JD-R) model and Socio-Technical Systems (STS) theory, this paper presents a conceptual study that integrates OSH and ergonomics within the SME context by examining the interrelationships between work organization, environmental conditions, posture and movement, productivity, and work performance. This paper also explores how digital technologies, Industry 4.0, and post- pandemic adjustments have reshaped approaches to workplace safety and ergonomics. By proposing a conceptual framework, the study contributes both theoretically and practically, offering SMEs pathways to enhance productivity while safeguarding employee well-being. The insights are expected to provide useful implications for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers committed to building safer, more adaptive, and sustainable workplaces in the SME sector.