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A balancing act: Swedish occupational safety and health inspectors’ reflections on their bureaucratic role when supervising micro-enterprises

Author

Listed:
  • Emma Hagqvist

    (Stockholm University
    Mid Sweden University)

  • Stig Vinberg

    (Mid Sweden University)

  • Susanna Toivanen

    (Stockholm University
    Mälardalen University)

  • Bodil J. Landstad

    (Mid Sweden University
    Levanger Hospital)

Abstract

The safety and health of many workers employed in micro-enterprises (with less than 10 employees) is poor, and legal arrangements related to working environments remain a considerable challenge in these enterprises. The aim of this study is to gain a deeper understanding of how Swedish occupational safety and health (OSH) inspectors perceive themselves as inspectors and their role as bureaucratic regulators when meeting micro-enterprises. In the study, 11 Swedish inspectors were interviewed and asked to reflect on their role as inspectors, how they perceive themselves as inspectors and what their role is as bureaucratic regulators when inspecting micro-enterprises. The qualitative content analysis revealed one theme—a balancing act—and three categories: one inspector, many roles; interactions with micro-entrepreneurs; and exercise the profession as an inspector. The results showed that OSH inspectors experience challenges in meeting the requirements of street-level bureaucracy while addressing the needs of micro-enterprises. In conclusion, OSH inspectors need organisational support to develop inspection models and enforcement styles tailored to micro-enterprises, as this could ease their work and contribute to better inspection outcomes. The implications of this study include a need for increased competence about working environment issues in micro-enterprises, development of enforcement styles among the inspectors, emphasis of the importance of specific governmental projects for OSH and development of models in this enterprise group. Additionally, development of micro-enterprise managers’ competence and ability to handle issues related to the working environment and health were also important.

Suggested Citation

  • Emma Hagqvist & Stig Vinberg & Susanna Toivanen & Bodil J. Landstad, 2021. "A balancing act: Swedish occupational safety and health inspectors’ reflections on their bureaucratic role when supervising micro-enterprises," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 57(2), pages 821-834, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:sbusec:v:57:y:2021:i:2:d:10.1007_s11187-020-00384-2
    DOI: 10.1007/s11187-020-00384-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lotta Dellve & Andrea Eriksson, 2017. "Health-Promoting Managerial Work: A Theoretical Framework for a Leadership Program that Supports Knowledge and Capability to Craft Sustainable Work Practices in Daily Practice and During Organizationa," Societies, MDPI, vol. 7(2), pages 1-18, May.
    2. Stig Vinberg & Elisabeth Hansen & Marianne Hedlund & Bodil J. Landstad, 2017. "Ambiguity among Managers in Small-Scale Enterprises: How to Handle Business and Workplace Health Management," Societies, MDPI, vol. 7(4), pages 1-17, November.
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