Occupational Safety and Environmental Risks Scenario of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs): An Analysis of the Situation in Harare Chemical Industries, Zimbabwe

Aims: To analyze the nature and peculiarities of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Zimbabwe chemical industry with reference to safety and environmental risks.

Study Design: This study took a survey approach.

Place and Duration of Study: Graniteside (GR), Willowvale (WV), Southerton (ST), Workington (WN) and Msasa (MS) industrial areas in Harare Zimbabwe between June 2011 and October 2012.

Methodology: We administered a survey-questionnaire to collect primary data from respondents coming from 49 SMEs using proportional sampling (7 GR, 10 ST, 12 WN, 11 WV and 9 MS); 6 Large Enterprises (LEs) and 5 key informants from government and industry associations. Other data was obtained from document analysis from libraries and websites of industrial association and observations made on industrial visits.

Results: Results showed that 85.6%, 93.8%, 95.9% and 93.8% of SMEs did not have Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) policies, risk analysis strategy, staff welfare facilities and did not keep accident records respectively. Moreover, most premises were not appropriate for chemical handling; processing and storage due to the fact that the enterprises had shunned government designated areas. The LEs interviewed had comprehensive approach to safety and environmental management, though most of them struggle mainly with risk analysis. Analysis showed that the current SME OHS scenario was due to lack of national legislation governing their operation. This results in SME operations being informal, up to individual organization’s discretion and without regard to OSH and environmental management.

Conclusion: Though SMEs largely contribute to Zimbabwean economy and to output of chemical industry, their operations are out rightly OSH and environmentally irresponsible. The OSH scenario of SMEs could be improved by involvement of all stakeholders in policy formulation and support. Collaboration, information disclosure and benchmarking with long established large enterprises can enhance SMEs OHS and environmental management.