Organizational Characteristics Influence Implementation of Worksite Health Protection and Promotion Programs: Evidence from Smaller Businesses

We explored associations between organizational factors (size, sector, leadership support, and organizational capacity) and implementation of occupational safety and health (OSH) and worksite health promotion (WHP) programs in smaller businesses. Methods: We conducted a web-based survey of human resource managers of 117 smaller businesses (<750 employees) and analyzed factors associated with implementation of OSH and WHP among these sites using multivariate analyses. Results: Implementation of OSH, but not WHP activities, was related to industry sector (P=0.003). Leadership support was positively associated with OSH activities (P<0.001), but negatively associated with WHP implementation. Organizational capacity (budgets, staffing, and committee involvement) was associated with implementation of both OSH and WHP. Size was related to neither. Conclusions: Leadership support and specifically allocated resources reflecting that support are important factors for implementing OSH and WHP in smaller organizations.