This article focuses on occupational health and safety (OHS) risks in small business. There are three
reasons for devoting a whole paper to this subject. First, it is now patently clear that there are important
differences between large and small businesses – and between their OHS problems and solutions. While size is
the most obvious difference, economic/financial stability, expertise and resources available to deal with OHS,
preferred forms of communication style, control systems, and even ideology are equally divergent. Second, an
increasing proportion of the Australian workforce is being employed in small business due to major structural
changes occurring in the labour market. Third, there is mounting evidence that small business workers face a
higher risk of fatalities, permanent disabilities, and temporarily disabling injuries and illnesses. Fourth, there is
preliminary evidence that occupational violence is an increasing problem in retail small businesses.