Companies with high occupational health and safety (OHS) standards and a healthy, safe and motivated workforce are the most successful and competitive, while preventive approaches to OHS have proven to be cost-effective.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are a key pillar of economies around the world and in Slovenia. However, they tend to have higher rates of work-related accidents and occupational diseases, mainly due to limited human and financial capacity, lack of awareness of OSH issues and difficult access to external support and training. Despite their economic importance, SMEs remain more vulnerable to occupational safety and health than larger organisations.

The most common occupational health and safety deficiencies in SMEs are:

• non-existence or incomplete or inadequate risk assessment,
• failure to provide preventive or periodic health check-ups,
• failure to comply with prescribed safety measures,
• inadequate employee training,
• failure to use or incorrect use of personal protective equipment,
• Failure to conduct periodic inspections of the working environment and work equipment.

Our work in the field of occupational health and safety

We shape the future of safe and healthy work

ZDOPS, within the Economic and Social Council (ESS), actively co-shapes legislation in the field of occupational health and safety. With our professional approach and many years of experience, we contribute to the development of regulations that protect the interests of employers, and we advocate solutions that strengthen workplace safety while reducing unnecessary administrative burdens for employers. In order to provide the best solutions to our members and strengthen the business environment, we connect with various partners, including other employer organizations and domestic and international institutions.

We strengthen knowledge, build security

We inform our members about changes in legislation in the field and offer them support by conducting training in the field of occupational health and safety. We place preventive action at the heart of our approach for members, as we believe that anticipating and preventing risks is the most effective way to ensure a healthy and safe working environment.

We connect key stakeholders

We are building a bridge between employers and institutions:

• Ministry of Labor, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities – we participate in the formulation of policies and strategies,
• Occupational health and safety inspection – we establish a constructive dialogue to better understand the requirements and state of the field,
• National Network for Occupational Safety and Health – we co-create a connected community of experts,
• European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) – we bring European good practices to the Slovenian environment.