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This paper examines differences between formal safety and real safety in Estonian small and medium-sized enterprises. The results reveal key issues in safety culture assessment. Statistical analysis of safety culture questionnaires showed many organisations with an outstanding safety culture and positive safety attitudes. However, qualitative data indicated some important safety weaknesses and aspects that should be included in the process of evaluation of safety culture in organisations.

Abstract. The current study proposes a model for a positive safety culture with a knowledge management dimension and tests this on a sample of 1757 employees from Estonian SMEs in different branches of industry, using the factor analysis. Despite conceptual and empirical justification, researchers have not consistently included concepts of knowledge management in safety culture studies. This paper explores the possibility of using Knowledge Management in the Occupational Health and Safety Management System. The paper reports on an empirical examination of the relationship between safety climate and safety culture through a knowledge management dimension with a special focus on the management of safety knowledge. The results of this study indicate that a safety climate has impact on the three dimensions of safety culture, namely psychological, behavioral and organizational aspects of safety culture. This paper supplements Cooper's Reciprocal Model of Safety Culture with Knowledge Management System Dimensions. Several specific features of knowledge management, such as communication, personal competence and responsibility, were found to influence the relationship between a safety climate and a safety culture. Thus, an effective assessment tool for the evaluation of knowledge management dimensions of safety culture could be proposed based on the results of this study.

Abstract. The aim of the study is to show innovative possibilities for improvement of safety culture at enterprises through complex approach to occupational health and safety (OH&S). The knowledge of the leadership and workers in OH&S is not suffi cient at present in Estonia, particularly in small and medium-sized enterprises (the number is 60 000). The small (up to 50 workers) or medium-sized enterprises (up to 150 workers) have no possibility to hire the working environment specialist who would deal only with OH&S problems. Usually obligations in the fi eld of OH&S in small and medium-sized enterprises are delegated to one employee in addition to other responsibilities related to personnel, security, fi re protection and environmental problems. Therefore, the complex approach to management of OH&S issues is needed in order to create a good safety culture and to achieve positive results in company safety performance. The complex method consists of risk assessment and determination of safety level. The authors offer possible tools -simple computer applications which are available for managers, interviews with employers, employees and occupational health specialists for development and dissemination of safety culture. The opinion of workers and occupational health specialists has been taken into consideration in the planning of improvements of working conditions by the employers. The economic issues of safety and health improvement measures are presented.

Abstract. Safety culture is a sub-unit of organisational culture, which affects members' attitudes and behaviour in relation to organisation's ongoing health and safety performance. Many companies want to enhance their safety culture or some aspect of safety behaviour trying to find the effective way forward. Safety culture in small and medium-scale (SMEs) enterprises has received very little attention in Estonia. Estimates suggest that these enterprises have serious problems aggravated by limited access to human, economic, technological resources as well as lack of relevant occupational health and safety (oH&S) knowledge. The current paper commences with a discussion on the Reciprocal Model of Safety Culture and different perspectives on a framework espoused by Cooper (1999). The concept of safety culture and knowledge management is also discussed. Authors present supplemented Cooper's Reciprocal Model of Safety Culture with Knowledge Management System Dimensions. The exploratory study based on workplace visits and interviews with owner-managers of SMEs manufacturing enterprises gives an overview of the most characteristic oH&S representations and practices. An overview of the current Estonian oH&S system is also presented based on occupational health (oH) physicians' questionnaire surveys conducted in 2002 and 2009. The study suggests that there is need for discussion and improvement of collaboration between employers and oH professionals in order to strengthen knowledge management and infrastructure as well as safety culture at the Estonian enterprises. Competence and expertise in work and health topics is the foundation for the added value of oH professionals to the health of working population.Keywords: knowledge management, safety management, safety culture, work environment. INOVACIJOS DARBO VIETOJE: KONSTRUKTYVUS DARBO SAUGOS VADYBOS MODELIS Marina Järvis¹, Piia Tint²Talino technologijos universitetas, Kopli 101, 11712 Talinas, Estija El. paštas: ¹marina.jarvis@tseba.ttu.ee; ²piia.tint@tseba.ttu.ee Įteikta 2009-09-10; priimta 2009-03-05 Santrauka. Darbo saugos kultūra yra organizacinės kultūros subvienetas, darantis įtaką organizacijos narių požiūriui ir elgesiui, atsižvelgiant į organizacijoje vykdomą profesinės sveikatos ir darbo saugos politikos lygį. Daugelis kompanijų nori pagerinti saugos kultūrą ar tam tikrą aspektą ir bando rasti efektyvių būdų tam pasiekti. Saugos kultūrai mažose ir vidutinėse įmonėse Estijoje skiriama labai mažai dėmesio. Šios įmonės susiduria su rimtomis problemomis, kurias pagilina ribotas galimybės prieiti Verslas: teorija ir praktika, 2009, 10(2): 150-158 151