Book Reviews

Abstract

management, reflecting the low level of representative organization that typically exists in small firms.Chapter 9 aims to demonstrate that strategies to improve health and safety performance in small firms need to consider the business environment as well as the social and regulatory context. The author describes the role of supply chain relationships in influencing health and safety performance in small enterprises in certain sectors. This reflects, on the one hand, the self interest of large firm customers in what goes on in their suppliers and, on the other hand, the potential business benefits to suppliers of being able to access the health and safety resources of their customers. In addition, the author suggests there are other potentially relevant intermediaries that deal with small firms who could be sensitized to health and safety messages in order to promote their implementation. At the same time, it is stressed that such a strategy is a means of augmenting existing regulation, not replacing it, since the role of regulatory inspection combined with the advisory role of inspection services remains vital if health and safety management in small firms is to be improved.Overall, this book is a welcome addition to the literature, which is likely to attract interest from researchers involved in regulation and employment relations issues in small firms, as well as those whose interest lies mainly in health and safety issues. The core message of the book is to advocate the use of intermediaries and support networks as change agents with respect to the management of health and safety issues in small firms, within the context of a voluntary or nonregulatory approach. The density of the material presented and the range of international contexts that are considered means that it is not the easiest book to read. It is also a little repetitious in places, reflecting perhaps its origins in the national reports from a large international collaborative project. Nevertheless, the shortage of up-to-date material on approaches to 'better regulation' from a small firm's standpoint, and on health and safety issues in particular, makes it a valuable source of material for those interested in small business studies and associated policy issues. Finally, as the author recognizes in the conclusion, there is a clear need for further research in this area, for example, to evaluate the effectiveness of the use of intermediary agencies to promote improved health and safety in small firms.