Falling outside the system : Occupational safety and health inspectors’ experiences of micro-enterprises in Sweden

In this study, 11Swedish occupational safety and health (OSH)i nspectors were interviewed about their views of and experiences interacting with micro-enterprises (1-9 employees). The qualitative content analysis found one theme, “Falling outside thes ystem”, and three subthemes, “The inspector—shaped by specific standards”, “The bureaucrat and the micro-entrepreneur—two separate worlds”, and “System faults and system changes”. According to the inspectors, the Swedish OSH regulatory system, with inspectors on the frontline, neglects the specific needs, circumstance and characteristics of micro-enterprises.Therefore,we suggest revising the OSH regulatory system and following inspection methods and enforcement styles to better address the needs of micro enterprises.Ingår i projekt finansierat av Arbetsmiljöverket (The Swedish Work Environment Authority). (Grant No. 2015/033753-31).