Application of the PAOT-GOHS Programme to SMEs in Korea

Introduction
This project was launched with the aim of enhancing the capability of occupational health activities of the workers and the managers in SMEs based on the PAOT(Participatory Action Oriented Training) programme which is aiming to facilitate planning and implementing practical risk reduction measures by means of mobilizing locally available resources.

Methods
PAOT-GOHS programme was designed on the basis of WISE and WIPE Programmes applying ILO's ergonomic checkpoints with introduction of Korean Group Occupational Health Service System. The programme proceeded in four steps: 1) Recruitment of participants, 2) Training of PAOT facilitators, 3) Follow-up visits to the workplace by the occupational health personnel of the GOHS center, and 4) Workshop for the presentation of achievements.

Results
Comparison of the enterprises before and after the improvements in terms of contents, cost and the benefit of the improvements revealed that those improvements brought higher productivity along with better safety and health control at a very low cost and in a short period of time.

Discussion
We expect that application of this programme to as many SMEs as possible, both with government’s support and with the cooperation of workers’ and employers’ organizations, will further strengthen the effectiveness of the PAOT programme and will bridge the gap between the law and unaccomplished compulsory measures. Furthermore, workers and employers alike may become to be used to controlling safety and health matters by themselves, if they repeatedly seek problems and diverse solutions for safety and health in their workplaces.