Safety First: Sustaining Workplace Practices in Small and Medium Enterprises in Albay, Philippines
Author: Eduardo Thaddeus M. Livica, Ana Marie R. Abante
Country: Philippines
Volume & Issue: Volume 1, Issue 1, April 2026 - June 2026
Page No.: 14-18
DOI.: https://doi.org/10.63941/eupij.2026.1.1.02
Publication Date: May 20, 2026
Abstract:
This study focused on assessing the level of Occupational Safety and Health compliance among Small and Medium Enterprises in Albay, Philippines, with particular attention to perceived compliance, local practices, challenges, and the development of policy recommendations. An explanatory sequential mixed-methods design was employed, beginning with a Likert-scale survey to measure OSH compliance across the six indicators among SMEs in the study area, followed by key informant interviews with OSH officers, medical officers, and the CEOs to provide qualitative insights that explained and enriched the survey findings. Findings revealed that Urban districts like Legazpi City and Daraga lead in compliance because of strong governance, training, and inspections, while Tabaco City and Ligao City show moderate compliance but struggle with cultural resistance, slowing adoption of safety practices, and rural districts such as Polangui, Oas, Guinobatan, and Camalig lag behind due to weak incentives, limited resources, and poor training access. The SME-Integrated OSH Compliance Model ties these insights together, showing that governance, culture, inspections, incentives, and training must work together to build a sustainable safety culture across Albay. The assessment of SME-Integrated OSH compliance in Albay highlights a clear tiered performance across districts, with urban centers leading through strong governance and structured training, mid-tier districts struggling with cultural adoption, and rural areas lagging due to resource and training gaps. Urban best practices such as leadership commitment, inspections, and incentives, offer replicable models, but persistent challenges like weak incentives, resistance to change, and limited resources confirm SMEs’ structural disadvantages compared to larger firms. Addressing these gaps through targeted interventions and support mechanisms is essential to ensure equitable compliance outcomes. The SME-Integrated OSH Compliance Model provides a comprehensive framework that integrates governance, culture, inspections, incentives, and skills development, converging on the goal of building a sustainable workplace safety culture across Albay. The practical implication of this study is that policymakers must apply a tiered approach, replicating urban best practices, strengthening communication in mid-tier districts, and expanding incentives and training access in rural SMEs to build a sustainable workplace safety culture in Albay.
Keywords:
OSH, SME, OSH-Compliance, Compliance Incentive, Risk Management, Organizational Commitment, Urban, Rural
