Abstract

In Québec, companies with fewer than 50 employees account for the vast majority (98%) of companies and 40% of the labour force. In recent years, these businesses have seen an increase in the number of injured workers who continue to receive compensation for lost wages 18 months after their accident. In the first phase of this project, researchers will develop and validate a methodology, tracking employer contributions to the Québec occupational health and safety plan (almost entirely based on a unit rate or on a personalised rate of less than 10%), to rapidly identify companies with fewer than 50 employees. Once validated, this method will allow the researchers to draw up a comparative portrait of the frequency, severity, and characteristics of occupational injuries as a function of the size of the company. Findings on small businesses will help define research and courses of action in the sectors that are most affected.