The purpose of this study was to evaluate the implementation
of an Occupational Health and Safety Management
Model for informal sector workers in Thailand.
The studied model was characterized by participatory
approaches to preliminary assessment, observation of
informal business practices, group discussion and participation,
and the use of environmental measurements
and samples. This model consisted of four processes:
capacity building, risk analysis, problem solving, and
monitoring and control. The participants consisted of
four local labor groups from different regions, including
wood carving, hand-weaving, artificial flower
making, and batik processing workers. The results
demonstrated that, as a result of applying the model,
the working conditions of the informal sector workers
had improved to meet necessary standards. This model
encouraged the use of local networks, which led to
cooperation within the groups to create appropriate
technologies to solve their problems. The authors suggest
that this model could effectively be applied elsewhere
to improve informal sector working conditions
on a broader scale.