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Conway SH, Pompeii LA, Casanova V, Douphrate DI. A qualitative assessment of safe work practices in logging in the southern United States. Am J Ind Med 2017; 60:58-68. [PMID: 27747911 DOI: 10.1002/ajim.22656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/24/2016] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The logging industry is recognized as one of the most dangerous professions in the U.S., but little is known about safety management practices on remote logging sites. METHODS A total of six focus group sessions were held among logging supervisors and front line crew members in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas (N = 27 participants). RESULTS Participants perceived that logging was a dangerous profession, but its risks had been mitigated in several ways, most notably through mechanization of timber harvesting. Log trucking-related incidents were widely identified as the primary source of risk for injury and death on logging work sites. Human error, in general, and being out of the machinery on the work site were highlighted as additional sources of risk. CONCLUSIONS Participants indicated high levels of personal motivation to work in a safe manner but tended to underestimate workplace hazards and expressed widely varying levels of co-worker trust. Am. J. Ind. Med. 60:58-68, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sadie H. Conway
- Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, Environmental Sciences; University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Public Health; Houston Texas
| | - Lisa A. Pompeii
- Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, Environmental Sciences; University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Public Health; Houston Texas
| | - Vanessa Casanova
- Department of Occupational Health Sciences; University of Texas Health Science Center Northeast; Tyler Texas
| | - David I. Douphrate
- Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences; University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Public Health in San Antonio
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152
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Mohammadfam I, Ghasemi F, Kalatpour O, Moghimbeigi A. Constructing a Bayesian network model for improving safety behavior of employees at workplaces. APPLIED ERGONOMICS 2017; 58:35-47. [PMID: 27633196 DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2016.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2015] [Revised: 05/09/2016] [Accepted: 05/10/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Unsafe behavior increases the risk of accident at workplaces and needs to be managed properly. The aim of the present study was to provide a model for managing and improving safety behavior of employees using the Bayesian networks approach. METHODS The study was conducted in several power plant construction projects in Iran. The data were collected using a questionnaire composed of nine factors, including management commitment, supporting environment, safety management system, employees' participation, safety knowledge, safety attitude, motivation, resource allocation, and work pressure. In order for measuring the score of each factor assigned by a responder, a measurement model was constructed for each of them. The Bayesian network was constructed using experts' opinions and Dempster-Shafer theory. Using belief updating, the best intervention strategies for improving safety behavior also were selected. RESULTS The result of the present study demonstrated that the majority of employees do not tend to consider safety rules, regulation, procedures and norms in their behavior at the workplace. Safety attitude, safety knowledge, and supporting environment were the best predictor of safety behavior. Moreover, it was determined that instantaneous improvement of supporting environment and employee participation is the best strategy to reach a high proportion of safety behavior at the workplace. CONCLUSION The lack of a comprehensive model that can be used for explaining safety behavior was one of the most problematic issues of the study. Furthermore, it can be concluded that belief updating is a unique feature of Bayesian networks that is very useful in comparing various intervention strategies and selecting the best one form them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iraj Mohammadfam
- Center of Excellence for Occupational Health, Research Center for Health Science, School of Public Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Fakhradin Ghasemi
- Center of Excellence for Occupational Health, Research Center for Health Science, School of Public Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.
| | - Omid Kalatpour
- Center of Excellence for Occupational Health, Research Center for Health Science, School of Public Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Abbas Moghimbeigi
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Modeling of Non-communicable Diseases Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
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153
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Kvalheim SA, Dahl Ø. Safety compliance and safety climate: A repeated cross-sectional study in the oil and gas industry. JOURNAL OF SAFETY RESEARCH 2016; 59:33-41. [PMID: 27846997 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsr.2016.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2016] [Revised: 09/19/2016] [Accepted: 10/06/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Violations of safety rules and procedures are commonly identified as a causal factor in accidents in the oil and gas industry. Extensive knowledge on effective management practices related to improved compliance with safety procedures is therefore needed. Previous studies of the causal relationship between safety climate and safety compliance demonstrate that the propensity to act in accordance with prevailing rules and procedures is influenced to a large degree by workers' safety climate. Commonly, the climate measures employed differ from one study to another and identical measures of safety climate are seldom tested repeatedly over extended periods of time. This research gap is addressed in the present study. METHOD The study is based on a survey conducted four times among sharp-end workers of the Norwegian oil and gas industry (N=31,350). This is done by performing multiple tests (regression analysis) over a period of 7years of the causal relationship between safety climate and safety compliance. The safety climate measure employed is identical across the 7-year period. CONCLUSIONS Taking all periods together, the employed safety climate model explained roughly 27% of the variance in safety compliance. The causal relationship was found to be stable across the period, thereby increasing the reliability and the predictive validity of the factor structure. The safety climate factor that had the most powerful effect on safety compliance was work pressure. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS The factor structure employed shows high predictive validity and should therefore be relevant to organizations seeking to improve safety in the petroleum sector. The findings should also be relevant to other high-hazard industries where safety rules and procedures constitute a central part of the approach to managing safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sverre A Kvalheim
- Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Department of Production and Quality Engineering, NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway.
| | - Øyvind Dahl
- SINTEF Technology and Society, Safety Research, NO-7465 Trondheim, Norway
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154
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Amponsah-Tawaih K, Adu MA. Work Pressure and Safety Behaviors among Health Workers in Ghana: The Moderating Role of Management Commitment to Safety. Saf Health Work 2016; 7:340-346. [PMID: 27924238 PMCID: PMC5128006 DOI: 10.1016/j.shaw.2016.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2016] [Revised: 04/01/2016] [Accepted: 05/03/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND safety and healthy working environment has received numerous research attention over the years. Majority of these researches seem to have been conducted in the construction industry, with little attention in the health sector. Nonetheless, there are couple of studies conducted in Africa that suggest pressure in hospitals. Therefore the aim of the study was to examine how pressure influence safety behavior in the hospitals. With reference to the relevance of safety behavior in primary health care delivery, there was the need for the study. METHOD Data was obtained from 422 public hospital employees. Respondents were assured that all information would be kept confidential to increase the response rate and acquire more accurate information. Collection of questionnaires from participants took four weeks (20 working days), after which the data was analyzed. RESULTS The result of the study showed that work pressure correlated negatively with safety behavior. General safety climate significantly correlated positively with safety behavior and negatively with work pressure, although the effect size for the latter was smaller. Hierarchical regression analysis showed management commitment to safety to moderate the relationship between work pressure and safety behavior. CONCLUSION When employees perceive safety communication, safety systems and training to be positive, they seem to comply with safety rules and procedures than voluntarily participate in safety activities.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Michael Appiah Adu
- University of Ghana Business School, Department of Organization and HRM, Legon, Accra, Ghana
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155
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Panuwatwanich K, Al-Haadir S, Stewart RA. Influence of safety motivation and climate on safety behaviour and outcomes: evidence from the Saudi Arabian construction industry. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND ERGONOMICS 2016; 23:60-75. [PMID: 27617673 DOI: 10.1080/10803548.2016.1235424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Over the last three decades, safety literature has focused on safety climate and its role in forecasting injuries and accidents. However, research findings regarding the relationships between safety climate and other key outcome constructs are somewhat inconsistent. Recent safety climate literature suggests that examining the role of safety motivation may help provide a better explanation of such relationships. The research presented in this article aimed to empirically analyse the relationships among safety motivation, safety climate, safety behaviour and safety outcomes within the context of the Saudi Arabian construction industry. METHOD A conceptual model was developed to examine the relationships among four main constructs: safety motivation, safety climate, safety behaviour and safety outcomes. Based on the survey data collected in Saudi Arabia from site engineers and project managers (n = 295), statistical analyses were carried out, including confirmatory and exploratory factor analysis, and structural equation modelling to assess the model and test the hypotheses. RESULTS The main results indicated that safety motivation could positively influence safety behaviour through safety climate, which plays a mediating role for this mechanism. The results also confirmed that safety behaviour could predict safety outcomes within the context of the Saudi Arabian construction industry.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Saeed Al-Haadir
- a Griffith School of Engineering , Griffith University , Australia
| | - Rodney A Stewart
- a Griffith School of Engineering , Griffith University , Australia
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156
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Alarcón LF, Acuña D, Diethelm S, Pellicer E. Strategies for improving safety performance in construction firms. ACCIDENT; ANALYSIS AND PREVENTION 2016; 94:107-118. [PMID: 27269999 DOI: 10.1016/j.aap.2016.05.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2016] [Revised: 05/10/2016] [Accepted: 05/20/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Over the years many prevention management practices have been implemented to prevent and mitigate accidents at the construction site. However, there is little evidence of the effectiveness of individual or combined practices used by companies to manage occupational health and safety issues. The authors selected a sample of 1180 construction firms and 221 individual practices applied in these companies to analyze their effectiveness reducing injury rates over a period of four years in Chile. Different methods were used to study this massive database including: visual analyses of graphical information, statistical analyses and classification techniques. Results showed that practices related to safety incentives and rewards are the most effective from the accident rate viewpoint, even though they are seldom used by companies; on the other hand, practices related to accidents and incidents investigation had a slight negative impact on the accident rate because they are frequently used as a reactive measure. In general, the higher the percentage of prevention practices implemented in a strategy, the lower the accident rate. However, the analysis of the combined effect of prevention practices indicated that the choice of the right combination of practices was more important than just the number of practices implemented.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Diego Acuña
- Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Vicuña Mackenna 4860, Santiago, Chile.
| | - Sven Diethelm
- Centro de Excelencia en Gestión de Producción (GEPUC), Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Chile.
| | - Eugenio Pellicer
- School of Civil Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain.
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157
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Jiang L, Tetrick LE. Mapping the nomological network of employee self-determined safety motivation: A preliminary measure in China. ACCIDENT; ANALYSIS AND PREVENTION 2016; 94:1-7. [PMID: 27240123 DOI: 10.1016/j.aap.2016.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2015] [Revised: 05/09/2016] [Accepted: 05/10/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The present study introduced a preliminary measure of employee safety motivation based on the definition of self-determination theory from Fleming (2012) research and validated the structure of self-determined safety motivation (SDSM) by surveying 375 employees in a Chinese high-risk organization. First, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to examine the factor structure of SDSM, and indices of five-factor model CFA met the requirements. Second, a nomological network was examined to provide evidence of the construct validity of SDSM. Beyond construct validity, the analysis also produced some interesting results concerning the relationship between leadership antecedents and safety motivation, and between safety motivation and safety behavior. Autonomous motivation was positively related to transformational leadership, negatively related to abusive supervision, and positively related to safety behavior. Controlled motivation with the exception of introjected regulation was negatively related to transformational leadership, positively related to abusive supervision, and negatively related to safety behavior. The unique role of introjected regulation and future research based on self-determination theory were discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Jiang
- School of Business, Soochow University, Suzhou, PR China.
| | - Lois E Tetrick
- Department of Psychology, George Mason University, Fairfax, USA
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158
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Smit NW, De Beer LT, Pienaar J. Work stressors, job insecurity, union support, job satisfaction and safety outcomes within the iron ore mining environment. SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNAL OF HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT 2016. [DOI: 10.4102/sajhrm.v14i1.719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Orientation: The study of work stressors, job insecurity and union support creates opportunity for iron ore mining organisations to manage job satisfaction and safety motivation and behaviour more effectively. Research purpose: The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between work stressors, job insecurity, union support, job satisfaction and safety motivation and behaviour of a sample of iron ore mine workers in South Africa.Motivation for the study: The mining industry in general is often faced with hazardous and physically demanding working environments, where employees work under constant pressure. Work stressors, job insecurity, union support and job satisfaction are considered key variables when investigating effective means of managing safety.Research design, approach and method: A cross-sectional survey design was utilised to collect the data. A convenience sample of employees in the iron ore mining industry of South Africa (N = 260) were included. Structural equation modelling and bootstrapping resampling analysis were used to analyse the data.Main findings: Work stressors and job insecurity were found to be negatively associated with job satisfaction. Conversely, perceived union support was positively associated with job satisfaction and safety motivation and behaviour. Furthermore, job satisfaction mediated the relationship between union support and safety motivation and behaviour.Practical/managerial implications: Mining organisations can, by placing the focus on reducing work stressors, and promoting job security and union support, achieve higher levels of safety motivation and behaviour through job satisfaction.Contribution/value-add: A great deal of independent research on work stressors, job insecurity, union support, job satisfaction as well as safety motivation and behaviour has already been done. To date, very little empirical research exists that simultaneously considers all these constructs. This study brought together these lines of research.
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159
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McGonagle AK, Childress NM, Walsh BM, Bauerle TJ. Can Civility Norms Boost Positive Effects of Management Commitment to Safety? THE JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGY 2016; 150:591-605. [PMID: 26914702 DOI: 10.1080/00223980.2016.1143798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
Abstract
We proposed that civility norms would strengthen relationships between management commitment to safety and workers' safety motivation, safety behaviors, and injuries. Survey data were obtained from working adults in hazardous jobs-those for which physical labor is required and/or a realistic possibility of physical injury is present (N = 290). Results showed that management commitment positively related to workers' safety motivation, safety participation, and safety compliance, and negatively related to minor injuries. Furthermore, management commitment to safety displayed a stronger positive relationship with safety motivation and safety participation, and a stronger negative relationship with minor worker injuries when civility norms were high (versus low). The results confirm existing known relationships between management commitment to safety and worker safety motivation and behavior; furthermore, civility norms facilitate the relationships between management commitment to safety and various outcomes important to worker safety. In order to promote an optimally safe working environment, managers should demonstrate a commitment to worker safety and promote positive norms for interpersonal treatment between workers in their units.
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160
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Abstract
Unsafe work environments have clear consequences for both individuals and organizations. As such, an ever-expanding research base is providing a greater understanding of the factors that affect workplace safety across organizational levels. However, despite scientific advances, the workplace safety literature suffers from a lack of theoretical and empirical integration that makes it difficult for organizational scientists to gain a comprehensive sense of (a) what we currently know about workplace safety and (b) what we have yet to learn. This review addresses these shortcomings. First, the authors provide a formal definition of workplace safety and then create an integrated safety model (ISM) based on existing theory to summarize current theoretical expectations with regard to workplace safety. Second, the authors conduct a targeted review of the safety literature and compare extant empirical findings with the ISM. Finally, the authors use the results of this review to articulate gaps between theory and research and then make recommendations for both theoretical and empirical improvements to guide and integrate future workplace safety research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Dov Zohar
- Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, Israel
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161
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Griffin MA, Curcuruto M. Safety Climate in Organizations. ANNUAL REVIEW OF ORGANIZATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY AND ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR 2016. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-orgpsych-041015-062414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mark A. Griffin
- School of Psychology, University of Western Australia, Perth 6009, Australia;
| | - Matteo Curcuruto
- School of Social, Psychological and Communication Sciences, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds LS1 3HE, United Kingdom;
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162
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Rahimi Pordanjani T, Mohamadzade Ebrahimi A. Safety Motivation and Work Pressure as Predictors of Occupational Accidents in the Petrochemical Industry. HEALTH SCOPE 2015. [DOI: 10.17795/jhealthscope-26492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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163
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Analysis of Material Handling Safety in Construction Sites and Countermeasures for Effective Enhancement. ScientificWorldJournal 2015; 2015:742084. [PMID: 26446572 PMCID: PMC4584068 DOI: 10.1155/2015/742084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2015] [Revised: 05/11/2015] [Accepted: 08/03/2015] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
One of many hazardous workplaces includes the construction sites as they involve several dangerous tasks. Many studies have revealed that material handling equipment is a major cause of accidents at these sites. Though safety measures are being followed and monitored continuously, accident rates are still high as either workers are unaware of hazards or the safety regulations are not being strictly followed. This paper analyses the safety management systems at construction sites through means of questionnaire surveys with employees, specifically referring to safety of material handling equipment. Based on results of the questionnaire surveys, two construction sites were selected for a safety education program targeting worker safety related to material handling equipment. Knowledge levels of the workers were gathered before and after the program and results obtained were subjected to a t-test analysis to mark significance level of the conducted safety education program.
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164
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Menon BG, Praveensal CJ, Madhu G. Determinants of job stress in chemical process industry: A factor analysis approach. Work 2015; 52:855-64. [PMID: 26409364 DOI: 10.3233/wor-152119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Job stress is one of the active research domains in industrial safety research. The job stress can result in accidents and health related issues in workers in chemical process industries. Hence it is important to measure the level of job stress in workers so as to mitigate the same to avoid the worker's safety related problems in the industries. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study is to determine the job stress factors in the chemical process industry in Kerala state, India. This study also aims to propose a comprehensive model and an instrument framework for measuring job stress levels in the chemical process industries in Kerala, India. METHODS The data is collected through a questionnaire survey conducted in chemical process industries in Kerala. The collected data out of 1197 surveys is subjected to principal component and confirmatory factor analysis to develop the job stress factor structure. RESULTS The factor analysis revealed 8 factors that influence the job stress in process industries. It is also found that the job stress in employees is most influenced by role ambiguity and the least by work environment. CONCLUSIONS The study has developed an instrument framework towards measuring job stress utilizing exploratory factor analysis and structural equation modeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Balagopal G Menon
- Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, West Bengal, India.,Division of Production and Industrial Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, SCMS School of Engineering and Technology, Karukutty, Kerala, India
| | - C J Praveensal
- Division of Production and Industrial Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, SCMS School of Engineering and Technology, Karukutty, Kerala, India.,Department of Safety and Fire Engineering, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kerala, India
| | - G Madhu
- Department of Safety and Fire Engineering, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kerala, India
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165
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Smith PM, Saunders R, Lifshen M, Black O, Lay M, Breslin FC, LaMontagne AD, Tompa E. The development of a conceptual model and self-reported measure of occupational health and safety vulnerability. ACCIDENT; ANALYSIS AND PREVENTION 2015; 82:234-243. [PMID: 26103437 DOI: 10.1016/j.aap.2015.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2015] [Revised: 04/27/2015] [Accepted: 06/08/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Injuries at work have a substantial economic and societal burden. Often groups of labour market participants, such as young workers, recent immigrants or temporary workers are labelled as being "vulnerable" to work injury. However, defining groups in this way does little to enable a better understanding of the broader factors that place workers at increased risk of injury. In this paper we describe the development of a new measure of occupational health and safety (OH&S) vulnerability. The purpose of this measure was to allow the identification of workers at increased risk of injury, and to enable the monitoring and surveillance of OH&S vulnerability in the labour market. The development included a systematic literature search, and conducting focus groups with a variety of stakeholder groups, to generate a pool of potential items, followed by a series of steps to reduce these items to a more manageable pool. The final measure is 29-item instrument that captures information on four related, but distinct dimensions, thought to be associated with increased risk of injury. These dimensions are: hazard exposure; occupational health and safety policies and procedures; OH&S awareness; and empowerment to participate in injury prevention. In a large sample of employees in Ontario and British Columbia the final measure displayed minimal missing responses, reasonably good distributions across response categories, and strong factorial validity. This new measure of OH&S vulnerability can identify workers who are at risk of injury and provide information on the dimensions of work that may increase this risk. This measurement could be undertaken at one point in time to compare vulnerability across groups, or be undertaken at multiple time points to examine changes in dimensions of OH&S vulnerability, for example, in response to a primary prevention intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter M Smith
- Institute for Work & Health, 481 University Avenue, Suite 800, Toronto, ON M5G 2E9, Canada; School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, The Alfred Centre, 99 Commercial Road, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia; Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, 155 College Street, 6th Floor, Toronto, ON M5T 3M7, Canada.
| | - Ron Saunders
- Institute for Work & Health, 481 University Avenue, Suite 800, Toronto, ON M5G 2E9, Canada; School of Public Policy & Governance, University of Toronto, Canadiana Gallery, 3rd Floor, 14 Queen's Park Cres. West, Toronto, ON M5S 3K9, Canada
| | - Marni Lifshen
- Institute for Work & Health, 481 University Avenue, Suite 800, Toronto, ON M5G 2E9, Canada
| | - Ollie Black
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, The Alfred Centre, 99 Commercial Road, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia
| | - Morgan Lay
- Institute for Work & Health, 481 University Avenue, Suite 800, Toronto, ON M5G 2E9, Canada
| | - F Curtis Breslin
- Institute for Work & Health, 481 University Avenue, Suite 800, Toronto, ON M5G 2E9, Canada; Seneca College, 1750 Finch Avenue East, Toronto, ON M2J 2X5, Canada
| | - Anthony D LaMontagne
- School of Health & Social Development, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, Victoria 3125, Australia
| | - Emile Tompa
- Institute for Work & Health, 481 University Avenue, Suite 800, Toronto, ON M5G 2E9, Canada; Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, 155 College Street, 6th Floor, Toronto, ON M5T 3M7, Canada; Department of Economics, McMaster University, Kenneth Taylor Hall, Rm 426, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON L8S 4M4, Canada
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166
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Guo BHW, Yiu TW, González VA. Identifying behaviour patterns of construction safety using system archetypes. ACCIDENT; ANALYSIS AND PREVENTION 2015; 80:125-141. [PMID: 25909389 DOI: 10.1016/j.aap.2015.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2015] [Revised: 04/07/2015] [Accepted: 04/11/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Construction safety management involves complex issues (e.g., different trades, multi-organizational project structure, constantly changing work environment, and transient workforce). Systems thinking is widely considered as an effective approach to understanding and managing the complexity. This paper aims to better understand dynamic complexity of construction safety management by exploring archetypes of construction safety. To achieve this, this paper adopted the ground theory method (GTM) and 22 interviews were conducted with participants in various positions (government safety inspector, client, health and safety manager, safety consultant, safety auditor, and safety researcher). Eight archetypes were emerged from the collected data: (1) safety regulations, (2) incentive programs, (3) procurement and safety, (4) safety management in small businesses (5) production and safety, (6) workers' conflicting goals, (7) blame on workers, and (8) reactive and proactive learning. These archetypes capture the interactions between a wide range of factors within various hierarchical levels and subsystems. As a free-standing tool, they advance the understanding of dynamic complexity of construction safety management and provide systemic insights into dealing with the complexity. They also can facilitate system dynamics modelling of construction safety process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian H W Guo
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of Auckland, 1142 Auckland, New Zealand.
| | - Tak Wing Yiu
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of Auckland, 1142 Auckland, New Zealand.
| | - Vicente A González
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of Auckland, 1142 Auckland, New Zealand.
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167
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Ghasemi F, Mohammadfam I, Soltanian AR, Mahmoudi S, Zarei E. Surprising Incentive: An Instrument for Promoting Safety Performance of Construction Employees. Saf Health Work 2015; 6:227-32. [PMID: 26929832 PMCID: PMC4674508 DOI: 10.1016/j.shaw.2015.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2014] [Revised: 02/10/2015] [Accepted: 02/27/2015] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In comparison with other industries, the construction industry still has a higher rate of fatal injuries, and thus, there is a need to apply new and innovative approaches for preventing accidents and promoting safe conditions at construction sites. Methods In this study, the effectiveness of a new incentive system—the surprising incentive system—was assessed. One year after the implementation of this new incentive system, behavioral changes of employees with respect to seven types of activities were observed. Results The results of this study showed that there is a significant relationship between the new incentive system and the safety performance of frontline employees. The new incentive system had a greater positive impact in the first 6 months since its implementation. In the long term, however, safety performance experienced a gradual reduction. Based on previous studies, all activities selected in this study are important indicators of the safety conditions at workplaces. However, there is a need for a comprehensive and simple-to-apply tool for assessing frontline employees' safety performance. Shortening the intervals between incentives is more effective in promoting safety performance. Conclusion The results of this study proved that the surprising incentive would improve the employees' safety performance just in the short term because the surprising value of the incentives dwindle over time. For this reason and to maintain the surprising value of the incentive system, the amount and types of incentives need to be evaluated and modified annually or biannually.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fakhradin Ghasemi
- Department of Occupational Hygiene Engineering, School of Public Health and Research Center for Health Sciences, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Iraj Mohammadfam
- Department of Occupational Hygiene Engineering, School of Public Health and Research Center for Health Sciences, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Ali Reza Soltanian
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Modeling of Noncommunicable Diseases Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | | | - Esmaeil Zarei
- Department of Occupational Hygiene Engineering, School of Public Health and Research Center for Health Sciences, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
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168
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Dragano N, Lunau T, Eikemo TA, Toch-Marquardt M, van der Wel KA, Bambra C. Who knows the risk? A multilevel study of systematic variations in work-related safety knowledge in the European workforce. Occup Environ Med 2014; 72:553-9. [DOI: 10.1136/oemed-2014-102402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2014] [Accepted: 10/22/2014] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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169
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Choudhry RM. Behavior-based safety on construction sites: a case study. ACCIDENT; ANALYSIS AND PREVENTION 2014; 70:14-23. [PMID: 24686162 DOI: 10.1016/j.aap.2014.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2013] [Revised: 01/27/2014] [Accepted: 03/12/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
This work presents the results of a case study and describes an important area within the field of construction safety management, namely behavior-based safety (BBS). This paper adopts and develops a management approach for safety improvements in construction site environments. A rigorous behavioral safety system and its intervention program was implemented and deployed on target construction sites. After taking a few weeks of safety behavior measurements, the project management team implemented the designed intervention and measurements were taken. Goal-setting sessions were arranged on-site with workers' participation to set realistic and attainable targets of performance. Safety performance measurements continued and the levels of performance and the targets were presented on feedback charts. Supervisors were asked to give workers recognition and praise when they acted safely or improved critical behaviors. Observers were requested to have discussions with workers, visit the site, distribute training materials to workers, and provide feedback to crews and display charts. They were required to talk to operatives in the presence of line managers. It was necessary to develop awareness and understanding of what was being measured. In the process, operatives learned how to act safely when conducting site tasks using the designed checklists. Current weekly scores were discussed in the weekly safety meetings and other operational site meetings with emphasis on how to achieve set targets. The reliability of the safety performance measures taken by the company's observers was monitored. A clear increase in safety performance level was achieved across all categories: personal protective equipment; housekeeping; access to heights; plant and equipment, and scaffolding. The research reveals that scores of safety performance at one project improved from 86% (at the end of 3rd week) to 92.9% during the 9th week. The results of intervention demonstrated large decreases in unsafe behaviors and significant increases in safe behaviors. The results of this case study showed that an approach based on goal setting, feedback, and an effective measure of safety behavior if properly applied by committed management, can improve safety performance significantly in construction site environments. The results proved that the BBS management technique can be applied to any country's culture, showing that it would be a good approach for improving the safety of front-line workers and that it has industry wide application for ongoing construction projects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafiq M Choudhry
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering, King Faisal University, Al-Hofuf, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia.
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170
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Boughaba A, Hassane C, Roukia O. Safety culture assessment in petrochemical industry: a comparative study of two algerian plants. Saf Health Work 2014; 5:60-5. [PMID: 25180135 PMCID: PMC4147215 DOI: 10.1016/j.shaw.2014.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2013] [Revised: 03/11/2014] [Accepted: 03/25/2014] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background To elucidate the relationship between safety culture maturity and safety performance of a particular company. Methods To identify the factors that contribute to a safety culture, a survey questionnaire was created based mainly on the studies of Fernández-Muñiz et al. The survey was randomly distributed to 1000 employees of two oil companies and realized a rate of valid answer of 51%. Minitab 16 software was used and diverse tests, including the descriptive statistical analysis, factor analysis, reliability analysis, mean analysis, and correlation, were used for the analysis of data. Ten factors were extracted using the analysis of factor to represent safety culture and safety performance. Results The results of this study showed that the managers' commitment, training, incentives, communication, and employee involvement are the priority domains on which it is necessary to stress the effort of improvement, where they had all the descriptive average values lower than 3.0 at the level of Company B. Furthermore, the results also showed that the safety culture influences the safety performance of the company. Therefore, Company A with a good safety culture (the descriptive average values more than 4.0), is more successful than Company B in terms of accident rates. Conclusion The comparison between the two petrochemical plants of the group Sonatrach confirms these results in which Company A, the managers of which are English and Norwegian, distinguishes itself by the maturity of their safety culture has significantly higher evaluations than the company B, who is constituted of Algerian staff, in terms of safety management practices and safety performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Assia Boughaba
- LRPI Industrial Prevention Research Laboratory, Institute of Health and Safety, University Hadj Lakhdar, Batna, Algeria
| | - Chabane Hassane
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University Hadj Lakhdar, Batna, Algeria
| | - Ouddai Roukia
- LRPI Industrial Prevention Research Laboratory, Institute of Health and Safety, University Hadj Lakhdar, Batna, Algeria
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171
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Cheng EW, Kelly S, Ryan N. Use of safety management practices for improving project performance. Int J Inj Contr Saf Promot 2013; 22:33-9. [DOI: 10.1080/17457300.2013.844715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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172
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Koh TY, Rowlinson S. Relational approach in managing construction project safety: a social capital perspective. ACCIDENT; ANALYSIS AND PREVENTION 2012; 48:134-144. [PMID: 22664677 DOI: 10.1016/j.aap.2011.03.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2010] [Revised: 03/20/2011] [Accepted: 03/22/2011] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Existing initiatives in the management of construction project safety are largely based on normative compliance and error prevention, a risk management approach. Although advantageous, these approaches are not wholly successful in further lowering accident rates. A major limitation lies with the approaches' lack of emphasis on the social and team processes inherent in construction project settings. We advance the enquiry by invoking the concept of social capital and project organisational processes, and their impacts on project safety performance. Because social capital is a primordial concept and affects project participants' interactions, its impact on project safety performance is hypothesised to be indirect, i.e. the impact of social capital on safety performance is mediated by organisational processes in adaptation and cooperation. A questionnaire survey was conducted within Hong Kong construction industry to test the hypotheses. 376 usable responses were received and used for analyses. The results reveal that, while the structural dimension is not significant, the mediational thesis is generally supported with the cognitive and relational dimensions affecting project participants' adaptation and cooperation, and the latter two processes affect safety performance. However, the cognitive dimension also directly affects safety performance. The implications of these results for project safety management are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tas Yong Koh
- Room 501, Department of Real Estate and Construction, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China.
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173
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Fernández-Muñiz B, Montes-Peón JM, Vázquez-Ordás CJ. Safety climate in OHSAS 18001-certified organisations: antecedents and consequences of safety behaviour. ACCIDENT; ANALYSIS AND PREVENTION 2012; 45:745-758. [PMID: 22269566 DOI: 10.1016/j.aap.2011.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2011] [Revised: 09/08/2011] [Accepted: 10/14/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
The occupational health and safety standard OHSAS 18001 has gained considerable acceptance worldwide, and firms from diverse sectors and of varying sizes have implemented it. Despite this, very few studies have analysed safety management or the safety climate in OHSAS 18001-certified organisations. The current work aims to analyse the safety climate in these organisations, identify its dimensions, and propose and test a structural equation model that will help determine the antecedents and consequences of employees' safety behaviour. For this purpose, the authors carry out an empirical study using a sample of 131 OHSAS 18001-certified organisations located in Spain. The results show that management's commitment, and particularly communication, have an effect on safety behaviour and on safety performance, employee satisfaction, and firm competitiveness. These findings are particularly important for management since they provide evidence about the factors that should be encouraged to reduce risks and improve performance in this type of organisation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Fernández-Muñiz
- University of Oviedo, Facultad de Economía y Empresa, Departamento de Administración de Empresas, Avda. del Cristo, s/n, 33071 Oviedo, Spain.
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