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Machingura T, Muyavu AT. Can integrated safety intervention practices improve sustainable performance? A survey of service organizations. Heliyon 2024; 10:e31081. [PMID: 38774312 PMCID: PMC11107361 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2023] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite extensive research on occupational health and safety, the role of safety intervention on performance remains underexplored. Understanding how different integrated safety intervention practices influence sustainable performance could unlock new avenues. This study aimed to investigate the influence of integrated safety intervention practices on economic, social and environmental performance. A survey was conducted in the Zimbabwe service industry and 242 useable responses were obtained. By means of structural equation modelling, we analyzed the effect of management safety intervention, human safety intervention and technical safety intervention on the three dimensions of sustainability. Our findings suggest that safety intervention practices lead to improved sustainable performance. However, the relationship between management safety intervention and sustainable performance is indirect and mediated by human and technical safety intervention. These insights could inform organizations that adopting safety intervention practices is more than compliance with regulations and further shed light on those who are not sure what other benefits besides improving workplace safety can be attained through adopting safety intervention practices.
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Jilcha K. Vision Zero for industrial workplace safety innovative model development for metal manufacturing industry. Heliyon 2023; 9:e21504. [PMID: 38027721 PMCID: PMC10661090 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e21504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
This study target is to investigate Vision Zero strategy & develop a model that contributes to the reduction of injuries, accidents, and fatalities. In turn, this model aims to enhance the well-being, safety, and productivity of the manufacturing sector. The study has conducted comprehensive theoretical reviews from reputable journals that are relevant to Vision Zero, manufacturing industries in general, and specifically the metal manufacturing industries. The study also underwent a validation of the Vision Zero strategy model by discussing with a selected professional team in this field from the industry. The results of this study shows that research related to the Vision Zero strategy has not been widely disseminated or popularized. It further reveals that manufacturing industries predominantly operate based on traditional work environmental principles, rather than actively embracing the concepts and principles of Vision Zero. The study has also uncovered that previous research on Vision Zero primarily focused on road accidents, injuries, and fatalities. In contrast, studies conducted in the manufacturing sector primarily examined aspects related to safety, health, and worker well-being. However, these studies often failed to sufficiently align their objectives with the overarching priority of enhancing productivity, especially within the context of the industrial revolution. Due to the limited studies related to Vision Zero and a new area for the research database, setting comparative goals and developing a stringent strategy may not be the final outcome here with the developed model. The results of this research could provide valuable insights to policymakers & lawmakers in order to enhance workplace health and safety regulations which support industries' productivity. This study represents a pioneering effort in developing a new Vision Zero strategy model that aligns with productivity goals and emphasizes knowledge-based approaches for reducing or eliminating injuries, accidents, and fatalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kassu Jilcha
- Chair of Industrial Engineering, School of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Addis Ababa Institute of Technology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Neves JCB, Vidal MCR, de Carvalho PVR. Ergonomics management model based on good practices of large industrial companies: Structured elements through the fuzzy set theory. Work 2023; 76:803-820. [PMID: 37092202 DOI: 10.3233/wor-220560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Most organizations perceive the concept of ergonomic actions as a local tool used to improve workplace issues. Ergonomics however is not included in global management systems. The paradigm of ergonomics action in large organizations proposed by this study is that of management systems whose primary objective is the pressing need for continuous performance improvement, acquisition of excellence, and integration into all aspects of the business. OBJECTIVE The general objective of this work is to draw a frame presenting a model of ergonomics management based on good practices in managing this discipline in large industrial companies. METHOD In this study, we describe a strategy based on the fuzzy set theory to aggregate a group of good practices expressed by experienced ergonomists attached to large industrial companies for handling the lack of ergonomics in an organization. RESULTS A set of good practices was compiled as a basis for application in ergonomics in large companies. CONCLUSION This study shows that ergonomics should not be considered an isolated phenomenon but in a strategic, proactive, integrated, and perennial way as one of the management subjects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Júlio César Bispo Neves
- Departamento de Engenharia de Produção - TEP, Universidade Federal Fluminense - UFF, Niterói, Brazil
| | - Mario Cesar Rodriguez Vidal
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Engenharia de Produção, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro - PEP/COPPE/UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Paulo Victor Rodrigues de Carvalho
- Instituto de Engenharia Nuclear - IEN, Comissão Nacional de Energia Nuclear - CNEN, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Informática - PPGI, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro - UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Pignata S. Psychosocial Factors That Influence the Health of Workers in Contemporary Workplaces. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:14016. [PMID: 36360896 PMCID: PMC9654152 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192114016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
This Special Issue of the IJERPH examines various psychosocial factors that influence the health of workers in contemporary workplaces [...].
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Pignata
- Centre for Workplace Excellence & STEM Unit, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, SA 5095, Australia
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Tamene A, Habte A, Derilo HT, Endale F, Gizachew A, Sulamo D, Afework A. Time to Return to Work After an Occupational Injury and Its Prognostic factors Among Employees of Large-Scale Metal Manufacturing Facilities in Ethiopia: A Retrospective Cohort. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH INSIGHTS 2022; 16:11786302221109372. [PMID: 35782320 PMCID: PMC9247990 DOI: 10.1177/11786302221109372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Globally, occupational risk factors are thought to be responsible for at least 1.9 million deaths and 90 million disability-adjusted life years per year. Occupational injury survivorship has increased in Ethiopia in recent years. However, the vast majority of the victims are young people who are impacted in their everyday life as a result of occupational injuries. While research in developed countries has revealed several factors related to early return to work, there have been very few studies of significance in underdeveloped countries, including Ethiopia. METHODS Metalworkers who had an occupational accident between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2021, were investigated in a facility-based retrospective cohort. Data was collected from 422 medical records and registration books using a standardized abstraction tool. STATA 15 was used to analyze the data. The median time it took to return to work was computed. The Kaplan Meier survival curve was used to estimate the time to return to work across covariates. A multivariable Cox proportional hazard model was used to identify statistically significant predictors of return to work. RESULTS After a median of 45 days away from work, 310 of the 422 (73.5%) cases returned to work (95% CI 39.7-50.2). The total incidence density of return to work was 1.21 (95% CI = 1.01-1.30) per 100 person-days observed. Professional certification (AHR: 2.15, 95% CI: 1.62-2.87), working as a rigger (AHR: 1.59, 95% CI 1.20-2.10), having dependents at home (AHR = 1.59, 95% CI = 1.09-2.64), and injuries caused by body movement without any physical stress (AHR = 2.61, 95% CI = 1.92-3.56) were all associated with return to work. CONCLUSION Return to work is influenced by a range of factors other than the type or severity of the injury incurred. Multidisciplinary approaches such as clinical treatment and rehabilitation, ergonomics interventions, and economic and social assistance should be prioritized in the efforts to aid employees' return to work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aiggan Tamene
- School of Public Health, College of
Medicine and Health Sciences, Wachemo University, Hosanna, Ethiopia
| | - Aklilu Habte
- School of Public Health, College of
Medicine and Health Sciences, Wachemo University, Hosanna, Ethiopia
| | - Habtamu Tamrat Derilo
- School of Medicine, Department of
Orthopaedic Surgery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wachemo University,
Hosanna, Ethiopia
| | - Fitsum Endale
- School of Public Health, College of
Medicine and Health Sciences, Wachemo University, Hosanna, Ethiopia
| | - Addisalem Gizachew
- School of Public Health, College of
Medicine and Health Sciences, Wachemo University, Hosanna, Ethiopia
| | - Dawit Sulamo
- School of Public Health, College of
Medicine and Health Sciences, Wachemo University, Hosanna, Ethiopia
| | - Abel Afework
- Dilla University Referral Hospital,
Dilla University, Dilla, Ethiopia
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Geldart S. Remote Work in a Changing World: A Nod to Personal Space, Self-Regulation and Other Health and Wellness Strategies. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19084873. [PMID: 35457740 PMCID: PMC9029311 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19084873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Revised: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Remote work has escalated as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, and citizens have been doing their part to mitigate the spread of viral infection. The downside of quickly switching from a workplace office to remote work is that neither employees nor employers have had time to consciously process the new work environment and formally evaluate health and safety concerns. The aim of this commentary was to make suggestions on how to make remote work more satisfying, safe, and healthy for employees. First, I explored existing research on disease outbreaks and mental stress as the backdrop for discussing health-related strategies. To determine which types of strategies or measures would help, next I examined existing organizational research, including a qualitative study by my colleagues on workers’ perceptions about what makes a healthy workplace. Themes that emerged from the qualitative study align with three broad recommendations discussed in this commentary: cultivating personal space, building in ergonomics, and boosting self-regulation (self-learning) skills. Finally, I suggested that future research should explore the joint roles of the worker and his/her management team in recognition of organizational commitment to occupational health and safety alongside each worker’s need for autonomy in their personal workspace.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sybil Geldart
- Psychology Program, Wilfrid Laurier University Brantford Campus, Brantford, ON N3T 2Y3, Canada
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Managing employees’ health, safety and anxiety in a pandemic. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF WORKPLACE HEALTH MANAGEMENT 2022. [DOI: 10.1108/ijwhm-09-2021-0178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
PurposeThis paper identifies and discusses the strategies adopted by a manufacturing company to manage its national and international employees' anxiety, health and safety with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, to fill a current research gap.Design/methodology/approachThis paper uses the qualitative method to identify the strategies employed by a manufacturing company to manage its employees' anxiety, health and safety during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thematic analysis of data from fourteen semi-structured interviews is presented.FindingsResults from the data analysed show that five strategies that help manage employees' health, safety and anxiety are - enhanced communication, formulation and enforcement of policies, rules and regulation, education and training, and management commitment. The findings indicate that the implementation of these strategies does not lead to a negative effect and therefore can conclude that there was no cobra effect.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough exploratory and based on one organisation; the findings lay the foundation for future theoretically grounded research on management of employees' health, safety and anxiety.Practical implicationsFindings could be the basis for training for managers and also be used to modify the strategies applied in managing employees' anxiety, health and safety.Originality/valueThis paper investigates and offers insight into the best strategies to adopt to manage employees' anxiety, safety and health during the COVID-19 pandemic in the manufacturing sector.
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Boulagouas W, Chaib R, Djebabra M. Proposal of a temporality perspective for a successful organizational change project. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF WORKPLACE HEALTH MANAGEMENT 2021. [DOI: 10.1108/ijwhm-05-2020-0083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
PurposeImprovements to health and safety at work constantly involve organizational changes (OCs). However, the OC initiatives often fail at achieving their intended goals despite efforts to draw knowledge from various disciplines, such as sociology, psychology and information sciences, to guide the change implementation. This paper proposes a temporality approach to manage the resistance during an OC project based on the capitalization of the actors' behaviors (i.e. alignment/resistance) for successful OC implementation.Design/methodology/approachEmployees in an industrial company (N = 186) undergoing an OC answered a questionnaire survey. The statistical analysis approach was used to measure the influence of the constructs of the proposed temporality capitalization approach on the OC conduct.FindingsResults indicate that the considered constructs have positive and significant correlations with OC development. It has also been found that the employees' alignment is highly correlated with the opportunities they might gain from the OC.Practical implicationsThe proposed temporality capitalization approach shows that providing the employees with clear objectives is not sufficient to support the change, and it is suggested that the change management has to move a step further and seek to target the perspectives of the employees to energize them around the OC and maximize their alignment.Originality/valueIn this paper, change management is approached through the temporality capitalization that confirms the importance of monitoring the change development through the alignment. In other terms, the curve of the adaptation of the change receivers matters and should attract more attention rather than the change implementation speed.
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Hoque I, Shahinuzzaman M. Task performance and occupational health and safety management systems in the garment industry of Bangladesh. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF WORKPLACE HEALTH MANAGEMENT 2021. [DOI: 10.1108/ijwhm-09-2020-0169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
PurposeThis study investigates the relationship between individual task performance of garment workers and occupational health and safety management systems (OHSMS) in the garment industry of Bangladesh.Design/methodology/approachFollowing a quantitative research approach and using a four-stage cluster sampling technique, data collected from 610 workers of twelve garments supplier factories using a structured questionnaire. Mean, standard deviation, correlation and stepwise multiple regressions performed to understand the relationship between task performance and OHSMS.FindingsThe study results demonstrate that occupational health and safety (OHS) policy, benchmarking, worker participation, OHS training, communication, emergency response, preventive and protective action, monitoring and review are the significant predictors of individual task performance of garment workers; and OHS policy contributes most substantially to the variance of task performance in the garment industry of Bangladesh.Research limitations/implicationsThis study’s findings contribute to operations management, human resources management and the health and safety management literature by demonstrating a link between operational performance, human resources management and OHSMS.Practical implicationsThis study could be beneficial for garment suppliers to understand how effective OHSMS can reduce production costs by increasing worker efficiency.Originality/valueThis is a unique research attempt as it considers the task performance dimension of an individual garment worker from the OHS management perspective.
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MD D, Mahesh G. Influence of knowledge-based safety culture in the construction industry: a stakeholder's perspective. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF WORKPLACE HEALTH MANAGEMENT 2020. [DOI: 10.1108/ijwhm-11-2019-0150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
PurposeSafety in construction projects is essential and requires more attention towards minimizing the accident rate. Problems concerning awareness of safety risks, procedures and practices still exist in the industry, which indicate a shortfall in diffusion of safety-related knowledge in construction industry. Also, there is dearth of studies on knowledge management strategies to prevent reoccurrence of accidents and thereby improve safety culture in construction industry. This study attempts to unveil aspects of knowledge management that are ignored in considering safety culture and discern the differences in the perception of key stakeholders of construction industry. Therefore, the objective of this study is to identify and measure knowledge-based safety culture elements.Design/methodology/approachIn this paper, the focus is on the application of a reliable, valid and sensitive knowledge-based safety culture assessment tool on key stakeholders operational in construction industry. Research method adopted is a questionnaire-based survey to seek responses from industry professionals. A total of 199 responses were obtained from 106 different companies operational in Indian construction industry. Statistical analyses including ranking analysis, t-test, correlation analysis, and ANOVA test are utilized for comparing and identifying the differences in view of stakeholder's perceptions concerning workplace safety.FindingsThis study helps to identify and rank critical knowledge-based safety culture elements from the perspective of key stakeholders of construction industry. This contributes in identifying the most critical and neglected variables among the key stakeholders regarding aspects of safety culture. Also, the study shows the importance of knowledge dimension in developing overall safety culture in construction industry.Originality/valueResults of this study offer valuable insight in enabling key stakeholders of construction industry to examine and enhance their safety performance. The implications of this study contribute new knowledge in assessing conditions that will improve worker safety in the construction industry. The paper should be of interest to researchers and practitioners in the area of occupational health and safety management.
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