Work-related road traffic injury: a multilevel systems protocol

Work-related and non-work-related fatal road accidents: Assessment of psychoactive substance use in commuting

Commuting road traffic collisions (RTCs) are one of the main causes of occupational death worldwide, including Italy. Among the prominent yet relatively understudied personal risk factors in the subpopulation of workers, there is the use of psychoactive substances. Since the phenomenon of driving under alcohol and drugs effects in the commuter sub-population has so far been poorly studied, we carried out a study by comparing results obtained from the analysis of commuters and non-commuters. The percentage of commuting RTCs victims was 10.4% out of all the RTCs. Commuter victims were mostly men, 51-60 years-old, motorcyclists (32.1%) or car drivers (28.6%), employees, deceased during Fridays and Saturdays, in the afternoon (35.7%) and in the evening (32.1%). It was possible to perform toxicological analyses in 60.7% of commuter cases: approximately 40% tested positive, always and only for ethanol (median Blood Alcohol Concentration, BAC, of about 1.03 g/L). Values above the legal limit were observed in 23.5% of the toxicological samples analyzed from commuter accidents. Our findings contribute to bridging the gap in knowledge in the area of RTCs and commuting and emphasize the importance of carrying out toxicological investigations, with possible repercussions on both insurance issues and public health strategies, which are relevant for analyzing the phenomenon structurally.

Applying systems thinking to improve the safety of work-related drivers: A systematic review of the literature

INTRODUCTION

Light vehicles (<4.5 tons) driven for work purposes represent a significant proportion of the registered motor vehicles on our roads. Drivers of these vehicles have significant exposure to the dangers of the road transport environment. To optimize safety for these workers, it is critical to understand the factors contributing to risk of being involved in an incident. This information can then be used to inform the review and revision of existing risk controls and the development of targeted prevention activities.

METHOD

The aim of the study was to undertake a systematic review of the literature to identify the factors associated with work-related driving incidents. The factors identified in the review were represented within an adapted version of Rasmussen's risk management framework (Rasmussen, 1997). Fifty studies were analyzed following data screening and review of full text. The highest proportion of risk factors were categorized at the lower levels of the system, including the 'Drivers and Other Road Users' level (n = 20, 44.4%) and the 'Equipment, Environment, and Meteorological Surroundings' level (n = 19, 42.2%). There were no risk factors identified at the 'Regulatory and Government Bodies' levels of the framework, confirming the narrow investigative scope of past research and the need to acknowledge a broader range of factors within and across higher levels of the system.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of this study inform the direction of future research and design of targeted prevention activities capable of creating system change for the safety of work-related drivers.

Incidente vial relacionado con trabajo en transportadores de pasajeros y carga en Medellín Colombia: el rol de la infraestructura

Objetivo Analizar posibles relaciones entre infraestructura y ocurrencia de incidentes viales relacionados con el trabajo en transportadores de pasajeros y carga en Medellín entre el 2010 y el 2014. Métodos Estudio transversal de asociación entre infraestructura de incidentes viales durante el trabajo relacionados con lesiones de conductores, según la base de datos de informes policiales de accidentes de tránsito del 1.o de enero de 2010 al 31 de julio de 2014. Resultados Hubo 102 602 registros de incidentes viales relacionados con trabajo. El análisis multivariado fue posible con 8 516 registros con información completa entre marzo y julio de 2014. Los factores asociados al evento fueron: choque contra otro vehículo (RP 1,31 IC95 1,09 1,57); vías de dos carriles (RP 1,21 IC95 1,14-1,33) y de tres (RP 1,39 IC95 1,09-1,76); ser conductor de 18 a 24 años (RP 1,13 IC95 1,02-1,26); y conducir bajo efecto de alcohol (RP 2,81 IC95 2,42-3,26). Además, fueron identificados mediante análisis de información geográfica algunos puntos críticos de ocurrenciade incidentes viales relacionados con trabajo. Conclusiones Hay una tendencia creciente de incidentes viales relacionados con trabajo en Medellín. Se requiere especial atención al transporte de pasajeros y de carga por su representativo aporte al total de incidentes viales. El monitoreo de la infraestructura y de zonas de mayor incidencia puede ser útil en el diseño de programas de prevención en empresas de transporte.

Integrating complex systems science into road safety research and practice, part 1: review of formative concepts

Many of our most persistent public health problems are complex problems. They arise from a web of factors that interact and change over time and may exhibit resistance to intervention efforts. The domain of systems science provides several tools to help injury prevention researchers and practitioners examine deep, complex and persistent problems and identify opportunities to intervene. Using the increase in pedestrian death rates as an example, we provide (1) an accessible overview of how complex systems science approaches can augment established injury prevention frameworks and (2) a straightforward example of how specific systems science tools can deepen understanding, with a goal of ultimately informing action.

The Interplay Between Supervisor Safety Support and Occupational Health and Safety Vulnerability on Work Injury

Background

Workers exposed to hazards without adequate protections are at greater risk of injury and illness. Supervisor activities have also been associated with injury risk. We examined the interplay between supervisor safety support and occupational health and safety (OHS) vulnerability on workplace injury and illness.

Methods

A survey was administered to 2,390 workers employed for more than 15 hrs/week in workplaces with at least five employees who had a direct supervisor. We examined the combined effects of hazard exposure with inadequate protection (OHS vulnerability) and supervisor support on workplace injury and illness, using additive interactions in log-binomial regression models.

Results

OHS vulnerability and lack of supervisor support independently increased the likelihood of physical injuries at work. Crude and adjusted models showed that the risk of physical injury was at least 3.5 times higher among those experiencing both OHS vulnerability and a lack of supervisor support than individuals without OHS vulnerability and with a supportive direct supervisor. Workers who experienced vulnerability were at less risk if they had a supervisor who was supportive.

Conclusion

In workplaces where workers experience one or more types of OHS vulnerability, having a supportive supervisor may play an important role in reducing the risk of injury and protecting workers.

A new approach to managing work-related road traffic injury: The development of a health investment framework

OBJECTIVE

Statistics indicate that employees commuting or traveling as part of their work are overrepresented in workplace injury and death. Despite this, many organizations are unaware of the factors within their organizations that are likely to influence potential reductions in work-related road traffic injury.

METHODS

This article presents a multilevel conceptual framework that identifies health investment as the central feature in reducing work-related road traffic injury. Within this framework, we explore factors operating at the individual driver, workgroup supervisor, and organizational senior management levels that create a mutually reinforcing system of safety.

RESULTS

The health investment framework identifies key factors at the senior manager, supervisor, and driver levels to cultivating a safe working environment. These factors are high-performance workplace systems, leader-member exchange and autonomy, trust and empowerment, respectively. The framework demonstrates the important interactions between these factors and how they create a self-sustaining organizational safety system.

CONCLUSIONS

The framework aims to provide insight into the future development of interventions that are strategically aligned with the organization and target elements that facilitate and enhance driver safety and ultimately reduce work-related road traffic injury and death.