Workplace violence (WPV) is an increasing cause of concern around the globe, and healthcare organizations are no exception. Nurses may be subject to all kinds of workplace violence due to their ...frontline position in healthcare settings. The purpose of this systematic review is to identify and consider different interventions that aim to decrease the magnitude/prevalence of workplace violence against nurses. The standard method by Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA, 2009) has been used to collect data and assess methodological quality. Altogether, twenty-six studies are included in the review. The intervention procedures they report on can be grouped into three categories: stand-alone trainings designed to educate nurses; more structured education programs, which are broader in scope and often include opportunities to practice skills learned during the program; multicomponent interventions, which often include organizational changes, such as the introduction of workplace violence reporting systems, in addition to workplace violence training for nurses. By comparing the findings, a clear picture emerges; while standalone training and structured education programs can have a positive impact, the impact is unfortunately limited. In order to effectively combat workplace violence against nurses, healthcare organizations must implement multicomponent interventions, ideally involving all stakeholders.
Hairdressers are exposed to awkward posture, prolonged standing, long working hours and chemical hazards capable of causing adverse health effects. The present study aimed to evaluate hairdressers' ...safety and health risks. The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional and analytical design. Systematic random sampling was used to select salons and hairdressers. Closed and open-ended questionnaires were distributed to 286 hairdressers who consented to participate in the study. An observation checklist, WISHA caution checklist, thermometer, light meter and noise level meter were used to collect data in the sampled salon. Data were analyzed descriptively and with regression analysis. It was found that the average space for salons was 8.79 m2, and 68.5% of hairdressers work for long hours (11-12 hours). It was established that 5.48% of salons have an adequate amount of light and that 8.22% of salons have high temperatures. Aprons were the most used personal protective equipment by hairdressers. Manual handling of salon equipment and awkward posture cause musculoskeletal disorders among hairdressers. Their odd ratios impacting the health and safety of hairdressers were 2.706 and 2.728, respectively. The study reveals that hairdressing salon designs, space, lighting, and temperatures affect the health and safety of hairdressers. The hours off work and minimal or no breaks also have negative impacts on the health and safety of hairdressers
Work health and safety (WHS) laws are largely harmonised across Australia through a set of uniform laws (the model WHS laws). All states and territories other than Victoria have implemented the model ...WHS laws. Victoria has similar duties under its Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (Vic).
•We present an innovative approach to measuring the efficiency and effectiveness of a safe working environment.•We show how managers can identify benchmarks based on efficiency scores.•We show how to ...reveal potential improvements as a mechanism to reduce decent work deficits.•We suggest caution when considering efficiency alone to measure the safe working environment due to its relative nature.•We show how companies can use internal benchmarking to provide a safe work environment.
Decent Work Agenda consists of a comprehensive initiative for promoting safety at work and social protection. Over 20 years since its conceptual release, measuring the progress of its elements is still challenging even after the publication of the decent work indicators guideline by the International Labour Organization in 2012. To close this gap, we use a Directional Distance Function (DDF) to measure the efficiency of safe work environment, and propose a combined measure taking into consideration also the efficacy. To illustrate the application of DDF in a reality-based case, we conducted a longitudinal study in a multinational organization. Data were collected from 21 branches of the company over 4 years (2018–2021). In the period of analysis, 60% of the branches were efficient in average, composing an overall efficiency score of 0.91. Our results also indicated low dispersion between the efficiency scores year on year due to a small-scale interquartile range. Finally, the use of efficiency combined with efficacy resulted in a promising approach for managerial applications. This research presents some contributions. One is the novelty approach of measuring the efficiency of safe work environment using a DDF model in a real-world application. Another is the managerial benefits of identifying benchmarks, as well as revealing potential improvements as a mechanism to reduce decent work deficits. From a modeling perspective, our conclusions suggest caution in considering only efficiency to measure safe work environment due to its relative nature. Thus, further studies are recommended to explore the use of combined measures in the analysis of decent work.
•Seven important factors of Thailand construction industry.•Direction and magnitude of relationship were determined.•Bayesian network was selected as analytical technique.
Organizational factors and ...human factors are intimately related and intermingled with each other. Therefore, development of the implications for improving work safety behaviors is difficult due to the complexities of multiple causal relations of those factors within construction safety scenarios.
With an aim towards identifying the particular implications for enhancing the desired behaviors or mitigating unfavorable behaviors, Bayesian network was therefore selected as an analytical technique for providing insight into the influence of the relevant contributories by investigating variations in the output of networks. Bayesian Belief Networks have been extensively applied in research because of their capability to capture sophisticated inferences. In addition, researchers are enabled to deliberately investigate the expected consequences of uncertainty prior to establishing an effective intervention. As a result, the present alternatives highlight the useful implications that might lead to the highest probability of safe work behavior. Based on this Bayesian network, an improvement in safe work behavior can be obtained by controlling leadership, management commitment, participation, and the perceived behavioral control node. Accordingly, it is increasingly being acknowledged that management must demonstrate substantive and visible commitment to occupational safety. In addition, managers at all levels must play an important role in establishing a supportive and participative atmosphere to encourage subordinates to work in a safer way. This application and the findings from the empirical evidence of the Bayesian Belief Network can explore the influence of organizational factors and their impact on safe work behavior through manipulating a combination of organizational factors.
AbstractMany researchers, as well as industry practitioners, believe that offsite construction methods are associated with a lower level of worker safety risks than traditional onsite construction ...methods. This study aims to test such belief by comparing the list of worker safety risks identified by site supervisors for both onsite and offsite construction scenarios for the same building components. Specifically, Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS)—prejob hazard assessments required by law in Australia—were collected from two projects where offsite manufacturing has been used, and they were used as a basis for the investigation. Additionally, interviews were conducted with the site supervisors who developed the Statements for a more in-depth investigation of the worker safety risks involved with onsite and offsite construction methods, respectively. The analysis reveals that the total risk score (the higher the score, the more numerous the safety risks) would decrease in the offsite construction scenarios in each case, mainly due to significantly fewer work-at-height tasks included in the offsite construction scenarios. This study contributes to the body of knowledge by providing an empirical, evidence-based explanation for why offsite construction can help reduce safety risks on construction sites.
Repetitive labor-intensive tasks are common in civil construction projects. Construction workers are prone to getting into musculoskeletal disorders-related injuries while performing such activities. ...The paper proposes a novel approach to identify the theoretical maximum attainable level of safety, safety frontier, for a given construction task that can be achieved in perfect conditions under good management. The paper outlines the method and the framework components and demonstrates them through an actual construction-lab-based case study. The case study includes computation of safety frontier for lifting and setting down tasks. For this, the paper proposes to use a depth sensor camera (Kinect) for workers' postural data collection while performing the task. With the postural data as an input feature, all the unique actions are identified using a random forest classifier model for each movement frame. Also, the paper proposes to develop a moment prediction model to predict the lower back moment exerted in each movement frame. The lower back moment is computed using inverse kinematics and inverse dynamic in OpenSim for the training data set. Then, the paper implements a random forest regression algorithm to create a moment prediction model with postural data and velocity as input features. Finally, the safe work posture, safety frontier is computed, combining the unique actions exerting minimum lower back moment. The computed safety frontier can potentially help the safety managers to improve their safety strategies by providing a higher safety benchmark for monitoring their construction site.
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•Proposed safety control system to assess, monitor, reduce MSDs-related injuries, and train workers•Identified the maximum achievable level of safety, safety frontier for lifting and setting down tasks•Implemented machine learning approach to predict unique action and lower back moment for lifting and setting down tasks•Developed a self-learning platform for construction workers by comput-ing individual safety frontier•Developed a peer-learning platform among construction workers by computing overall safety frontier
The goal of this study was to evaluate how implementing written procedures for safe work affects the preventive culture among employees at a company involved in collecting and processing coffee, ...cocoa, and honey. The research used a quantitative method with an experimental design and a pre-experimental sub-design for explanation. The study's participants were the company's workers, who completed the NOSACQ-50 Nordic questionnaire to assess their preventive culture before and after the WPSW was put into practice across the three production processes. This study identified the risks associated with each process, established control measures to prevent accidents, and designed safer methods for each process. The findings showed that implementing WPSW significantly improved the preventive culture among workers, leading to the conclusion that ensuring safe work conditions and fostering a preventive culture enhances worker safety and health.
Mobbing is a fundamental problem that disrupts the organization's structure and negatively affects its employees' safe work environment. The most critical issue in combating mobbing is increasing the ...awareness of victims, businesses and society about this problem. The importance of identifying this problem, which will adversely affect the professional life in the maritime profession, as in every professional group, is obvious. This study offers a statistical analysis-based dynamic Bayesian network to model seafarers' mobbing acts in merchant ships. In this research, measures against mobbing in the maritime industry are also recommended after determining the most frequent mobbing elements in ships. It is observed that the seafarers who have just stepped into onboard are more exposed to mobbing; in contrast, mobbing attacks experienced by seafarers decrease with an increase in age. The most frequent mobbing behaviours are listed as: "I am continually given new tasks", "My superiors restrict the opportunity for me to express myself" and "Unfounded rumours about me is circulated in the ship". The study reveals that while the maritime authorities such as PSC and the ITF have limited capabilities for solving mobbing related problems, the companies may have a crucial role to play in the process.
•Safety documentation assists with managing risk and improves health and safety standards in the construction industry.•Socio-psychological factors such as knowledge, skills, and literacy require ...further research across the construction industry.•Consultation and regular social interactions between workgroups are imperative where high-risk construction work activities are being undertaken.•Additional training and education are required to improve knowledge, skill development, and awareness of workers in the construction sector.•The construction industry accounts for many workers with low levels of literacy and a high proportion of those are from non-English speaking backgrounds.
The purpose of this literature review was to gather the most current and up to date information on a construction worker’s knowledge and understanding of the risk management documentation process relating to high-risk construction work through safe work method statements. The Australian construction industry holds a significant share in the number of people employed. This industry sector can be a dangerous place to conduct work and despite the decline in fatalities across the industry, workers are still being injured and killed at worksites.
A variety of literature material was reviewed comprising of a thorough database search on construction safety documentation applied across the sector and human behavioural factors that influence construction workers.
Results indicated that construction workers come from a range of diverse cultural backgrounds where some workers may have low literacy levels and be from non-English speaking environments. With the mandate of safety documentation for where high-risk construction work activities are being undertaken, several socio-psychological factors have been found to influence a construction worker’s decision-making approach. These factors also known as human behaviour include knowledge, skills, and literacy, collectively have a distinct impact on task performance.
The significance of consultation, training and education should not be underestimated and treated as necessary development amongst the workforce to account for the various socio-psychological factors and aid with informed decision-making. Hence the importance of regular communication through social interactions and conversations with construction workers at worksites. The key findings from this literature review indicated that management are the key stakeholders in the construction industry. They are essential to developing the necessary skills amongst the workforce to educate, inform and reduce or eliminate fatalities in the sector.
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