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It is recognised that as with any other risk; health, safety and environment issues require an integrated management system to comprehensively and sustainably manage the risks in the workplace. However to move beyond the paper based systems, ultimately require a behavioural change that can only be achieved through a culture change that continually re-invents itself and that motivates staff (human beings) to intrinsically do the right thing every day, every time and without any overseer. This study focuses on the critical success factors for the practical implementation of a safety culture improvement initiative in South Africa.

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The research objectives were:- 1.To review the literature to establish the factors which have traditionally been regarded as most crucial to the design of effectlve exhaust ventilation systems. 2. To design, construct, install and calibrate a wind tunnel. 3. To develop procedures for air velocity measurement followed by a comprehensive programme of aerodvnamic data collection and data analysis for a variety of conditions. The major research findings were:- a) The literature in the subject is inadequate. There is a particular need for a much greater understanding of the aerodynamics of the suction flow field. b) The discrepancies between the experimentally observed centre-line velocities and those predicted by conventional formulae are unacceptably large. c) There was little agreement between theoretically calculated and observed velocities in the suction zone of captor hoods. d) Improved empirical formulae for the prediction of centre-line velocity applicable to the classical geometrically shaped suction openings and the flanged condition could be (and were) derived. Further analysis of data revealed that: - i) Point velocity is directly proportional to the suction. flow rate and the ratio of the point velocity to the average face velocity is constant. ii) Both shape, and size of the suction opening are significant factors as the coordinates of their points govern the extent of the effect of the suction flow field. iii) The hypothetical ellipsoidal potential function and hyperbolic streamlines were found experimentally to be correct. iv) The effect of guide plates depends on the size, shape and the angle of fitting. The effect was to very approximately double the suction velocity but the exact effect is difficult to predict. v) The axially symmetric openings produce practically symmetric flow fields. Similarity of connection pieces between the suction opening and the main duct in each case is essential in order to induce a similar suction flow field. Additionally a pilot study was made in which an artificial extraneous air flow was created, measured and its interaction with the suction flow field measured and represented graphically.

The thesis examines the system of occupational health and safety in France. It analyses the use of expert manpJwer in the field with a view to establishing the pJssibility of a profession in health and safety. An input-output model is developed to bring together the necessary elements of prevention of accidents and occupational diseases. The role of institutions concerned with health and safety is analysed with reference to this model. The research establishes the need for a health and safety specialist role. The recognition and status of this role are found to be subject to other criteria including the acceptance by institutions of such a specialist role. The model is also used to define the role of this specialist as expected by the various institutions intervening in the field.

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Abstract Purpose: To determine the prevalence and factors associated with injury in professional ballet and modern dancers, to explore dancers’ attitudes and perceptions of injury, and to assess if dancers are reporting their injuries and reasons for not reporting injuries. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was undertaken in professional ballet and modern dance companies in Canada, Denmark, Israel, and Sweden. Results: The point prevalence of injury in dancers is high (55% ballet; 46% modern) and most have chronic pain. Years dancing professionally and rank were associated with injury in ballet dancers. Attitudes towards injury vary and some dancers are continuing to dance when injured. Greater than 15% of all injured dancers have not reported their injury. Conclusions: Injury is common in dancers and there is an urgent need to investigate interventions to help control injury and understand the long-term implications of these conditions in this population.

Abstract Purpose: To determine the prevalence and factors associated with injury in professional ballet and modern dancers, to explore dancers’ attitudes and perceptions of injury, and to assess if dancers are reporting their injuries and reasons for not reporting injuries. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was undertaken in professional ballet and modern dance companies in Canada, Denmark, Israel, and Sweden. Results: The point prevalence of injury in dancers is high (55% ballet; 46% modern) and most have chronic pain. Years dancing professionally and rank were associated with injury in ballet dancers. Attitudes towards injury vary and some dancers are continuing to dance when injured. Greater than 15% of all injured dancers have not reported their injury. Conclusions: Injury is common in dancers and there is an urgent need to investigate interventions to help control injury and understand the long-term implications of these conditions in this population.

Agriculture challenges health and safety professionals as it continues to be one of the most dangerous occupations despite the considerable attention that has been paid to it. Researchers have struggled to obtain the information necessary to challenge the cultural, economic and family dynamics that seem resistant to change. To add to this difficulty, attention has not been paid to the concerns of the farm women who work off the farm while taking care of children and supporting their husbands. This research process has resulted in viewing the women as women, not as wives. This qualitative research proposal used feminist methodology to study the perspectives of farm women through the focus group process. Data was collected and an analysis performed using the transcripts. Ultimately, meaning emerged from the collective lived experience of these farm women. The farming community hopefully will benefit from this research through the creation of better safety interventions targeted to the farm wife in the future.

<p> Construction safety is an essential aspect of the construction industry and measuring safety performance has been of continuing concern. Most of the preceding studies concentrated on two widely used metrics in industry to evaluate and improve safety performance, EMR and incidence rates. However, it is recognized that these metrics have shortcomings, such as being reactive and not proactive, or representing a macroscopic approach and not microscopic approach, or disregarding the events that lead to accidents and only being result-oriented. Improving safety is one aspect of a research but using an appropriate safety measure is as important. Using these parameters comes with their limitations, and they need to be well understood while drawing conclusions so as not to mislead an owner while comparing companies' safety performance or making a decision to select a safe contractor, the same holds true for the contractor's own management while self-assessing its safety performance and deficiencies. </p><p> This study focused on a new safety performance metric by introducing a proactive safety performance measurement system through observed safety violations of OSHA standards. The new metric, site safety performance value (SSPV) was based on OSHA's Gravity Based Penalty (GBP) system and quantified general contractors' site safety performance to measure their ability to comply with OSHA safety rules and regulations. This metric is a leading indicator based on pre-accident driven data. It was also used to develop a new predictive model to evaluate general contractors' safety performance and examine the relationships between the project and company demographics and the proactive safety measure, SSPV, for advancement of construction safety performance. The statistical model constructed can predict future contractor safety performance, and it may contribute to the contractor selection process. The methodology additionally included an investigation of specific construction trades to find out which trades carry the highest risk in terms of safety and impact construction safety performance the most. </p><p> The findings of this study can be used by numerous groups including the general contractors, owners, safety professionals and researchers to identify where safety performance can be improved, and determine the significant parameters that could help identify the areas of concern by utilizing a new proactive safety performance evaluation system.</p>