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No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

This research investigated expertise in hazardous substance risk assessment (HSRA). Competent pro-active risk assessment is needed to prevent occupational ill-health caused by hazardous substance exposure occurring in the future. In recent years there has been a strong demand for HSRA expertise and a shortage of expert practitioners. The discipline of Occupational Hygiene was identified as the key repository of knowledge and skills for HSRA and one objective of this research was to develop a method to elicit this expertise from experienced occupational hygienists. In the study of generic expertise, many methods of knowledge elicitation (KE) have been investigated, since this has been relevant to the development of 'expert systems' (thinking computers). Here, knowledge needed to be elicited from human experts, and this stage was often a bottleneck in system development, since experts could not explain the basis of their expertise. At an intermediate stage, information collected was used to structure a basic model of hazardous substance risk assessment activity (HSRA Model B) and this formed the basis of tape transcript analysis in the main study with derivation of a 'classification' and a 'performance matrix'. The study aimed to elicit the expertise of occupational hygienists and compare their performance with other health and safety professionals (occupational health physicians, occupational health nurses, health and safety practitioners and trainee health and safety inspectors), as evaluated using the matrix. As a group, the hygienists performed best in the exercise, and this group were particularly good at process elicitation and at recommending specific control measures, although the other groups also performed well in selected aspects of the matrix and the work provided useful findings and insights. From the research, two models of HSRA have been derived, an HSRA aid, together with a novel videotape KE technique and interesting research findings. The implications of this are discussed with respect to future training of HS professionals and wider application of the videotape KE method.

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Extensive depth interviews and self-completion questionnaires were used to assess subjective stress experience and issues relating to coping in samples of psychiatric nurses and prison service workers. Psychiatric nurses working within a psychiatric hospital due for closure had particular problems with stress relating to staff shortages, support from senior managers, and obtaining day-to-day resources. Four stress factors were elicited, the more important being related to staff shortages and support, and disputes. Enrolled Nurses and Staff Nurses, and nurses working within Continuing Care wards experienced the greatest problems with occupational stress in general. Comparative intra-role conflict and type A orientations to work were predictive of greater problems with occupational stress. Occupational stress was also a particular problem for dual careerists and nurses experiencing inter-role conflict. Low job satisfaction was related to greater problems with occupational stress. Prison service workers within a custodial establishment undergoing significant organisational change had particular problems with stress relating to paperwork systems, setting priorities, feelings of lack of appreciation from supervisors, inadequate feedback, and noise. Six stress factors were elicited, the more important being definition of work role, inmates, and setting priorities. Probation Officers experienced the greatest problems with occupational stress in general and the lowest levels of general psychological wellbeing as measured by a modified version of GHQ-12. Around one third of the sample experienced negative effects of stress in some area of their lives. Low job satisfaction was related to greater problems with occupational stress, and was predictive of low morale. Various factors regarding stress-related issues were assessed in terms of their predictive utility in determining basic grade prison officers' intentions to seek transfers and potential for leaving the service. The efficacy of presently used coping strategies and preferences for organisational coping resources were assessed for the two samples. Stress associated with role-related issues and significant events in the workplace are discussed. A model of stress is provided to account for stress in work settings - 'Stress in the workplace' - which defines stress in terms of ineffective coping with psychological demands. A variety of individual and organisational stress management / reduction strategies are reviewed. A general organisational framework for addressing stress in the workplace is provided in appended form.

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No description available.

No description available.