As chronic illnesses continue to be a burden in today’s organisations, it remains a very crucial call for management to find ways to eradicate the associated organisational problems. While people of all ages are affected by chronic illnesses, there is a higher risk of the elderly developing chronic diseases. However, as much as chronic illnesses are inevitable among employees, there should be ways at least to curb negative social and goal achievement impact which they bring in organisations. In this regard, a survey of 80 employees was conducted to examine the relationship between employees' knowledge about, contact with, and attitudes towards their co-employees with chronic illnesses (CI). Results indicated that employees' knowledge about and contact with individuals diagnosed with chronic illnesses were significantly related to better attitudes toward this population. The findings also revealed that knowledge was related to positive attitudes among employees who had more personal contact with individuals with Chronic illnesses (CI) and such findings indicate the importance of exposing employees to information about chronic illnesses and direct practice experience with individuals who have these illnesses. To be noted also is that 39% of the respondents preferred to be exposed to health bulletins and magazines; 18% of the respondents preferred the help of health workers and about a third (30%) favoured brochures, posters and printed materials such as flyers. Managerial implications for employees with chronic illness are discussed

Abstracts in English, Zulu, Sesotho and Venda / This study focused on occupational health and safety in South African small businesses. The owners/managers of small businesses have a moral, legal and financial obligation to ensure the health and safety of their employees. Both an international and South African perspective on occupational health and safety in small businesses are included in the literature study. Twelve core occupational health and safety criteria, developed specifically with regard to small businesses, were identified and used as basis for this study, in conjunction with the aspects of the theory of planned behaviour. The research design of this study included a positivistic research philosophy and a deductive research approach. A questionnaire was developed and used to determine the knowledge, attitude, behavioural intent and actual behaviour of South African small business owners/managers with regard to occupational health and safety in their businesses. In addition, barriers to occupational health and safety compliance were determined and tested to determine the perceived strength of these barriers. South African small business owners/managers completed the questionnaire for this study. It was determined that the knowledge, attitude, behavioural intent and actual behaviour of South African small business owners/managers related to occupational health and safety were not at optimum levels. Barriers to compliance should be reduced. Legal compliance issues comprise one of the main reasons why South African small businesses fail. Therefore, this study proposes a compliance management framework, based on applicable occupational health and safety legislation that encompasses moral, legal and financial contentions. The identified core occupational health and safety criteria were used as sections in the compliance management framework. This proposed compliance management framework aims to reduce the complexity of occupational health and safety legislation for South African small business owners/managers. / Ngudo heyi yo sedza kha tsireledzo na mutakalo mushumoni kha mabindu maṱuku Afrika Tshipembe. Vhalanguli/vhaṋe vha mabindu maṱuku vha na pfanelo ya vhuḓilisi, mulayo na masheleni u khwaṱhisedza tsireledzo na mutakalo kha vhashumi vhavho. Vhuvhili hazwo mbonalo ya lushaka na ya dzitshaka nga ha tsireledzo na mutakalo mushumoni kha mabindu maṱuku zwo katelwa kha ngudo dza maṅwalwa. Nḓila khulwane dza fumimbili dza tsireledzo na mutakalo mushumoni, dzo bveledzwaho nga maanḓa hu tshi itelwa mabindu maṱuku, dzo topolwa na u shumiswa sa mutheo kha ngudo heyi, zwo ṱanganyiswa na zwiteṅwa zwa thiori ya vhuḓifari ho dzudzanywaho. Nyolo ya kuitele kwa ṱhoḓisiso heyi i katela fiḽosofi ya ṱhoḓisiso ine ya khwaṱhisedza nga u sedza hu tshi shumiswa kuitele kwa ṱhoḓisiso kwa u ṋea zwiitisi. Mbudzisambekanywa yo bveledziswa na u shumiswa u ta nḓivho, vhuvha, vhuḓifari vhune ha khou lavhelelwa na vhuḓifari ha vhukuma ha vhaṋe/vhalanguli vha mabindu maṱuku Afrika Tshipembe zwi tshi ḓa kha tsireledzo na mutakalo mushumoni mabinduni avho. U ḓadzisa kha zwenezwo, zwithivheli kha u tevhedza tsireledzo na mutakalo mushumoni zwo tiwa na u lingwa u ta maanḓa o vhonwaho kha zwithivheli izwi. Vhaṋe/vhalanguli vha mabindu maṱuku Afrika Tshipembe vho fhindula mbudzisambekanywa kha ngudo heyi. Ho waniwa uri nḓivho, vhuvha, vhuḓifari vhune ha khou lavhelela na vhuḓifari ha vhukuma ha vhaṋe/vhalanguli vha mabindu maṱuku Afrika Tshipembe zwi tshi ḓa kha tsireledzo na mutakalo mushumoni zwo vha zwi si kha ḽeveḽe dza nṱhesa. Mafhungo a u tevhedza lwa mulayo tsho vha tshiṅwe tsha zwiitisi zwihulwane uri ndingani mabindu maṱuku a Afrika Tshipembe a tshi khou kundelwa. Nga zwenezwo, ngudo heyi yo dzinginya furemiweke ya ndangulo ya u tevhedza, zwo ḓi sendeka kha mulayo wo teaho wa tsireledzo na mutakalo mushumoni une wa katela therisano dza vhuḓilisi, mulayo na masheleni. Nḓila khulwane dzo topolwaho dza tsireledzo na mutakalo mushumoni dzo shumiswa sa khethekanyo kha u tevhedza furemiweke ya ndangulo. Heyi furemiweke ya ndangulo ya u tevhedza yo dzinginywaho yo livhiswa kha u fhungudza vhukonḓi ha mulayo wa tsireledzo na mutakalo mushumoni kha vhaṋe/vhalanguli vha mabindu maṱuku Afrika Tshipembe. / Lolu cwaningo lugxile kwezempilo nokuphepha emsebenzini emabhizinisini amancane aseNingizimu Afrika. Abanikazi / abaphathi bamabhizinisi amancane banesibopho sokuziphatha, sezomthetho kanye nezezezimali sokuqinisekisa impilo nokuphepha kwabasebenzi babo. Kokubili umbono wamazwe omhlaba nowaseNingizimu Afrika ngempilo nokuphepha emsebenzini emabhizinisini amancane kufakiwe esifundweni semibhalo. Izimiso eziyishumi nambili eziyisisekelo zezempilo nokuphepha emsebenzini, ezithuthukisiwe ngokukhethekile maqondana namabhizinisi amancane, zahlonzwa futhi zasetshenziswa njengesisekelo salolu cwaningo, ngokuhlangana nezici zomqondo wokuziphatha okuhleliwe. Ukwakheka kocwaningo kwalesi sifundo kubandakanye isimo esiyisisekelo solwazi, iqiniso nokuba khona (ifilosofi) kokucwaninga okuhle kanye nendlela yocwaningo yokuthuthukisa umbono ngokuya komqondo osukhona. Kwenziwa uhlu lwemibuzo futhi lwasetshenziswa ukuthola ulwazi, isimo sengqondo, inhloso yokuziphatha nokuziphatha kwangempela kwabaninimabhizinisi / abaphathi bamabhizinisi amancane aseNingizimu Afrika maqondana nempilo nokuphepha emsebenzini emabhizinisini abo. Ngaphezu kwalokho, izithiyo ekuthobeleni ezempilo nokuphepha emsebenzini zanqunywa futhi zahlolwa ukuthola amandla abonwayo alezi zithiyo. Abanikazi bamabhizinisi amancane / abaphathi baseNingizimu Afrika bagcwalise uhlu lwemibuzo kulolu cwaningo. Kwanqunywa ukuthi ulwazi, isimo sengqondo, inhloso yokuziphatha nokuziphatha kwangempela kwabaninimabhizinisi / abaphathi bamabhizinisi amancane aseNingizimu Afrika ahlobene nempilo nokuphepha emsebenzini bekungekho ezingeni elifanele. Izithiyo ekuthobeleni kufanele zinciphiswe. Izinkinga zokuthobela komthetho ziqukethe esinye sezizathu ezisemqoka zokuthi kungani amabhizinisi amancane aseNingizimu Afrika ehluleka. Ngakho-ke, lolu cwaningo luphakamisa uhlaka lokuthobela kokuphathwa, olususelwa kumthetho osebenzayo wezempilo nokuphepha emsebenzini obandakanya imibango yokuziphatha, yezomthetho neyezezimali. Izimiso ezisemqoka ezikhonjiwe kwezempilo nokuphepha emsebenzini zisetshenziswe njengezigaba zohlaka lokuthobela kokuphathwa. Lolu hlaka oluhlongozwayo lokuthobela kokuphathwa luhlose ukunciphisa ubunzima bemithetho yezempilo nokuphepha emsebenzini yabaninimabhizinisi / abaphathi bamabhizinisi amancane aseNingizimu Afrika. / Boithuto bona bo ne bo shebane le polokeho le bophelo bo botle dikgwebong tse nyane Afrika Borwa. Beng ba/baokamedi ba dikgwebo tse nyane ba na le boikarabello ba boitshwaro, molao le ditjhelete ba ho netefatsa polokeho le bophelo bo botle ba basebeletsi ba bona. Boithuto ba dingolwa bo kenyelleditswe bobedi tjhebo ya matjhaba le ya Afrika Borwa mabapi le polokeho le bophelo bo botle mosebetsing ho dikgwebo tse nyane. Ho hlwailwe le ho sebediswa ditlhophiso tse leshome le metso e mmedi tsa motheo tsa polokeho le bophelo bo botle mosebetsing, tse thehilweng ka ho qolleha bakeng sa dikgwebo tse nyane jwalo ka motheo wa boithuto bona, hammoho le dikarolo tsa thiori ya boitshwaro bo rerilweng. Moralo wa patlisiso wa boithuto bona o ne o akarelletsa filosofi ya dipatlisiso tse senang leeme le katamelo ya dipatlisiso e etsang diteko ho fumana na thiori e itseng ke nnete kapa tjhe maemong a itseng. Ho ile ha hlahiswa le ho sebediswa letoto la dipotso ho fumana tsebo, maikutlo le maikemisetso a boitshwaro le boitshwaro ba nnete ba beng ba/baokamedi ba dikgwebo tse nyane ba maAfrika Borwa mabapi le polokeho le bophelo bo botle dikgwebong tsa bona. Ho feta moo, dithibedi tsa tatello ya melawana ya polokeho le bophelo bo botle mosebetsing di ile tsa fumanwa le ho etswa diteko ho bona matla ao ho dumelwang hore dithebedi tsena di na le ona. Beng ba/baokamedi ba dikgwebo tse nyane ba maAfrika Borwa ba ile ba tlatsa letoto la dipotso bakeng sa boithuto bona. Ho ile ha fumanwa hore tsebo, maikutlo le maikemisetso a boitshwaro le boitshwaro ba nnete ba beng ba/baokamedi ba dikgwebo tse nyane ba maAfrika Borwa mabapi le polokeho le bophelo bo botle mosebetsing ha di maemong a matle. Dithibedi tsa tatelo di lokela ho fokotswa. Mathata a tatelo ya semolao ke a mang a mabaka a sehlooho ao ka ona dikgwebo tse nyane tsa Afrika Borwa di hlolehang. Kahoo, boithuto bona bo sisinya boteng ba moralo wa tsamaiso ya tatelo, o thehilweng hodima melao e amehang ya polokeho le bophelo bo botle mosebetsing o kenyelletsang mehopolo ya boitshwaro, molao le ditjhelete. Ditlhophiso tse hlwailweng tsa motheo tsa polokeho le bophelo bo botle mosebetsing di sebedisitswe jwalo ka dikarolo moralong wa tsamaiso ya tatelo. Moralo ona o sisintsweng wa tsamaiso ya tatelo o ikemiseditse ho nolofatsa molao wa polokeho le bophelo bo botle mosebetsing bakeng sa beng ba/baokamedi ba dikgwebo tse nyane ba maAfrika Borwa. / Business Management / D. Phil. (Management Studies)

MPM / Department of Public Health

PhD (Sociology) / Department of Sociology

Thesis (MBA) -- Stellenbosch University, 2011. / A company’s primary goal is to make money. Simple as it may seem, this is not always easily achieved, and sustainability of the business may be a serious challenge. In an effort to make a profit, important aspects of safety, health, environment and quality (SHEQ) may sometimes be neglected. Some small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) merely do not have the understanding or the capacity to address all the important aspects of SHEQ, thereby placing the company under potential financial and legal risks. A survey was conducted in SMEs based in the Durban area to ascertain their level of legislative and voluntary system standard awareness and implementation. The questionnaire responses indicated that general awareness of legislation such as the Occupational Health and Safety Act, the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act, the National Environmental Management Act and voluntary system standards such as ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 was relatively good, on the whole. However, implementation of the mandatory environmental requirements associated with the National Environmental Management Act was low, as was the implementation of the voluntary standards. Management and implementation of SHEQ responsibilities and requirement in larger organisations may be divided amongst various discipline specialists. However, in the SME these various disciplines may be the responsibility of one person, and often this person is the managing director. As such, this individual may not always have adequate time or understanding of the legal requirements of SHEQ aspects. There may also be a lack of understanding of the potential cost implications in not managing SHEQ aspects, and similarly budgeting requirements of managing SHEQ aspects appropriately. This research report introduces and summarises key SHEQ legislation and voluntary management system standards, such as the Occupational Health and Safety Act, the National Environmental Management Act, local bylaws, and introduces the ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001. Since some characteristics of the disciplines of health and safety, environment and quality may overlap, combining these into an integrated management system has merit. Such an integrated system can save the company time and money. This research report reviews some pertinent business requirements associated with SHEQ and presents an integrated management system guideline for the SME business owner. Business management, today, needs to learn from past business management developments. Successful and sustainable business management is not only about making a profit, but also incorporates a significant human resource management focus, health and safety assurance, the mitigation of potential environmental impacts from operations, whilst ensuring that quality standards of products and services are competitive.

Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master of Technology Occupational Health Nursing in the Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology 2015 / Purpose of study: The purpose of this study was to explore the injury on duty prevention and management strategies that are currently used in different higher education settings. The study intended to shed light on specific areas of policy and practice discrepancies related to the disjuncture between employee interactions, regulated directives and organizational goals. Aims and objectives: One of the aims was to determine the types of work-related injuries that occur in HEI’s by verifying the injuries reported on Employers Reports of an Accident. A second aim was to examine strategies that have been put in place to prevent injuries in the workplace by reviewing policies and procedures related to injury prevention. The final aim was to examine systems in-place to manage occupational injuries by looking at staff health or employee wellness service flow charts or models used at the HEIs. Population and sample: Permanently employed personnel at two HEI’s in the Western Cape were participants in a multiple case study. The sample units consisted of health and safety representatives, human resources, maintenance personnel, estates and custodial, traffic services and departmental managers. Methodology: This study applied a mixed-method using a multiple case study design as an approach to the enquiry. Methods of data collection: Documents, questionnaires, and semi-structured interviews were be used to obtain data to answer the research questions. Process of analysis: Qualitative and quantitative themes will be analysed in a matrix. The three data sources were triangulated to validate the findings. Benefits of the study: Injury prevention benefits the employer and employee in many ways, including increased employee performance leading to increased productivity as well as cost savings. Main findings: Injuries that were reported are mostly musculoskeletal injuries; however other types of injuries may not be reported due to under reporting of injuries being common in this setting. Health and safety training and knowledge sharing was not well supported and injury prevention strategies were not optimized. The application of health and safety policies and procedures were not adequately communicated, enforced or monitored. Staff health and employee wellness strategies operate independently and do not facilitate a coordinated response to manage occupational injuries in this setting. Lack of monitoring, organizational support, training and knowledge sharing and communication were the four main challenges to injury prevention management systems. Conclusions: The implementation of an effective injury prevention and management programme could benefit the organization and translate into increased operational value (organizational quality). Key words: Higher Education Institutions, Occupational Injury prevention, Management of occupational injury.

The present study adopted a “field-laboratory-field” approach in the assessment of the efficacy of ergonomics interventions specific to two selected tasks evaluated in a South African automotive industry. Initial field testing was conducted in an Eastern Cape (South Africa) automotive plant where high risk areas were identified during walkthrough ergonomics surveys in conjunction with interaction with operators. Temporal factors and working postures of 12 industrial workers were recorded and observed, while physiological and perceptual responses were assessed. Two priority areas were focused upon for analysis, namely the Paintshop and Bodyshop with the former identified as being the more taxing of the two tasks. Responses of 30 students participating in rigourously controlled laboratory simulations were subsequently collected while completing the two tasks, namely the Paintshop Trolley Transfer (PTT) and Car Door Carriage (CDC) for participants. Working postures, kinematic, physiological and perceptual responses were assessed pre- and post-intervention. Following the laboratory experimentation a basic re-evaluation was conducted at the plant to assess whether the proposed changes had a positive effect on working postures, physiological and perceptual responses. The results of the preliminary field investigation revealed a prevalence of awkward working postures and excessive manual work in both areas. Laboratory experimentation revealed a notable reduction in task demands pre- versus post-intervention. The PTT mean lean angle for two-handed pre-intervention pulling observations of 23.7° (±3.51) was reduced to 13.9° (±2.21) post-intervention. Low back disorder (LBD) risk was reduced during the two-handed pull intervention (from 36.8% ±8.03 to 21.7% ±5.31). A significant decrement in heart rate responses from 103 bt.min-1 (±11.62) to 93 bt.min[superscript -1] (±11.77) was recorded during the two-handed symmetrical pushing intervention. The electromyography (EMG) responses for one-handed pushing and pulling pre-intervention showed the highest levels of muscular activity in the right medial deltoid due to an awkward and asymmetrical posture. CDC responses demonstrated that minor changes in the storage height of the door resulted in a significant reduction in sagittal flexion from 28.0° (±4.78) to 20.7° (±5.65). Predictions of average probability of LBD risk were significantly reduced from 50.3% (±5.91) to 39.8% (±5.10) for post-intervention car door lifting. In addition, the greatest reduction in EMG activity as a %MVC was achieved during sub-task ii (reduced from 35.1 to 13.7% and 30.5 to 13.9% for left and right erector spinae respectively) which was associated with the introduction of the transfer trolley for the door transfer phase of the CDC. Re-evaluation in the automotive plant revealed that the most notable change has been the implementation of automated ride on trolleys in the Paintshop. The Bodyshop area has also been modified to allow more effective job rotation and the step into the storage bin has been reduced via a “low-cost” stepping platform. Mean heart rate recordings were reduced from 94 (±9.77) bt.min[superscript -1] to 81 (±3.72) bt.min[superscript -1] in the Paintshop. Overall the results demonstrate the effect of “low-cost” interventions in reducing the physical stresses placed on workers in the automotive industry where much of the work is still done manually.

M.Com. / Please refer to full text to view abstract

M.Tech. (Business Administration, Faculty of Management Sciences), Vaal University of Technology. / The majority of mine health and safety authorities around the world agree that the quality of safety standards is of increasing importance to the mining industry across the world (Kleyn & du Plessis 2016:309). Mining companies in many countries such as New Zealand, (an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean), Australia, South Africa and China have taken up the challenges of guaranteeing liability and improving performance of the safety and health of their workers, aware that many workers are injured, if not fatally. These incidents result in production loss. This study provides not only an opportunity to evaluate the status of the safety control measures of the work system in a mining company, but also enables management to pinpoint the causes of poor safety performance and implement efforts that ensure safety improvement. The primary objectives of this study were to examine factors influencing the adherence and employee perceptions towards safety control measures in a mining company. Furthermore, the governments in many countries have tried to implement legislation to try to curb the scourge of industrial accidents. Safety disclosures of the annual reports from the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) of South African mining organisations, discloses 10 major mining accidents that happened in 2015 at Northern Cape mining companies. Six of these accidents occurring from a small mining sector and four from a large mining sector, except previous year’s safety records as detailed in this study. A quantitative approach was adopted for the study. The data were collected using a sample of 200 participants in which a survey questionnaire was administered to permanent mine employees and full time contractors in the mine. A simple sampling technique was used and data were then analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) version 25.0 to formulate frequency tables and descriptive analysis graphs. Furthermore, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and t-test were utilised to analyse the data and examine significant differences between employee perceptions and attitudes towards safety control measures, age and length of service (Willemse 2009:118-121). The results reveal that although the mine was considered compliant, with its employees showing a positive attitude towards safety control measures, ANOVA revealed different perceptions of employees based on their age and years of experience. However, no differences were found in relation to gender and occupation. Based on the findings, this study further recommends future studies to be conducted in order to explore the effectiveness of implementing an internal system of self-evaluation as a starting point in any safety improvement process. An effective system of internal self-evaluation will trademark the mining sector internationally and improve workers’ safety by improving effectiveness and assurance of the control measures and the level of control performance criteria. The system should create the awareness of adherence to safety control measures and deal with employee perception towards safety adherence in mining. In addition it should be a system that ensures a structured and standardised approach to learning from incidents and that all necessary steps are followed to safeguard against repeats of incidents and accidents through an effective incident investigation process (Van den Berg 2014:11). The findings of the study revealed that the leadership in the mine has a strong, positive and significant influence on the performance of safety. In this regard, this study recommends that an effective employee engagement system to be developed and that mine managers establish a safety control charter that must be understood by the mine workers, develop a code of ethics that requires ethical and honest behaviour from all employees in order to improve safety performance and learn from these accomplishments. Mine workers will take their cue from the attitude and example displayed by management, therefore, it is recommended that mine management develop an organisational culture, which assigns authority and responsibility to employees and organises and develops employees with direction provided by management that determines the type of culture in that mine. To minimise or reduce the risk of health exposure of each activity as highlighted under Regulation 9 of the Mine Health and Safety Act (29 of 1996), it is recommended that mine manager’s enforce the use of protective equipment. The leadership and human resources, mine workers and all persons who may be affected by the mining activities in the surrounding area of operation need to be aware of the factors that can impact their well-being. The study also presented managers, mine owner and other decision makers within the mining company with important insight on key areas of factors that may require particular attention in order to enhance their operational strategies towards zero harm in the mine.

M. Tech. (Labour Relations Management, Faculty of Management Sciences), Vaal University of Technology. / Industrial accidents have proved to be more prevalent and costly than anticipated especially in developing countries including South Africa. Occupational accidents have direct and indirect cost implications for an organisation as well as society. Governments in many countries have tried to implement legislation to try and curb the scourge of industrial accidents. The primary purpose of this research was to investigate the level of employee adherence to the Occupational, Health and Safety Act (OHSA) 85 of 1993 in the steel manufacturing sector. This research provided an overview of various factors that influences employee’s level of understanding and adherence to the OHSA. This included factors such as information and training in health and safety; employee safety perception, employee safety awareness, employee safety adherence, employee behaviour with regard to health and safety, the role of the union in health and safety issues, accident reporting mechanism, and employee’s perceptions of the influence of rewards on health and safety. A structured questionnaire consisting of closed-ended questions was developed and disseminated in order to gather relevant data. Given the scale of the research, a quantitative research method was implemented. The population for the study strictly consisted of employees working in the steel manufacturing sector. A purposive sampling technique was selected. Statistical Package for Social Sciences 22.0 (SPSS) was used to analyse the data. The sample size of (n) =165 employees was involved in the study. The response rate for the total was (98.5%). Descriptive, frequency, correlation, regression and means analysis was employed in this study. The results of the study indicated that majority of the employees were aware and adhered with the requirements of the OHSA with the organisation. It was suggested that strong stake holder partnerships between unions, employers and employees be formulated. The state should reinforce the Department of Labour inspectorate by giving it more powers to be able to execute its task meritoriously and efficiently. It further suggested that the state must rapidly focus on recruiting and training more health and safety labour inspectors to ensure appropriate enforcement of health and safety regulations. Lastly it is advisable to create and engrave a health and safety culture within the organisation that focuses on highly on employee involvement and mutual trust. The proposed recommendation for the study, limitations and the conclusion of the study were outlined in Chapter 5.