The present field study investigated the application of an applied behavior analysis package (consisting of Feedback and Thank You interventions) to one department of a large manufacturing plant for the purpose of increasing safe work behaviors. Safe behaviors increased following the introduction of a Feedback intervention and continued to increase somewhat following the introduction of a Thank You intervention. Safe behaviors decreased when interventions were withdrawn. Responses to a Safety Climate Survey showed employee perceptions did not change as a result of the safety interventions. Results and directions for future research are discussed. / Master of Science

This study examined the parameters under which risk compensation in driving can occur due to the use of safety belts. Risk compensation theories hypothesize that if individuals wear safety belts, they will . drive in a more risky manner than if they do not wear safety belts due to the increased perception of safety they provide. Although much of the current literature has debated the existence of risk compensation in driving for many years, until the current study an experimental analysis of the effect has not yet been conducted that permits a controlled examination of both between-subject and within-subject effects. Risk compensation was not found in the between-subject analyses of the present research, however the within-subject analyses demonstrated the risk compensation effect. Subjects drove significantly faster when they switched from not wearing a safety belt to wearing a safety belt than subjects who either did not switch belt use or drivers who switched from safety belt use to safety belt non-use. The study also suggested that the mechanism by which risk compensation occurs is that safety belt use makes drivers feel safer when they can compare the sensations wearing a safety belt vs. those when not wearing a safety belt. The risk compensation effect probably did not manifest itself in the between-subject studies because this comparison did not (and could not) take place. The implications of this study to driving real automobiles on multi-user roadways is discussed. Suggestions and examples of possible research to further expand the knowledge about how and when risk compensation occurs are also provided. / Ph. D. / incomplete_metadata

The existence of an occupational health and safety policy is believed to be evidence of management accepting their occupational health and safety role in terms of the Occupational Health and Safety Act. It is accepted that this results in management ensuring the provision of a safe workplace. Despite the emphasis in legislation (the Occupational Health and Safety Act) on the need for management to implement comprehensive occupational health and safety policies, there is a lack of research on the implementation and efficacy of occupational health and safety policies in the workplace. This study investigates the efficacy with which management carries out their occupational health and safety duties and responsibilities when implementing the provisions of an occupational health and safety policy in the workplace. A number of factors are essential to the efficient performance of management in this regard. These factors include managerial commitment, practices and strategies; communication practices and structures; training initiatives and information; the extent of employee and trade union involvement; and the infrastructure of the organisation. This research study is primarily qualitative in nature. Semi-structured interviews were the primary tool used by the researcher to collect the data. The case-study research method was employed to assist the researcher in collecting the data. The participants involved in the research were selected using the principles of strategic informant sampling and expert choice sampling. The participants consisted of a sample of management, employees and shop stewards. The research findings indicate that firstly, the presence of occupational health and safety policies, practices, strategies and systems in the workplace do not automatically result in reduced hazards, accidents or deaths in the workplace. Secondly, the participation schemes and the communication practices put in place by management are weak. The reason for their weakness is their ineffective implementation by management and use by employees and the trade union. Thirdly, management has a definite impact on the involvement, attitudes and actions of the employees and the trade union in occupational health and safety issues. Fourthly, there is an unequal partnership between management and employees as a result of the educational differences regarding occupational health and safety between them. The outcome is that management and employees are faced with numerous challenges in relation to occupational health and safety. Contributing to this challenge is a lack of sufficient resources allocated to training, resulting ultimately in the ineffective monitoring of occupational health and safety in the workplace. The existence of occupational health and safety structures and systems does not provide the essential evidence to suggest that their mere presence makes a difference to the workplace safety level. However, through more co-operation and participation by all the parties, these structures and systems have the potential to be effective. / KMBT_363 / Adobe Acrobat 9.54 Paper Capture Plug-in

Depuis l’apparition du CHSCT en 1982, la représentation élue du personnel a connu de profondes évolutions. Délégués du personnel, comités d’entreprise et CHSCT ont dû s’adapter à la considérable extension des notions de santé et de sécurité. L’intégration de l’impératif de protection de la santé mentale des travailleurs dans le Code du travail a bouleversé le champ de compétences du CHSCT. La prévention des risques psycho-sociaux s’est rapidement invitée au centre de ses préoccupations, élargissant d’autant l’obligation de consultation mise à la charge de l’employeur. Des projets et mesures qui initialement nécessitaient la seule consultation du comité d’entreprise doivent dorénavant être également soumis à l’avis du CHSCT. Dans cette procédure de double consultation l’employeur est guidé par le principe de spécialité qui transforme le comité d’entreprise en simple chambre d’enregistrement des avis de l’instance spécialisée. De l’expansion du CHSCT naissent redondances et lourdeurs. Une réforme doit être envisagée. Transformation de l’instance spécialisée en commission du comité d’entreprise ou redistribution des compétences de chacun : l’alternative offerte impose la discussion. / Since the emergence of the CHSCT (health, safety and working conditions committee) in 1982, the elected representation of employees has profoundly changed. Employee representatives, works councils and the CHSCT have had to adapt to the considerable extension of the concepts of health and safety. The integration of the requirement to protect the mental health of workers in the Labour Code has radically altered the scope of competence of the CHSCT. The prevention of psychosocial risks quickly invited itself as the centre of its concerns, thereby extending the consultation obligation borne by the employer. Projects and measures that initially only required the consultation of the works council are now also subject to the prior opinion of the CHSCT. In this procedure of double consultation the employer is guided by the principle of specialty that turns the works council in a mere rubber stamp of the opinion of the specialized committee. The expansion of the CHSCT has caused reiterations and cumbersomeness. A reform must be considered. Transformation of the specialized body in a committee of the works council or redistribution of powers of each : the alternative offered requires discussion.

Thesis (MBA (Business Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 1999. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: As part of South Africa's transformation, legislative changes have been introduced to support the Constitutional rights of the people, including the right of access to health care. In restructuring the health services, the redistribution of resources between the private and public sector is addressed through a long-term vision which includes a Social Health Insurance scheme. The focus has been shifted to primary health and prevention, with community based services at the centre. Various Acts and regulations have been introduced to give substance to the transformation, including the Acts affecting medical schemes and the pharmaceutical services, labour legislation, education and training. The Bargaining Councils and Occupational health services have been extended to include primary health care, and in many cases this is extended to the dependents of the workers, bringing them into the ambit of the private sector. The proposed redistribution of resources into the public sector has placed the low-wage earner at risk as the cost of private health care increases. The legislation controlling medical schemes and pharmaceutical services are a threat to the viability of the Health Care Funds, particularly in the short-term until the Social Health Insurance has been established. The restrictions placed on dispensing and the measures which are intended to make drugs more affordable also provide a challenge to the low-cost medical funds. The relevant legislation is being subjected to judicial challenges, and the replacement legislation promulgated prematurely, resulting in confusion and uncertainty. It is within this context that the Funds must prepare for the changes ahead. A management consulting case study is presented using the Clothing Industry Bargaining Council of the Western Cape with the Clothing Industry Health Care Fund which provides comprehensive primary health services in Fund owned clinics, factories and through panel doctors. Because of the complexity of the organisation and the issues surrounding the implementation of changes to the pharmaceutical services, Yolles' viable approach to management systems has been used as a framework for the consultancy intervention. This is a newly published approach grounded in chaos theory, which directs the nature of inquiry according to form and the behaviour of the situation, aiming to maintain viability and adaptability. This case study examines the impact of the legislative changes on the health services which are accessed through the workplace, and tests the applicability of the viable approach to management systems. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: As deel van Suid-Afrika se transformasie is veranderings aangebring aan die wetgewing om die Konstitusionele regte van die mense te ondersteun, insluitend die reg van toegang tot gesondheidsorg. Met die herstrukturering van die gesondheidsdienste, word die verdeling van bronne tussen die privaat en publieke sektor aangespreek deur middel van 'n lang-tenmyn visie wat 'n gemeenskapsgesondheidsversekering insluit. Die lokus het herskuil na primêre gesondheid en voorkoming, met gemeenskapsdienste as sentrum. Verskeie wette en regulasies is voorgestel om as kern van die verandering te dien, insluitende wette wat die mediese skemas en farmaseutiese dienste, asook die werknemer, opleiding en opvoeding beinvloed. Die gesondheidsdienste van die Onderhandelingsrade en die Beroepsgesondheiddienste is uitgebrei om primêre sorg in te sluit. Dit sal ook die afhanklikes van die werkers dek en hulle sodoende binne die privaatsektor betrek. Die voorgestelde herverdeling van bronne in die publieke sekdor veroorsaak dat daar 'n risiko is vir die werker met 'n lae inkomste as gevolg van die stygende koste van gesondheidsorg. Die wetgewing wat mediese skemas en farmaseutiese dienste beheer veroorsaak ook dat die Siekefonds se lewensvatbaarheid bedreig word, veral in die korttenmyn tot tyd en wyl die gemeenskapsgesondheidsversekering gestig word. Die beperkings wat op reseptering geplaas word en die metodes wat beplan word om medisyne meer bekostigbaar te maak, veroorsaak ook 'n uitdaging vir die inkomste mediese fondse. Die relevante wetgewing word tans in die hof betwis, en die plaasvervangende wetgewing is voortydig gepromulgeer, wat verwarring en onsekerheid veroorsaak. Die siekefondse moet hulle binne die konteks voorberei vir die veranderinge wat voorlê. 'n Bestuurskonsultasie gevallestudie is voorgelê, met die hulp van die Klerasienywerheid Gesondheidsorgfonds (Weskaap), wie se siekefonds omvattende primêre gesondheidsdienste lewer binne klinieke, fabrieke en deur gemeenskapsgeneeskundiges. Omdat die organisasie en die omstandighede rondom die veranderings aan die farmaseutiese dienste kompleks is, word Yolles se lewensvatbare benadering (viable approach) as 'n raamwerk gebruik vir die konsultasie. Die model is nuut gepubliseer, en is gebaseer op chaos teorie, wat rigting gee aan die aard van die ondersoek volgens die vorm en die gedrag wat die situasie aanneem. Dit is daarop gemik om lewensvatbaarheid en aanpassingsvermoë te ondersteun. Daar word 'n studie gemaak van die impak wat die veranderings tot wetgewing op gesondheidsdienste wat deur middel van die werksplek bereik word mag hê, en toets die toepaslikheid van Yolles se model in die konteks van bestuurskonsultasie.

Thesis (MBA (Business Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010.

Thesis (MBA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Many organisations have reached plateaus in their safety performance and are constantly exploring new methods to improve. Traditional safety practices e.g. engineering solutions, safety management systems, and other administrative controls do not enable organisations to make the required step change in safety performance. Safety culture is a new safety “buzz word” and is promoted as a phenomenon that could assist organisations in improving safety performance in their endeavour to safety excellence. It is however, a relatively new concept and research in this field was completed during the past two decades only. Safety culture is a multi-dimensional, dynamic and complex concept. An improved understanding of the safety culture concept is required to enable organisations to determine the value of pursuing safety culture enhancement in their quest for superior safety performance.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Severe flooding in Queensland, Australia in late 2010 and into February of 2011 resulted in significant losses to infrastructure, equipment and coal production. Xstrata Coal (XC) mines suffered billions of dollars worth of losses, resulting in insurance premiums increasing drastically in subsequent months. These events prompted Xstrata‟s top management to reconsider the way in which they managed risk. Initial revelations were that the focus of Risk Management had largely been on the areas of Health and Safety and that, particularly in South Africa, the outcome of all management‟s efforts to manage risk had been to comply with the relevant legislation. There was clearly an attempt to avoid litigation resulting in potential prosecution. The most stringent of this legislation was that of the Mine Health and Safety Act (No. 24 of 996), as promulgated by the Department of Mineral Resources. The requirements were prescriptive to the extent that mine management was required to utilise the Hazard Identification Risk Assessment process to identify hazards, assess the associated risk and apply mitigation, largely in order to prevent incidents which could affect the health and safety of employees. Little regard was given to the fact that mining houses could endure severe financial losses as a result of catastrophic events, which could stop production for significant periods of time. Whilst Xstrata did recognise Business Continuity Risk (BCR), the risk assessment process which was introduced along with the CURA risk register displayed a distinct division between Health and Safety Risk and BCR. Furthermore, this was not a systematic process. Initial risk categories were prescribed by XC mainly based on experiences in Australia. The floods prompted a rethink and Xstrata‟s prescription to conduct business continuity risk assessments (BCRAs) coincided perfectly with this writer‟s exposure to the Enterprise Risk Management Elective at the University of Stellenbosch‟s Business School. As the General Manager of the iMpunzi Complex that comprises three coalmines, it was the responsibility of the writer to carry out the instruction to review the business continuity process. Consequently, the research is intended to assess the current Risk Management environment within Xstrata Coal South Africa by means of an analysis of current documentation and interviews with select key personnel who largely influence and impact the management of risk in the company. Thereafter, the study will progress to the methodology involved in the Risk Assessments, followed by an assessment of the knowledge, skills and qualifications required for the relevant, accountable managers appointed to manage the risks. The findings of the research were that whilst there was quite a rigid framework, which was aligned with ISO 31000 principles for risk management, there were shortcomings in the methodology of the risk assessment process, as well as the considerations for dealing with latent or residual risk. To this extent, the writer recommended: A risk assessment template which prescribes, but is not limited to, the hazards which may be prevalent on a coal mine, including hazards specific to iMpunzi Complex; A revised template for the Risk Treatment Plan, which takes cognisance of Residual Risk; Other recommendations, which may deal with minor findings of the study.

Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / One of the causes for money to be wasted on construction sites is accidents. The reason is that an accident on site is an unplanned event typically relating to the loss of production or the loss of life. Many industry stakeholders and role players have focused on construction health and safety and to improve this area of concern; however, construction health and safety are not significantly improving. Construction still continues to contribute a large number of fatalities and injuries relative to other industry sectors. During the construction phase, poor construction health and safety performance is attributable to a lack of management commitment, inadequate supervision, and a lack of health and safety training and - systems. Health and safety systems do not only include excellent health and safety management on site, but rather an integrated approach on health and safety issues from the conceptual design phase by all stakeholders participating. This integrated approach includes the design done by the engineer. The inspiration behind this research is the question of whether South African Engineers design buildings safe for construction. The lack of knowledge by engineers with regard to construction processes, the lack of health and safety enforcement in the engineering offices and construction sites, and whether engineers adhere to safe design principles is the subject of investigation in this research. Therefore, this research aims to investigate the role of the design engineer in the safety of building projects. Specifically, it investigates to what extent the design engineer can contribute to site safety, and to what extent this is actually taking place. The Construction Regulations states the engineer can be appointed to act on behalf of a client and should share any information that might affect the health and safety of construction employees with the contractor. By means of a literature study, the investigation of case studies and the investigation of questionnaires to which a percentage of South African engineers responded, this research identified the information that should be shared by the design engineer with the contractor. The information can be shared by indicating hazardous activities or - locations on the actual drawings. Information can also be shared by specifying and reminding the contractor of certain health and safety hazards in the health and safety specifications of the building project. Although the Construction Regulations state that the safety hazards associated with most construction processes are the responsibility of the contractor, it will be beneficial for the safety of the employees if the engineer also consults the contractor on the hazards identified by him or her during the early design stages. Early collaboration between the engineer and contractor is also beneficial for the safety of construction employees. The result is an integrated approach towards safety hazard identification and mitigation. Having adequate knowledge with regard to construction processes allows the engineer to be aware of possible safety hazards. This will result in the correct information to be shared with the contractor and incorporated into the early design phases of the project to ensure a healthy and safe working environment. The study shows that a percentage of South African engineers have a lack of site experience, a lack of safety training, a lack of knowledge with regard to the content of the Construction Regulations, and a lack of knowledge with regard to construction processes. These shortcomings can be detrimental to site safety.

published_or_final_version / Real Estate and Construction / Master / Master of Science in Construction Project Management