Thesis (MPH.) -- University of Limpopo, 2015 / Nurses are an integral component of the health care delivery system and they encounter occupational health problems classified as biological, chemical, physical, and psychosocial hazards. Nurses also face health hazards such as Hepatitis B, Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, tuberculosis, cytotoxic drugs, anesthetic agents, needle stick injury, back pain, and stress. At Letsholathebe II Memorial Hospital in Maun, nurses and other health professionals face occupational health and safety risks at the workplace. Aim and Objectives The aim of the study was to identify the occupational health hazards encountered by nurses at Letsholathebe II Memorial Hospital in Maun, Botswana. The objectives were to identify occupational health hazards at Letsholathebe II Memorial Hospital; determine organic and inorganic disorders caused by occupational health hazards; determine coping mechanisms of nurses towards occupational health hazards and the compliance of nurses to written protocols that address occupational health hazards. Research Method and Design A quantitative descriptive cross-sectional method was adopted. The population comprised 200 nurses employed at Letsholathebe II Memorial Hospital. Simple random sampling was used to select 132 nurses who participated in the study. A self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analysis. Results The study revealed health hazards namely; back aches, frequent headaches, and persistent tiredness; mercury, solvents and anaesthetic gases; HIV, streptococcus, staphylococcus, Hepatitis B and measles. Nurses also reported fatigue, loss of sleep due to stress, anxiety and persistent tiredness. Conclusion The study concluded that nurses at Letsholathebe ll Memorial hospital experienced physical, chemical, biological and psychological health hazards. Recommendations The study recommends that nurses should have access to OHS information, that OHS awareness should be created at Letsholathebe II Memorial Hospital.

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)

Industries related to agricultural cooperatives record some of the highest injury rates in the U.S. Therefore, agricultural cooperatives are highly motivated to invest in occupational health and safety (OHS). This thesis examines the economic efficiency of OHS investments at agricultural cooperatives and identifies cooperative characteristics leading to greater economic efficiency of OHS investments. A multiple input-output data envelopment analysis (DEA) is used to estimate technical efficiency. The effects of cooperative characteristics on the efficiency of OHS investments are estimated using ordinary least squares, censored regression, truncated regression, and the Simar and Wilson (2007) bootstrap procedure. Results show that the mean technical efficiency score was 0.833. Furthermore, a cooperative’s annual insurance premia has a significant, negative relationship with technical efficiency. In contrast, the experience levels of a cooperative’s top safety person and top managerial person and a location’s total workers employed have significant, positive relationships with efficiency in all estimated models. / North Dakota State University. Department of College of Agriculture, Food Systems and Natural Resources

MPM / Department of Public Health

PhD (Sociology) / Department of Sociology

BillerudKorsnäs AB (BK) i Gävle är ett av de världsledande företagen inom tillverkning av vätskekartong. För att fortsatt vara ett ledande företag arbetar de dagligen med förbättringsförslag för att utveckla och öka fabrikens säkerhet och tillgänglighet. Detta examensarbete innehåller ett av många förbättringsförslag på avdelningen, Lut och Kraft. BillerudKorsnäs AB har en tydlig önskan om att åtgärda ett känt problem som kan leda till förödande ekonomiska konsekvenser.  Examensarbetet har bestått av att införa en automatisk nedkylningssekvens av mesaugnen, med fokusområde på säkerhet och programmering. Säkerhet är ett brett område och arbetsuppgifterna har avgränsats till automationsnära uppgifter för att hålla sig inom tidsramen på tio veckor. För att hålla samma kontinuitet och standard hos BK har programmeringen utgått från att använda nuvarande programmeringsspråk funktionsblocks diagram i styrsystemet AC450 från ABB.  Metoden som har använts i arbetet är aktionsforskning som innehöll planering, riskanalys och dokumentation för att minimera och eliminera tänkbara risker, relaterade till personsäkerhet och maskinutrustning.  Målsättningen med examensarbetet var att ha en fungerade, säker och pålitlig nedkylningssekvens. För att optimera processen, avlasta processoperatören och förbättra arbetsmiljön i kontrollrummet genom att automatisera ett arbetsmoment. Simuleringen har påvisat att nedkylningssekvensens funktion uppfyller BK önskan. På grund av fabriksstopp under examensarbetets tidsram har idrifttagning blivit försenat och provkörningen har flyttats fram. / BillerudKorsnäs AB (BK) in Gävle is one of the world-leading companies in the manufacture of liquid board. To continue to be a leading company, they work daily with improvement proposals to develop and increase the factory's safety and availability. This thesis contains one of many improvement proposals in the department, Lut och Kraft. BillerudKorsnäs AB has a clear desire to remedy a known problem that can lead to devastating financial consequences.  The degree project has consisted of introducing an automatic cooling sequence of the lime kiln, with a focus area on safety and programming. Security is a broad area and the tasks have been limited to automation-related tasks to stay within the time frame of ten weeks. To maintain the same continuity and standard at BK, the programming has been based on using the current programming script function block diagram in the control system AC450 from ABB.  The method that has been used in the work is action research that included planning, risk analysis and documentation to minimize and eliminate possible risks, related to personal safety and machine equipment.  The goal of the degree project was to have a functional, safe, and reliable cooling sequence. To optimize the process, relieve the process operator and improve the working environment in the control room by automating a work step. The simulation has shown that the function of the cooling sequence fulfills the BK desire. Due to a factory shutdown during the degree project's time frame, commissioning has been delayed and the test drive has been moved forward.

Many modern-day industries share features of tight coupling and high complexity, making it difficult to describe incidents in terms of direct attribution. This situation has been answered by novel theories on the bonds between people and their environment. Cognitive Systems Engineering (CSE) offers a new way of analysing human activities, acknowledging the impact of complex interaction and unpredictability. Doing so allows for innovative ways of pursuing work safety. In this study, the concept of safety culture has been interpreted from a CSE perspective and applied in a qualitative assessment of current safety work of at SSAB EMEA. A total number of 26 SSAB employees were interviewed, probing attitudes, perceptions and safety system structures at the Oxelösund steel mill, rolling mill and upper organizational layers. Additional data was collected using informers, SSAB documentation and participatory observation. Data was processed using a combination of top-down and bottom-up analytical approaches, creating a qualitative assessment of safety culture from salient themes. Results reveal an advanced state of safety management. However, management’s intentions are inhibited by issues in management presence and communication, management training, worker influence, forms and content of operator training, reporting, feedback, flow of communication and safety-related core assumptions. Revisiting lessons learned within the field of CSE, suggestions are made to possible areas of improvement and future research. These suggestions concern employee involvement in safety work, work identities, forms of training, manager roles and communication.

Thèse numérisée par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

Thesis (D. Tech. (Environmental Health)) -- Central University of technology, Free State, 2013 / Some epidemiological studies suggest that exposure to high levels of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) may be linked with the development of adverse health effects. However there is still controversy on this matter. Due to rapid technological growth in the modern society, employees in the welding and electrical industries are highly exposed to electromagnetic fields and may be at a high risk for developing occupational diseases. The health effects which may result from exposure to electromagnetic fields are related to the strength and frequency of the fields. This study was conducted to (i) assess the exposure levels to EMFs in the welding industry, (ii) determine the possible health risks associated with exposure levels, and (iii) develop a health and safety model to guide the industry on how to reduce exposure to EMFs. The study was conducted in one mega welding company in the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality. Welders, fitters and office workers (88 in total) gave consent to participate in the study and completed questionnaires (ethical clearance attached). Measurements of extremely low frequency EMFs were taken in workshop A, workshop B and working offices. Measurements for magnetic fields were taken at distances of 1, 2 and 3 meters (m) from the EMFs sources. The exposure levels of magnetic fields were very high in the workshops, with welders and fitters exposed to about 7.6 microtesla (μT). Electric fields were relatively low in all workstations. Participants in the study were experiencing symptoms of ill health such as headaches, sleep disorders, fatigue and distress. The symptoms reported by the workers were similar in the both groups (exposed and control). There is no clear relationship between recorded exposure levels and the development of the reported symptoms. The health and safety model was developed to guide the industry to reduce exposure to electromagnetic fields. The model describes the implementation of engineering and administrative control measures in an effort to reduce exposure to EMFs. The model also highlights the importance of wearing personal protective equipment to shield against EMFs amongst others. This study suggests that occupational exposure to high levels of extremely low frequency EMFs may increase the risk for development of chronic diseases such as leukaemia, brain and breast cancer and other diseases among highly exposed employees. Implementation of safety measures is necessary to reduce exposure to EMFs.

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.