Os sistemas de medição de desempenho em segurança e saúde no trabalho (SMDSST) contribuem para identificar e caracterizar os riscos de acidentes, sendo um elemento fundamental da gestão da SST em qualquer setor industrial e também uma base para a melhoria contínua. O presente trabalho propõe um conjunto de critérios para avaliar SMDSST no setor da construção civil. Os critérios desenvolvidos foram estabelecidos a partir de três tipos de requisitos: (a) consistência do SMDSST com uma filosofia de gestão da SST, denominada engenharia de resiliência; (b) conformidade dos SMDSST com requisitos gerais de sistemas de medição de desempenho, tais como o grau de definição dos indicadores, a sua incorporação na rotina organizacional e o alinhamento das medidas com as estratégias; e (c) contribuição para a identificação e monitoramento dos principais fatores causais de acidentes, classificando-os em falhas relacionadas aos subsistemas pessoal, tecnológico, organizacional e do ambiente externo. A aplicação dos critérios é ilustrada por meio de dois estudos de caso, realizados em duas construtoras. Os resultados indicaram que tais critérios contribuem para a identificação de oportunidades de melhoria nos SMDSST tradicionais no setor da construção civil, tais como o desenvolvimento de novos indicadores e adaptações naqueles já existentes. / Performance measurement systems in occupational health and safety (SMDSST) help to identify risks of accidents, and play a key role in the management of occupational health and safety in any industry, establishing a basis for continuous improvement. This research work proposes a set of criteria for assessing SMDSST in the construction industry. This set of criteria was devised by taking into account three groups of requirements: (a) consistency of the SMDSST with an occupational health and safety management philosophy, known as resilience engineering; (b) compliance of the SMDSST with general performance measurement system, such as the definition of indicators, their incorporation into the organizational routine, and alignment of measures with strategies; and (c) contribution for the identification and control the main accident causal factors, classifying them in failures related to personnel, technological, organizational and external environment subsystems. The application of criteria is illustrated in two case studies carried out in different construction companies. Results indicated that the proposed criteria help to identify opportunities for improvement in SMDSST, such as development of new indicators and improvement in the existing ones.

Esta tese contempla a avaliação de maturidade, a metodologia Seis Sigma e a gestão da Segurança e Saúde no Trabalho (SST). Teve-se como objetivo geral propor e desenvolver um modelo para a avaliação e ações de melhoria na gestão da SST, sustentando-se nos conceitos provenientes essencialmente da avaliação de maturidade e da metodologia Seis Sigma. Este objetivo foi alcançado por meio de atividades de levantamento, análise e classificação do referencial bibliográfico pertinente; aplicação de um survey; construção de um modelo tendo em conta os resultados do survey e a base teórica analisada; entrevistas complementadas pela decorrente análise de conteúdo. Como resultados do levantamento bibliográfico, verificou-se uma predominância de técnicas com foco em ações pontuais quando se pretende buscar melhorias na área. Em termos de avaliação de maturidade, identificou-se que predomina ainda a concepção de modelos com cinco níveis de maturidade, que os modelos são normalmente estruturados por meio de grades de maturidade, e ainda, que são pouco freqüentes as aplicações para fins de avaliação na área de SST. Mostrou-se relevante o uso de características organizacionais como, por exemplo, a existência de serviços internos de SST e de certificações na área, setor de atividade econômica ou quantidade de subcontratados, para diferenciar cada unidade organizacional quanto a sua dificuldade em mudar o nível de desempenho na gestão da SST. Isso auxilia na avaliação e tratamento diferenciado dos problemas ou oportunidades, principalmente no que tange às práticas de gestão. Também, comprovou-se junto aos responsáveis pela gestão da SST em empresas de referência, que o modelo proposto e disponibilizável por meio da internet, é exeqüível e de fácil aceitabilidade. Além disso, ele poder ser utilizado remotamente, apresenta simplicidade de uso, interface amigável e a possibilidade de comparar empresas semelhantes, sem fornecer dados de acidentes ou doenças ocupacionais, ou ainda informações que identifiquem claramente a unidade organizacional. / This thesis addresses the Maturity Evaluation, the Six Sigma methodology and the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Management system. The main goal of this thesis was to develop a model for the assessment of the OHS management system and corresponding improvement actions, sustained by concepts derived mainly from the Maturity Evaluation process and Six Sigma methodology. This goal was achieved through the review, analysis and classification of the relevant bibliographic references on the specific topics, the implementation of a survey and the construction of a model in view of the results of the survey, of the reviewed theoretical framework and of the interviews complemented by the corresponding content analysis. As a result of the literature review, it was possible to verify that there is a predominance of techniques focused on specific and isolated actions, aiming to implement some improvements in the area. In what concerns the Maturity Evaluation, it was identified that there is a predominance of models based on five maturity levels, that these models are typically structured by maturity grids, as well as that OHS maturity evaluation models are scarce. Some organizational characteristics, such as the existence of OHS internal services, existent management systems certifications, the activity sector or the quantity of subcontracted employees, have come to play a relevant role in distinguishing the organisational unit and the corresponding effort needed to change their performance level regarding the OSH management system. The identification of this organisational profile will aid in the differential evaluation and treatment of the problems or opportunities regarding management practices in particular. Taking into consideration the opinion of OHS managers from some reference companies, it was also demonstrated that the proposed model, which is available online, is feasible and easily acceptable. Furthermore, the model, which can be used at a distance, is easy to use, has a user-friendly interface and allows for the comparison of similar companies without needing to provide details regarding company records on accidents, professional diseases or other information that clearly identifies the organisational unit.

Arbetet i detta projekt görs tillsammans med MPQ Consulting AB, Raskov Utveckling AB ochBoarps gård AB och påvisar hur ett system för övervakning av grisar kan hanteras och testar enkamera för uppsikt. Hantering av flera kameramoduler sker automatiskt via ett serverprogramsom skapas beroende på hur många kameramoduler som finns i systemet.Visning av varje box sker via en webbaserad applikation vilket medför miljömässig och ekonomiskhållbarhet då djurskötaren kan hantera den dagliga övervakningen från hemmet iställetför på bondgårdarna. Genom detektion av blod underlättas även djurskötarens arbetsuppgifterdå denne ser från ett annat perspektiv än kameran. Uppsikt under natten blir även möjligtdå mörkerseende finns tillgängligt och retroaktiv uppsikt då bilder sparas i tjugofyra timmar.Då det finns nyinsatta grisar kan de behöva mer foder än normalt vilket medför ökad fodertillförsel.Genom övervakning via en webbaserad applikation kan tillförseln av foder ökas ochsänkas vid behov av djurskötaren.Genom fortsatt arbete kan implementation av fler funktioner och mer användarvänliga detaljerinkluderas. Detektion av blod kan även utökas till uppskattning av foder i foderrännanoch hantera fodertillförseln via webbapplikationen. Fler kameramoduler kan inkluderas enkeltgenom modifikation i serverprogrammet. / The work in this project demonstrates how a system for monitoring pigs could be handled andtests a camera for this kind of system. Automatic detection of blood will help in a keeper’s dutiesand give him or her a different view of the box. Management of multiple camera modulesis done automatically via a server application that can manage a different number of cameramodules in the system. More camera modules can be included simply by modifying the serverprogram.Display of each box is made web based causing environmental and economic sustainabilitywhen the keeper can handle the daily monitoring by the home instead of on the farms especiallyon weekends. It is also possible to keep check during the night when the night visionapplication on the camera is available and retroactive supervision since the images are savedfor twenty four hours.When young pigs are introduced into the living area they need more food than normally resultingin increased feed supply. By monitoring via a web based application the keeper cansupply an increase or decrease of food if necessary. By continuing to work on this project implementationof more features and more user-friendly details can be included. Detection ofblood can also be extended to the estimate of food levels and manage food delivery via the web application.

M.Cur. (Occupational Health Nursing) / Despite the available research findings, information, international recommendations, commission reports, political leadership, government commitment and the Occupational Health and Safety Act (Act no. 85 of 1993), as well as the legislative framework, there are still challenges with regard to the implementation of selected sections and regulations of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (Act no. 85 of 1993) (OHS Act). This is evidenced by the occupational injuries and illness claims registered with the compensation fund (SA Department of Labour, 1993). The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which the OHS Act was implemented at an academic hospital in Johannesburg, from the senior professional nurses and nursing managers’ perspective, and to describe recommendations in order to facilitate the implementation of the Act. A contextual, quantitative, exploratory and descriptive survey was conducted. A purposive sampling method was used to select the wards, senior professional nurses and nursing managers who met the inclusion criteria. A structured, Likert scale questionnaire was used to collect data (Brink, 2011). Stata version 12 was used to analyse the data. Cronbach’s alpha, with a cut-off point of 0.7 was used to test for internal consistency. Ethical considerations were in accordance with those of the Faculty of Health Science Higher Degree and Ethics Committee (2005). Results are presented in the form of graphs for demographic information, and frequency distributions for selected sections and regulations of the OHS Act are displayed in Tables. The study revealed that from the selected sections and regulations of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (Act no. 85 of 1993), 95.4% of section 8; 100% of section 14; 75% of both sections 17 and 19 were not implemented, while 100% of all four regulations were also not implemented. Furthermore, the study revealed that overall there is 93.3% no implementation of the selected sections and regulations of the OHS Act, where 42 of the 45 items were not implemented. These results have serious implications on the health and safety of employees in the workplace. The recommendations made in the study will assist to facilitate the implementation of the selected sections and regulations of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (Act no. 85 of 1993), at an academic hospital in the Johannesburg.

Magister Commercii - MCom / Occupational Health and Safety is largely determined by the creation of a Safety Culture that minimises risk. In South Africa the construction sector is the second most hazardous industry after mining. This study focuses on two exemplary construction firms in the Western Cape. The main research question is "How do the companies ensure coherent safety management practices that create a safety culture?" Based on a modification of a Balanced Health and Safety Scorecard for the Construction sector five sub-questions address safety management practices from a Management Perspective, an Operational Perspective, a Learning Perspective and a Client and Compliance Perspective. Data has been gathered from company documents, semistructured interviews, together with on-site observation. In conclusion the study reveals that management commitment, active communication and employee acknowledgement contribute positively to creating an effective safety culture on-site. Further studies are recommended with a specific view on small and medium companies in the construction sector.

Extremely low frequency magnetic fields (MF) have been associated with leukemia. The objective of this thesis was to determine the risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) associated with occupational exposure to power frequency MF. We analyzed data collected through the Canadian National Enhanced Cancer Surveillance System (NECSS) from 1624 histologically confirmed incident cases of NHL and 1643 population controls. Every occupation held by subjects was categorized through blinded expert review according to its average MF exposure. Cumulative exposure indices were calculated for each subject. Adjusted odds ratios were calculated using logistic regression. We found no association between occupational exposure to MF and NHL risk. We did find an association between self-reported work with pesticides and NHL risk (OR 1.3, 95% CI: 1.0, 1.6). Our findings provide no support for the hypothesis that exposure to power frequency MF is a causal factor for NHL.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of occupational exposure during firefighting and oxygen diving on ventilatory capacity while also examining the potential benefit of levels of physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness on the same ventilatory capacity values. Specifically, study #1 compared firefighter ventilatory capacity values with that of controls and external reference values from non-smoking segments of populations. In addition, the study sought to assess the relationships between levels of physical activity and levels of firefighting exposure with ventilatory capacity. Study #2 was designed to compare ventilatory capacity values of divers with those measured in firefighters and external reference values from non-smoking segments of populations. The study also sought to examine the relationship between levels of physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness, ventilatory threshold and levels of diving exposure with ventilatory capacity values. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

Occupational carcinogens have been linked to lung cancer: among 74 known occupational carcinogens and carcinogenic circumstances, 37 have been associated with lung cancer. We report on a large population-based case-control study in British Columbia (2998 lung cancer cases). In the absence of a non-cancer control group, patients with cancers other than lung cancer (11,737) served as controls. Logistic regression, adjusted for smoking history, was used to examine occupationally related lung cancer risk with histological subtypes. Elevated risk was found in several occupational circumstances: metal working, mining, deck crew of ship, bakers, workers in electric power systems, construction workers (all histological types), chefs and cooks (large cell carcinoma only), and medical workers (large cell carcinoma only). Odd ratios varied from 1.6 to 4.6, with most being around 2.0. Potential exposures found in these high risk occupational groups which warrant further evaluation include: formaldehyde, radiation, electromagnetic fields, wood dust, and cooking fumes.

Amidst a considerable body of literature on erotic dance, the voices of third parties, that is, the people who organize, supervise, manage or coordinate the labour of dancers, seldom appear. Yet, these third parties provide a setting and services that are vital to dancers’ entrepreneurial success. Furthermore, perceptions of third parties as exploitative and coercive perpetuate framings of erotic dance – and sex work in general – as harmful, which in turn invisibilize dancers’ work, as well as their skills, labour rights and grievances. Drawing from qualitative interviews with 15 third parties and 15 dancers, as well as regional regulatory texts, this dissertation seeks to trouble these stigmatic assumptions by shedding light on the work of third parties and the organization of labour in Ontario’s erotic dance sector. Mapping the occupational roles and relationships amongst third parties (e.g., managers, bouncers, disc jockeys) reveals the organizational structure and peripheries of the strip club. Through this map, we see how third parties together form the organizational structure, which operates as a parallel entity to dancers who, as independent contractors, are for the most part responsible for their own work activities and income. At the same time, because dancers and third parties must equally provide quality service to their shared customers, they are both interdependent on, and independent of, each other. This relationship ‘plays out’ through occupational and situationally adaptive performances, which reiterate and resist normative gender, racial, and class scripts to produce the ‘party’ environment of the strip club. Simultaneously ambiance and organizational culture, the ‘party’ environment shapes third parties’ and dancers’ occupational performances for, and perceptions of, each other. The continuity of performance required to maintain this environment also results in third parties reproducing certain regulatory discourses and mechanisms in their surveillance and rule enforcement practices, and disregarding and subverting others, which in turn impacts upon dancers’ safety. Third parties’ relationships with each other and dancers are also permeated by stigma, stereotypes and perceptions of risk that echo regulatory and broader social discourses. These findings demonstrate that third parties’ engagement with regulation and normative discourses are deeply inter-related and impact the quality of the services they provide to dancers. On this basis it is argued that the context and conditions of dancers’ labour will be improved by rethinking narrow-minded regulatory frameworks and social norms.

Background: Workers in outdoor occupations are expected to be at high risk of increased morbidity and mortality, and diminished productivity, as a result of global warming in the 21st century. A previous modelling study of geographic variations in heat-related mortality risk in projected U.S. populations mid-century showed the states of Tennessee, Kentucky and North Carolina to be highly vulnerable. Methods: Under both the RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 emissions scenarios of IPCC AR5, we evaluate the effect of future warming on estimated Wet Bulb Globe Thermometer (WBGT) temperatures using model-simulated future climate variables that were dynamically downscaled by a regional meteorology model for years 2049-2052. Select Appalachian counties in the three states that are presently dependent upon agricultural crop production are the focus of this analysis. Results: Using predicted WBGT temperatures, together with estimated work loads for hand harvesting of crops, alterations in work-rest routines under heat stress prevention guidelines are presented. Conclusions: Assumptions needed to translate these altered work-rest routines into measures of productivity and economic loss are discussed. Issues in extending the modelling to heat-related morbidity and mortality in outdoor worker populations are considered in terms of data gaps and major sources of uncertainty.