Optimum construction worker (CW) performance is required to achieve project delivery within project parameters. It is not always the case as CWs are regularly exposed to hazards, involved in accidents, their productivity is poor, they suffer from ill health, suffer from work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) and contractors lack resources to allocate towards H&S. However, the lack or the absence of health and safety (H&S) measures, which the aforementioned depend on, has a negative impact on workers’ performance. Two descriptive surveys were conducted among professional construction project managers (CPMs) registered with the South African Council for Project and Construction Management Professions (SACPCMP) and general contractors (GCs) registered with the East Cape Master Builders Association (ECMBA). Interviews were also conducted with CPMs registered with the SACPCMP residing in the Nelson Mandela Bay metropolitan area. The salient findings include: • Accidents, which occur on construction sites, impact workers’ performance; • Inadequate H&S implementation affects both CW skills and motivation, which in turn affects their performance; • Poor constructability is relevant to H&S and CWs’ skills; • Provision and maintenance of welfare facilities are commonly inadequate and affect workers’ performance, and • Projects do not benefit from the adequate financial provision for H&S. It was concluded that exposure to hazards, poor site conditions, inadequate provision of welfare facilities, WMSDs, and insufficient financial provision for H&S affect workers’ performance by either incapacitating or demotivating them. Recommendations include : CPMs should make better use of their influence on clients; they should improve communication channels between project stakeholders; legislators need to raise awareness regarding H&S and worker welfare, and training and education institutions need to empower workers and professionals with H&S knowledge.

Retirement has different meanings for different people. Retirement represents a significant transitional period in the life cycle of an individual. The aim of the study was to explore and describe the experiences and coping resources of retirees. The researcher applied an exploratory, descriptive research design employing the mixed methods of quantitative and qualitative research to gain an in-depth understanding of the phenomenon. A non-probability purposive sampling method was used to identify participants who retired from a specific vehicle manufacturing company in Port Elizabeth. Semi-structured interviewing techniques and a questionnaire called the Coping Resources Inventory were used for data collection. The rationale for using a mixed method approach was to increase the validity of the research findings. Descriptive statistics and the framework provided by Tesch (in Creswell, 2003) were used in data analysis of quantitative and qualitative data respectively. The results of the Coping Resources Inventory indicated that the participants perceived themselves as having an average level of coping resources. The results from the semi-structured interviews reflected that participants’ retirement experiences are mainly influenced by the following three factors: (a) economic resources, (b) social relationships and (c) personal resources. Recommendations were made for future research and intervention regarding retirement planning. The researcher included suggestions for the implementation of a retirement preparation programme. Lastly the limitations and the value of the study were outlined.

The purpose of this thesis is to analyze the process of internal migration in Peoples' Republic of China. It focuses on low-skilled rural migrant workers, their overall characteristics, role in the economy and their status within Chinese society. This analysis aims to prove that despite the fact that rural migrants represent an essential element of Chinese economy, and have contributed by a great deal to China's economic take-off, they are still a very discriminated group of Chinese society and are constantly facing violations of their rights.

This thesis outlines the structural problems that, affect the operation of the Workers' Compensation Board within the industrial economy of B.C. The study confines itself to the years between 1972 and 1937, a period in which workers' compensation in B.C. underwent political and economic transformations under the governmental aegis of the New Democratic Party government and then the Social Credit Party. In order to understand the ostensibly contradictory functions of the WCB, a partially autonomous component of the state, liberal-pluralist and Neo-Marxist models are compared and contrasted. The thesis concludes that the UCB serves two principal functions: capital accumulation and legitimation of the status quo. Historical and contemporary evidence shows that the WCB continues to serve the interests of employers at the expense of workers. Low government expenditure on health and safety safeguards, delaying of workers' claims, weak penalties against employers violating safety legislation, the chronic scarcity of safety inspectors, and the habitual undercompensation of claims, are clear indications that the WCB puts costs ahead of workers' health. The WCB's rejection of radical solutions to the problems, solutions likely to offend employers, is further evidence of the pro-capital bias of the WCB. Thus the study rejects the liberal-pluralist interpretive framework and reaffirms the structuralist, interpretation as an appropriate schema for understanding how the WCB operates within a capitalist economy. Alternatives to the WCB policy such as a universal disability plan, are explored. The chief method of investigation used in this research study was to interview workers and their representatives, lawyers specialising in the WCB, and WCB staff. Available WCB data and various evaluative reports on the WCB were important secondary sources of information. / Arts, Faculty of / Sociology, Department of / Graduate

Compensation Services manages return to work, wage loss, pension and health-care benefits to injured workers, and those suffering from occupational diseases. This thesis presents the methodology and results of a comprehensive study conducted to determine the relationships between existing performance measures, quantify the factors influencing these performance measures, and deterrriine relative efficiencies across case management operations. We use principal components analysis, cluster analysis, and multiple regression to derive the relationships between performance outcomes and influencing factors. We then use data envelopment analysis, incorporating these multiple inputs and outputs, to assess overall relative efficiencies and set performance targets. The analysis has brought about an increased understanding of service delivery location performance and performance measurement. Results may be used to provide managerial decision support, communicate best practices, and serve as a basis for further efficiency or quality initiatives. The factors accounted for in the multivariate analysis can explain between 20% - 50% of the variability in key performance outcomes across case management desks. The overall efficiency analysis revealed strong performers both within case management offices and across regions. Four case management offices consistently contain strongperforming case management desks across several methods of evaluating efficiency. Transferring best practices has the potential to significantly increase relative efficiency improvements for case management desks across the province. / Business, Sauder School of / Graduate

Orientador: Rosana Aparecida Baeninger / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Filosofia e Ciências Humanas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-27T13:57:19Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Pereira_GiovanaGoncalves_M.pdf: 3645717 bytes, checksum: ec5de4991b14293da48b4ce7aa220d96 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015 / Resumo: Esse trabalho teve como objetivo central a análise da migração "permanentemente" temporária de trabalhadores rurais migrantes da cidade de Jaicós/PI para o município de Matão/SP. O emprego de uma metodologia qualitativa, pautada na observação direta, se fez necessário em razão da fluidez entre os espaços de origem e de destino. Nesse sentido, aferimos que as idas e vindas para a colheita da laranja em Matão/SP, se apresentaram como partes estruturantes da dinâmica social de Jaicós/PI e do próprio município de Matão/SP / Abstract: This research was mainly focused on understanding "permanent" temporary migration of rural workers from the city of Jaicós/PI to the city of Matão/SP. The use of qualitative methodology, based on direct observation, was necessary because of the flow between the spaces of origin and destination. As a resulto of research, we verified that the comings and goings for the harvest of orange in Matão/SP are na important sctrucutral parto f the social dynamics of Jaicós/PI / Mestrado / Demografia / Mestra em Demografia

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Despite the enactment of hearing protection laws and recommended standards over the last four decades, the prevalence of hearing loss among workers has remained unchanged. Limiting the amount of time spend in high noise areas, as well as wearing hearing protection devices, can reduce the effects of noise on hearing loss. Though research has examined the consistency of use of hearing protection devices (HPD) among workers, the importance of fit, and a real-world comparison to the marketed attenuation needed further examination. The goal of this project is to evaluate the effectiveness of HPDs used by agricultural and industrial workers enrolled in a hearing conservation program by comparing personal attenuation rating (PAR) to the manufacturer’s reported noise reduction rating (NRR). The two study groups were selected since workplaces are required to train workers enrolled in an OSHA Hearing Conservation Program on proper insertion techniques, but farmers do not typically receive any training on using hearing protection unless they are employed elsewhere. The effectiveness of the inserted HPDs were quantified via the 3M E-A-RfitTM Dual Ear Validation System, and the results were compared to the NRR provided by the manufacturer. The fit of hearing protection was evaluated for 60 farmers (247 plug pairs) and 76 workers (275 plug pairs), using four models of earplugs (two formable and two non-formable). The results show that although formable ear plugs have higher reported NRRs, a higher percentage of participants achieved PARs greater than or equal to the A-weighted adjusted NRR-7 for the non-formable plugs.

Workers’ compensation insurance (WCI) is the highest cost to an employer following accidents. It is needed to predict the benefits value without taking into account the past records of an employee, which is not readily available in most cases. Employment and workers’ compensation data were acquired from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the National Academy of Social Insurance, respectively. The statistical model was developed with SAS using multiple regression and the process was simplified using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). The model predicted future values of workers compensation given a known number of covered workers for all U.S. states. The model is statistically proven to be fit for all states. The states were compared on the basis of percentage deviation from the actual values. By using this model, insurance companies and policymakers can have better understanding of workers’ compensation trend and they can quotes premiums and develop policies more accurately.

Over the past decades, Lesotho has been a source of, primarily, unskilled migrant labour entering South Africa, with Basotho men working on the South African mines and Basotho women restricted to domestic work. This dissertation examines the experiences of both ‘skilled’ and ‘unskilled’ Lesotho migrants currently living in South Africa. The study aims to establish those factors that are influential in prompting Lesotho citizens to leave Lesotho for South Africa. Moreover, it probes differences and similarities with regard to the work patterns encountered by skilled and unskilled workers as well as establishes the impact which migration has had on the lives of migrants. The literature tends to suggest that skilled workers face fewer restrictions and receive better treatment from management and colleagues in companies, while unskilled workers, on the other hand, may be exposed to considerable harassment, exploitation and poor treatment. This study concurs with the evidence in the literature in finding that unskilled workers are at a greater disadvantage when entering the South African labour market as compared to skilled workers. Moreover, it would appear that skilled workers are benefiting more in terms of their jobs, and in having their expectations met than unskilled workers. For the research participants in this study, xenophobia did not appear to be a serious factor, despite the fact that much public attention has been focused on the situation of foreign workers in South Africa. However, these workers from Lesotho highlighted racism as more of an obstacle than xenophobia. In addition, the study reiterates the popular findings that it is better job opportunities that remain the main motivation behind both skilled and unskilled workers migrating to South Africa with development, growth, training opportunities, mentoring, and interaction with more experienced colleagues also emerging as motivating factors. The discourse of the research participants also revealed social networks to be influential in the acquiring and maintaining of jobs. The study illustrates the relevance of ‘dependency’ theory for building understanding of the reasons why ‘skilled’ and ‘unskilled’ workers persist in migrating to South Africa. Finally, migration remains the ‘coming of age’ for Lesotho migrants, impacting positively on both their lives as well as the lives of their families. AFRIKAANS : Lesotho was tydens die afgelope paar dekades ʼn bron van ongeskoolde arbeid vir Suid-Afrika, waar manlike trekarbeiders gewoonlik in die mynwese werk en die vroulike trekarbeiders beperk is om betaalde huishoudsters te word. Hierdie dissertasie bestudeer die ervarings van ‘geskoolde’ en ‘ongeskoolde’ Lesotho trekarbeiders wat in Suid-Afrika woon. Die studie stel die faktore vas wat besluite rondom trekarbeid beïnvloed, veral díe wat die inwoners van Lesotho motiveer om hul land te verlaat om in Suid-Afrika te gaan werk. Die studie ondersoek boonop die verskille en ooreenkomste ten opsigte van werkspatrone wat geskoolde en ongeskoolde werkers teëkom. Dit stel ook vas wat die impak van trekarbeid op hierdie mense se lewens het. Die literatuur is geneig om voor te stel dat geskoolde arbeiders minder beperkinge ondervind en binne maatskappye beter behandel word deur bestuur en kollegas, terwyl ongeskoolde arbeiders aansienlike teistering en uitbuiting ervaar gepaard met swak behandeling. My studie stem ooreen met die literatuur – ek het gevind dat ongeskoolde arbeiders meer benadeel word as geskoolde arbeiders wat na Suid-Afrika migreer. Geskoolde arbeiders ervaar ook meer voordele ten opsigte van werk en hulle verwagtinge word verwesenlik. Deelnemers van hierdie navorsingsprojek het aangedui dat xenofobie nie ʼn ernstige faktoor was nie, al was daar baie publieke aandag gevestig op buitelandse arbeiders in Suid-Afrika. Vir die Lesotho arbeiders was rasisme ʼn groter struikelblok as xenofobie. Hierdie studie herhaal populêre bevindings dat daar beter werksmoontlikhede in Suid-Afrika is as in Lesotho, en dít is steeds die hoof motivering waarom geskoolde en ongeskoolde arbeiders daarheen migreer. Verdere motiverende redes was geïdentifiseer, naamlik: ontwikkeling, groei, opleidingsmoontlikhede, mentors, en interaksie met meer ervare kollegas. Die Lesotho arbeiders se besprekings het dit duidelik gemaak dat sosiale netwerke ‘n groot rol het in verband met werkwerwing en behouding daarvan. Hierdie studie illustreer die toepaslikheid van ‘afhanklikheidsteorie’ wat bydrae tot die begrip waarom geskoolde en ongeskoolde arbeiders na Suid-Afrika migreer. Laastens is migrasie steeds ʼn soort mylpaal vir Lesotho trekarbeiders en dit het ‘n positiewe impak op hul, en hul families se lewens. Copyright / Dissertation (MSocSci)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Sociology / unrestricted