The purpose of this study was to understand employees’ perceptions of the benefits of and the challenges in utilising VCT services at the workplace. With Mittal Steel in Vanderbijlpark as a case study, the researcher investigated the types of VCT services offered, the reasons why employees used these services, the perceived benefits and challenges related to these services, and made suggestions for service improvements. Using a qualitative approach, the main data-collection strategies were non-participant observation and in-depth interviews with five purposefully recruited research participants. The study showed that knowledge of HIV and AIDS among employees was adequate but that this could not be attributed to company efforts only. The study also revealed that employees utilised VCT for personal reasons rather than based on company incentives. Stigmatisation and discrimination appeared to be on the decline. It is recommended that the company could do more to market and promote HIV and AIDS awareness at the workplace. / Sociology / M.A (Sociology - Social Behavioural Studies in HIV/AIDS)

Background: Working life has an impact on the health of many individuals during a larger part of life, therefore a big significance for public health. Work environment is important for the well-being of the employees and the development of the business and unhealthy lifestyles can increase absence for example. Being physically active can contribute to comprehensive benefits, such as a better focus and performance at the workplace. Even research has shown increased awareness and interest in health promotion and its effects, the workplace becomes a central arena for these efforts. Aim: The aim was to study what impact a healthcare project has had on a working group on physical activity with a focus on salutogenic perspective Method: A qualitative study was conducted with focus groups as a method. A non-random selection was conducted by the study’s gatekeeper. A content analysis was conducted when the result was analyzed. Result: The study found that employee well-being and community had increased and strengthened. They had become more aware of the benefits of physical activity. They felt secure when they felt support from the employer. There was also some negative experience to the healthcare project linked to its activities performed on work related time or was prevented to be a part because of physical difficulties. Conclusion: The workplace is an important place for the health of the individual and the importance of working with health promotion has been shown more. Both for the individual and for the group, but also from a social perspective, as it has a value for public health. Where physical activity is an initiative that not only prevents people's diseases but also promotes social interaction and interaction between individuals. Therefor, physical activity is a good way to work with health promotion. / Bakgrund: Arbetslivet har en inverkan på många individers hälsa under en större del av livet, därav en stor betydelse för folkhälsan. Arbetsmiljön är viktig för medarbetarnas välbefinnande och verksamhetens utveckling, dels kan ohälsosamma livsstilar öka frånvaro exempelvis. Genom att vara fysiskt aktiv kan det bidra till omfattande fördelar som ett bättre fokus och prestationer på arbetsplatsen. Även då forskning har visat på en ökad medvetenhet samt intresse för det hälsofrämjande arbetet och dess effekter, så blir arbetsplatsen en central arena för dessa insatser. Syfte: Syftet var att studera vilken inverkan ett friskvårdsprojekt har haft på en arbetsgrupp avseende fysisk aktivitet med ett fokus på salutogent perspektiv. Metod: En kvalitativ studie genomfördes med fokusgrupper som metodval. Urvalet genomfördes av studiens gatekeeper. En innehållsanalys genomfördes när resultatet analyserades. Resultat: Studien kom fram till att arbetsgruppens välbefinnande och gemenskap hade ökat och förstärkts. Samt att de hade fått en större medvetenhet kring nyttan av fysisk aktivitet. De upplevde en trygghet då de kände ett stöd från arbetsgivaren. Det fanns även en negativ upplevd känsla av friskvårdsprojektet kopplat till aktiviteter som genomfördes på arbetstid eller hindrades av fysiska svårigheter. Konklusion: Arbetsplatsen är viktig för individens hälsa och betydelsen av att jobba hälsofrämjande har synliggjorts mer. Både för individen och för gruppen men även utifrån ett samhällsperspektiv, då det har ett värde för folkhälsan. Där fysisk aktivitet är en insats som inte enbart förebygger folksjukdomar utan främjar även det sociala samspelet och interaktion mellan individer. Därav är fysisk aktivitet ett bra sätt att arbeta hälsofrämjande.

Man sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. (Dalajláma) The wealth of business depends on the health of workers. (Dr Maria Neira, Director, Department of Public Health and Environment, World Health Organization) The aim of the thesis on the topic "KPMG -- a healthy workplace" is to analyze the current state of KPMG as the Company supporting health. The thesis suggest changes to be improved in the future - and a long-term strategic plan. Using the method of analysis of the state were discussed several factors that affect the health of employees in the workplace. The author of the thesis advanced in the analysis through the "Quality Criteria for Healthy Workplace," which were created by the National Health Institute for the title of Health Promoting Enterprise. In conclusion of the thesis the author proposes a health promotion plan (Health Plan) and submits the possible path KPMG might take if it seeks to establish a clear Health Plan which could become a fixed part of the enterprise's business goals and values.

Syftet med studien var att skapa insikt och förståelse kring hur chefer arbetar hälsofrämjandeför att öka medarbetarnas välmående då ohälsa på arbetsplatsen har negativa konsekvenserför både organisationer och samhället (ISM, 2022a). Metoden som användes var en kvalitativstudie med semistrukturerade intervjuer som datainsamlingsmetod. Åtta intervjuergenomfördes där kriteriet för deltagande var en chefsposition. Det transkriberade materialetbearbetades med hjälp av en tematisk analys där en kombination av en induktiv samt deduktivansats skapade tre huvudkategorier: beskrivning av hälsofrämjande arbete, hälsofrämjandestrategier samt chefers förutsättningar. Slutsatsen var att chefer är nyckelpersoner iorganisationernas hälsofrämjande arbete där cheferna visade sig stå bakom vad och hurmycket hälsofrämjande arbete som genomfördes utöver det systematiska arbetsmiljöarbetet,där många chefer implementerade egna strategier för att främja medarbetarnas hälsa. Dechefer som använde tillgängliga resurser visade på ett högre eget välmående med bättreförutsättningar att driva organisationens hälsofrämjande arbete än de chefer som inteutnyttjade tillgängliga resurser. Denna studie visar även på att chefers kunskap om hälsa ochvälmående, eget intresse samt engagemang är faktorer som har en positiv påverkan påimplementering och hållbarheten av hälsofrämjande initiativ.

<p>  </p> <p>Highway workers are required to work close to moving traffic during road construction and maintenance activities, which exposes them to the risk of being struck by a distracted driver or intruding vehicle. In addition, work zones disturb the usual traffic flow and patterns due to changes in the existing geometric layout of a roadway, and this is also problematic for the drivers as they must navigate a layout of signs, barrels, and lane changes while keeping the vehicle in control. Moreover, late-night tasks, reckless driving, inconsistent work zones, drunk driving, and increased vehicle miles traveled are some of the additional causes of work zone incidents in the United States. Nationwide, around 40,000 accidents occur each year in highway work zones due to vehicle intrusion into the work zone and have steadily increased during the past ten years. Most often, the driver and passenger of the vehicle are the victims of such accidents. The resulting fatalities, injuries, and property damage due to such incidents lead to significant expenses, prolonged travel delays, and potential damage to expensive products in transit.</p> <p>While traditional safety precautions (e.g., truck-mounted attenuators, rumble strips, speed monitoring displays) can help enhance work zone safety, the number of work zone intrusions calls for designing and implementing emerging intrusion alert technologies to warn drivers and workers when errant vehicles intrude into the work zone. Several state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) have begun examining the use of intrusion alert technologies to mitigate work zone intrusions. While previous studies examined the general effectiveness (e.g., sound levels, work zone coverage, deployment characteristics, etc.) of these technologies in both controlled and active construction and maintenance work zones, there are still significant research gaps in investigating how well these intrusion technologies alert the driver and workers, and no documented best practices are available for transportation agencies and DOTs interested in implementing them. In addition, these technologies have been through many improvements and modifications, and further research is imperative to ascertain their chances of acceptance by workers and contractors.</p> <p>To address these gaps, this thesis focuses on (a) empirically examining the effectiveness, implications, and practices of four commercially available intrusion technologies in enhancing work zone safety through various field tests and surveys, and (b) empirically investigating the effectiveness of these technologies considering drivers’ cognitive processing (perception -reaction time) and responses in case of work zone intrusion. The findings of this research study provide detailed information on the identification and testing procedures of technologies and offer guidelines and recommendations for adopting these technologies for practitioners and professionals in the highway construction sector. The proposed decision-making matrix and multi-criteria decision-making framework are based on the empirical data obtained from the various field experiments, literature review, and evaluation survey. This study also provides valuable insights into the overall effectiveness (i.e., by considering functional characteristics, associated drivers’ responses and reactions, and current implementation) of commercially available intrusion technologies to incorporate required modifications in designing and implementing these technologies to enhance work zone safety. The long-term outcome of this study is to significantly reduce the injuries and fatalities in highway maintenance work zones in Indiana and across the country.</p>

<p dir="ltr">Corn, a vital cereal grain extensively used in various industries, exhibits viscoelastic properties when subjected to compressive forces. The effect of moisture content on the mechanical behavior of corn is crucial for understanding its storage, processing, and transportation requirements. Understanding the mechanical properties of bulk corn is crucial for ensuring a smooth flow of grains from the bin, thereby helping to prevent confined space-related accidents such as grain bin entrapment and engulfment, which can occur when workers enter the bin to facilitate grain flow. The objective of this study is to investigate the stress and strain relaxation of different bulk corn kernels qualities. In the first study various qualities of bulk corn, including clean corn, corn with impurities, and moldy corn samples were compressed at 42, 77, 106, and 130 N force levels. The compressive behavior of samples was measured at 13.22, 16.16, 18.93, and 21.70% wet basis moisture contents. The samples were compressed at a strain rate of 1.25mm/min, and the strain was kept constant for 200 s to determine the stress relaxation properties. For moldy corn, the energy absorbed increased with force resulting in clump formation irrespective of the force level. In the clean corn, the energy absorbed increased with moisture content, and formation of clumps was observed at 21.70% moisture content. Solidity decreased with moisture content, resulting in high cohesion at moisture contents 18.93% and 21.70% for clean corn. In corn with impurities, even though the energy absorbed increased with moisture content, no clump formation was observed. This study provides insights into the mechanical behavior of bulk corn under compression, such as solidity and compressive strength. An increase in the compressive strength or a decrease in the solidity of stored shelled corn in a grain bin increases compaction, cohesion, and the formation of clumps, and thereby affects the flow of grains during discharge from the bin. The study also highlights potential risks in grain bins when the kernels are moldy and stored at high moisture content.</p><p dir="ltr">The second study investigates the creep behavior of bulk corn kernels and its relationship with moisture content. Clean corn reconditioned to 16.23%, 19.02%, and 21.63% from the initial moisture content of 10.81% were compressed at 42, 77, 106, and 130 N. The viscoelastic behavior of the sample was measured by fitting the experimental data to a four-element Burgers model to obtain the model parameters E₀, E₁, η₀, and η₁. The results showed that the ranges of the elastic modulus (E₀) increase with an increase in moisture content, indicating an increase in compaction and elastic deformation of the sample. Retarded elastic modulus (E₁) values were also high at high moisture content, implying a high absorption of energy. The viscous component shows a dominance of the elastic component due to the low value of η₁ at high moisture content. The findings highlight the importance of considering moisture content in optimizing the handling of corn to enhance safety and efficiency in agricultural operations. Increase in the elastic modulus, retarded elastic modulus, and decrease in the viscous component leads to poor discharge of grains from the bin due to grain bridging or crust, or formation of clump due to out-of-conditioned grain, leading to a potential risk of grain entrapment and engulfment when the grain bin workers get inside the bin. This research contributes to the ongoing efforts to improve grain storage conditions.</p>

This research project explores whether the delivery of positive psychology interventions in the workplace through an employee assistance program (EAP) can improve employees’ authentic happiness/flourishing as well as decrease symptoms of depression. A small convenience sample of 13 Manitoba public school educators accessing employee assistance were recruited for a quasi-experimental research design. Nine participants were randomly assigned to the experimental group and the remaining participants assigned to the control. Experimental group members participated in a six session psychoeducational, experiential, and process-oriented positive psychotherapy group that met once a week over six weeks. Experimental group participants’ scores on the authentic happiness/flourishing measure increased by a statistically significant 9% and depression scores decreased by a statistically significant 45% from pre-intervention to one month post-intervention. The study’s findings therefore provide promising confirmation that positive psychology interventions delivered through EAPs can make a meaningful difference as both secondary prevention and primary enhancement strategies in the workplace.

This research project explores whether the delivery of positive psychology interventions in the workplace through an employee assistance program (EAP) can improve employees’ authentic happiness/flourishing as well as decrease symptoms of depression. A small convenience sample of 13 Manitoba public school educators accessing employee assistance were recruited for a quasi-experimental research design. Nine participants were randomly assigned to the experimental group and the remaining participants assigned to the control. Experimental group members participated in a six session psychoeducational, experiential, and process-oriented positive psychotherapy group that met once a week over six weeks. Experimental group participants’ scores on the authentic happiness/flourishing measure increased by a statistically significant 9% and depression scores decreased by a statistically significant 45% from pre-intervention to one month post-intervention. The study’s findings therefore provide promising confirmation that positive psychology interventions delivered through EAPs can make a meaningful difference as both secondary prevention and primary enhancement strategies in the workplace.

Submitted by Izaltina Adão (izaltinaadao@gmail.com) on 2018-06-26T12:51:32Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação_ Aplicação do instrumento worksite health scorecard para avaliar programas de promoção da saúde no ambiente de trabalho de indústrias catarinenses _Izaltina Adão_ 2018.pdf: 1874657 bytes, checksum: 29d05242fd0b9cb1b829aa0361a042fb (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Simone de Andrade Lopes Pires (simone.lopes@fgv.br) on 2018-06-26T16:48:17Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação_ Aplicação do instrumento worksite health scorecard para avaliar programas de promoção da saúde no ambiente de trabalho de indústrias catarinenses _Izaltina Adão_ 2018.pdf: 1874657 bytes, checksum: 29d05242fd0b9cb1b829aa0361a042fb (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Suzane Guimarães (suzane.guimaraes@fgv.br) on 2018-06-27T13:12:21Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação_ Aplicação do instrumento worksite health scorecard para avaliar programas de promoção da saúde no ambiente de trabalho de indústrias catarinenses _Izaltina Adão_ 2018.pdf: 1874657 bytes, checksum: 29d05242fd0b9cb1b829aa0361a042fb (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-06-27T13:12:21Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação_ Aplicação do instrumento worksite health scorecard para avaliar programas de promoção da saúde no ambiente de trabalho de indústrias catarinenses _Izaltina Adão_ 2018.pdf: 1874657 bytes, checksum: 29d05242fd0b9cb1b829aa0361a042fb (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-06-06 / As doenças crônicas não transmissíveis são um problema crescente nos países. Os custos econômicos relacionados ao adoecimento e afastamentos do trabalho não param de aumentar. Empregadores estão implementando programas de promoção da saúde no local de trabalho para melhorar a saúde dos trabalhadores, a produtividade e reduzir os custos com os adoecimentos. Neste sentido, o objetivo principal deste Trabalho Aplicado foi avaliar os programas de promoção da saúde no ambiente de trabalho, oferecidos em uma amostra composta por 114 indústrias do Estado de Santa Catarina. Para isso, aplicou-se o instrumento Worksite Health ScoreCard (HSC) para avaliar o resultado dos programas de promoção da saúde. Foi possível identificar na revisão da literatura que a avaliação dos programas deve se concentrar em questões relevantes e úteis, promover um ciclo contínuo de melhorias de qualidade, eficiência e eficácia dos investimentos, além de identificar lacunas potenciais nas atuais ofertas. O resultado da pesquisa permitiu analisar que, a amostra de 114 indústrias atingiu 23,58% da pontuação máxima possível entre as estratégias e intervenções promotoras de saúde no ambiente de trabalho avaliadas com o HSC. Sobretudo, a pesquisa evidenciou que, os programas de saúde ofertados pelas indústrias participantes, em sua maioria, não correspondem aos conceitos de programas abrangentes, com estratégias e intervenções integradas às principais necessidades de saúde populacional. Notou-se que as estratégias e intervenções promotoras de saúde, aconteceram de forma isolada e não foram priorizadas de acordo com aquelas que são capazes de contribuir com melhores resultados organizacionais e nos comportamentos de saúde, e que refletem nas principais causas de adoecimentos e afastamentos do trabalho. / Chronic non-communicable diseases are a growing problem in many countries. Economic costs related to worker illness and absences continue to rise. Employers are implementing health promotion programs at the workplace to improve worker health, productivity and reduce costs related to illness. In this context, the main objective of this Applied Study was to evaluate health promotion programs at the workplace, offered in a sample composed of 114 industrial sectors in Santa Catarina state. To do so, the Worksite Health ScoreCard (HSC) was used to evaluate the results of health promotion programs. A review of the literature indicated that the evaluation of programs should be focused on relevant and useful issues, promote a continuous cycle of improvements in quality, efficiency and effectiveness of investments, and identify potential gaps in currently offered measures. The study revealed that the sample of 114 industrial sectors attained 23.58% of the maximum possible score for the strategies and interventions they use to promote health at the workplace that were evaluated with the HSC. Above all, the study revealed that most of the healthcare programs offered by participating companies do not correspond to the concepts found in broad programs with strategies and interventions that are integrated to the population’s main health needs. It was found that strategies and interventions that promote health are implemented in an isolated manner and were not given priority by those who are capable of contributing to better results at a company and in health-related behavior. This is reflected in the main causes of illness and work absence.

<p dir="ltr"><a href="" target="_blank">ABSTRACT</a></p><p dir="ltr">A literature review was conducted, to determine and gain a better understanding of the environmental, technological, physiological, and psychological issues that lone agricultural workers potentially face in the event they are involved in an emergency. An investigation was conducted of communication devices used in other industries where working alone was common, to monitor for and detect incident occurrences. An assessment of currently available emergency alert software and sensing technology for <a href="" target="_blank">communication </a><a href="#_msocom_1" target="_blank">[AE1]</a> devices was also undertaken in this review.</p><p dir="ltr">Three hundred and sixty-eight U.S. cases of fatalities or injuries were analyzed in which working alone was identified as a contributing factor. Cases included lone agricultural workers, between the ages 15-64, who were identified from a convenient sample of incident reports from <a href="" target="_blank">2016-2021</a><a href="#_msocom_2" target="_blank">[AE2]</a> . Of the 368 lone agricultural worker incidents analyzed, 38% (140) were caused by tractor rollover or tractor runover, and ATV/ UTV rollovers. Grain bin entrapments accounted for 13% (48) of all identified cases, of which 86% (42) were fatal. Thirty-three percent (121) of the identified incidents involved equipment roll over (not including runovers), and 50% of identified victims, when age was known, were 57 years of age or older. In 11 cases (3%), the victim was under 15 years old and active in agricultural-related tasks at the time of incident occurrence.</p><p dir="ltr">Geospatial Information Systems (GIS) tools were used to identify the proximity of Emergency Medical Service (EMS) facilities and cellular towers from a convenient sample of 29 fatal and serious agricultural related injuries from 2016-2021, occurring in the state of Indiana. This analysis found that there were substantially fewer EMS facilities within close proximity to documented rural incident locations compared to injuries or fatalities occurring closer to a populated area. There were also fewer cellular towers within close proximity of incidents located primarily on or near rural agricultural land. More densely populated areas tended to have a greater density of EMS and cellular tower locations, with, most likely, more favorable outcomes from injuries due to shorter <a href="" target="_blank">response times.</a><a href="#_msocom_3" target="_blank">[AE3]</a></p><p dir="ltr">An investigation of the physical and operational impact that agricultural equipment would have on the efficacy of commercially available wearable technologies was undertaken, to detect the potential injury-causing agricultural incident. Five experiments were conducted to test the feasibility of these selected wearable devices in detecting agricultural-related incidents with the potential of causing serious injuries. Only one <a href="" target="_blank">simulated agricultural incident</a> <a href="#_msocom_4" target="_blank">[AE4]</a> successfully triggered incident detection. <a href="" target="_blank">Incidents successfully triggered incident detection on one wearable device, the Garmin Vivoactive 4 smartwatch. </a><a href="#_msocom_5" target="_blank">[AE5]</a></p><p dir="ltr">Recommendations included greater emphasis on the hazards associated with lone workers assigned agricultural workplaces, development of new, evidence-based educational resources to incorporate in current prevention strategies directed at farmers, ranchers, and agricultural workers, enhanced supervision of young agricultural workers and compliance with existing child labor regulations, equipping lone workers with appropriate cellphones and/ or wearable technologies to be carried in their vehicles, agricultural equipment, or on their person, use of electronic surveillance or monitoring equipment, written policies and procedures that enhance awareness of worker locations and conditions on a regular basis, and adherence to existing federal and state workplace safety and health regulations related to lone workers.</p><p><br></p><p dir="ltr"><a href="#_msoanchor_1" target="_blank">[AE1]</a>Changed</p><p dir="ltr"><a href="#_msoanchor_2" target="_blank">[AE2]</a>Fixed</p><p dir="ltr"><a href="#_msoanchor_3" target="_blank">[AE3]</a>I’m not sure how to address that more rural people are dying, given the limited scope and criteria for selection of the incidents selected in this study.</p><p dir="ltr"><a href="#_msoanchor_4" target="_blank">[AE4]</a>Not sure if this Is the best way to say it. I may end up cutting this part. I’ll pair the abstract down to ~250 words. For whatever reason, I thought the intro chapter abstract needed to be longer for a dissertation.</p><p dir="ltr"><a href="#_msoanchor_5" target="_blank">[AE5]</a>Shortened this paragraph and removed unnecessary detail, for clarity.</p>