No description available.

Recognition of the contribution of small firms to the UK economy has grown considerably since 1995 when this research first began. The poor record of small firms in managing health and safety effectively has caused concern, and efforts made to improve knowledge and awareness of the target group through various initiatives have had some success. This research thesis attempts to identify the range of intervention routes and methods available to reach the target group, and to consider ways of evaluating the outcome of such efforts. Various interventions were tested with small firms, including a Workshop; use of Questionnaires; short postal Reply Slip survey; leading to a closer evaluation of a specific industry- the Licensed Trade. Attitudes and beliefs of the sample were identified, and observations carried out to consider actions taken by workers and others in the workplace. These empirical research findings were used to develop the theme of Primary and Secondary interventions intended to change behaviours, and to confirm assumptions about what small firms currently do to manage health and safety risks. Guidance for small firms was developed as a Secondary intervention tool to support Primary interventions, such as inspection or insurance provision.

The thesis examines and explains the development of occupational exposure limits (OELs) as a means of preventing work related disease and ill health. The research focuses on the USA and UK and sets the work within a certain historical and social context. A subsidiary aim of the thesis is to identify any short comings in OELs and the methods by which they are set and suggest alternatives. The research framework uses Thomas Kuhn's idea of science progressing by means of paradigms which he describes at one point, `lq ... universally recognised scientific achievements that for a time provide model problems and solutions to a community of practitioners. KUHN (1970). Once learned individuals in the community, `lq ... are committed to the same rules and standards for scientific practice. Ibid. Kuhn's ideas are adapted by combining them with a view of industrial hygiene as an applied science-based profession having many of the qualities of non-scientific professions. The great advantage of this approach to OELs is that it keeps the analysis grounded in the behaviour and priorities of the groups which have forged, propounded, used, benefited from, and defended, them. The development and use of OELs on a larger scale is shown to be connected to the growth of a new profession in the USA; industrial hygiene, with the assistance of another new profession; industrial toxicology. The origins of these professions, particularly industrial hygiene, are traced. By examining the growth of the professions and the writings of key individuals it is possible to show how technical, economic and social factors became embedded in the OEL paradigm which industrial hygienists and toxicologists forged. The origin, mission and needs of these professions and their clients made such influences almost inevitable. The use of the OEL paradigm in practice is examined by an analysis of the process of the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, Threshold Limit Value (ACGIH, TLV) Committee via the Minutes from 1962-1984. A similar approach is taken with the development of OELs in the UK. Although the form and definition of TLVs has encouraged the belief that they are health-based OELs the conclusion is that they, and most other OELs, are, and always have been, reasonably practicable limits: the degree of risk posed by a substance is weighed against the feasibility and cost of controlling exposure to that substance. The confusion over the status of TLVs and other OELs is seen to be a confusion at the heart of the OEL paradigm and the historical perspective explains why this should be. The paradigm has prevented the creation of truly health-based and, conversely, truly reasonably practicable OELs. In the final part of the thesis the analysis of the development of OELs is set in a contemporary context and a proposal for a two-stage, two-committee procedure for producing sets of OELs is put forward. This approach is set within an alternative OEL paradigm. The advantages, benefits and likely obstacles to these proposals are discussed.

No description available.

This thesis is concerned with the optimising of hearing protector selection. A computer model was used to estimate the reduction in noise exposure and risk of occupational deafness provided by the wearing of hearing protectors in industrial noise spectra. The model was used to show that low attenuation hearing protectors con provide greater protection than high attenuation protectors if the high attenuation protectors ore not worn for the total duration of noise exposure; or not used by a small proportion of the population. The model was also used to show that high attenuation protectors will not necessarily provide significantly greater reduction in risk than low attenuation protectors if the population has been exposed to the noise for many years prior to the provision of hearing protectors. The effects of earplugs and earmuffs on the localisation of sounds were studied to determine whether high attenuation earmuffs are likely to have greater potential than the lower attenuation earplugs for affecting personal safety. Laboratory studies and experiments at a foundry with normal-hearing office employees and noise-exposed foundrymen who had some experience of wearing hearing protectors showed that although earplugs reduced the ability of the wearer to determine the direction of warning sounds, earmuffs produced more total angular error and more confusions between left and right. !t is concluded from the research findings that the key to the selection of hearing protectors is to be found in the provision of hearing protectors that can be worn for a very high percentage of the exposure time by a high percentage of the exposed population with the minimum effect on the personal safety of the wearers - the attenuation provided by the protection should be adequate but not a maximum value.

No description available.

There has been little research in health and safety management concernmg the application of information technology to the field. This thesis attempts to stimulate interest in this area by analysing the value of proprietary health and safety software to proactive health and safety management. The thesis is based upon the detailed software evaluation of seven pieces of proprietary health and safety software. It features a discussion concerning the development of information technology and health and safety management, a review of the key issues identified during the software evaluations, an analysis of the commercial market for this type of software, and a consideration of the broader issues which surround the use of this software. It also includes practical guidance for the evaluation, selection, implementation and maintenance of all health and safety management software. This includes a comprehensive software evaluation chart. The implications of the research are considered for proprietary health and safety software, the application of information technology to health and safety management, and for future research.

No description available.

No description available.

<p>Healthier and safer working environment is always appreciated. Almost 2 million people at work die every year due to accidents or work-related diseases(source: ILO). Concept of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) has significant importance in industrial sector as compare to universities. Therefore it is common among industries to have standardized Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSMS) than universities. Management systems for OHS provide a systematic way of managing health and safety with continual improvement. It is generally considered that management system of health and safety not only reduces loss and cost of accidents and ill-health, but it also improves the performance and efficiency of employees. Universities and colleges are meant to deliver education which is considered their core objective. Risksrelated to health and safety may weaken their aims and objectives.There are few studies of OHSMS in the context of university. This study aims to contribute to knowledge pool by studying OHS work in universities and explorepossibilities for the implementation of OHSMS. This study is based on literature,Standard and Guidelines of occupational health and safety management systems.In addition, study was performed on OHS work among different universities and acase study of University of Gävle (HiG), for possibilities of implementing OHSMS in universities. HiG has a good history of environmental work with ISO14001 certified Environmental Management system (EMS). SWOT analysis was performed for the possibilities of OHSMS implementation at HiG. There are several standards and guidelines which are based on OHSMS and most of them have compatibility with EMS standards. Most of the universities work for OHS of their employees and students without any management system. Selection of suitable OHSMS standard or guideline is dependent on the university structure and its present OHS work. Existing OHS works of Universities have capability to fulfill few OHSMS requirements defined in several standards and guidelineswhich is positive sign for possibilities of OHSMS implementation at Universities.Healthier and safer working environment is always appreciated. Almost 2 millionpeople at work die every year due to accidents or work-related diseases(source: ILO). Concept of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) has significantimportance in industrial sector as compare to Universities. Therefor it is commonamong industries to have standardized Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSMS) than universities. Management systems for OHS provide a systematic way of managing health and safety with continual improvement. It is generally considered that management system of health and safety not only reduces loss and cost of accidents and ill-health, but it alsoimproves the performance and efficiency of employees. Universities and collegesare meant to deliver education which is considered their core objective. Risksrelated to health and safety may weaken their aims and objectives.There are few studies of OHSMS in the context of university. This study aims to contribute to knowledge pool by studying OHS work in universities and explore possibilities for the implementation of OHSMS. This study is based on literature,Standard and Guidelines of occupational health and safety management systems.In addition, study was performed on OHS work among different universities and acase study of University of Gävle (HiG), for possibilities of implementing OHSMS in universities. HiG has a good history of environmental work with ISO14001 certified Environmental Management system (EMS). SWOT analysis was performed for the possibilities of OHSMS implementation at HiG. There are several standards and guidelines which are based on OHSMS and most of them have compatibility with EMS standards. Most of the universities work for OHS of their employees and students without any management system. Selection of suitable OHSMS standard or guideline is dependent on the university structure and its present OHS work. Existing OHS works of universities have capability to fulfill few OHSMS requirements defined in several standards and guidelines which is positive sign for possibilities of OHSMS implementation at Universities.</p>