Le concept de « risques psychosociaux au travail » rassemble plusieurs phénomènes de souffrance liés au travail. Ces risques se réfèrent à la fois aux actes porteurs de souffrance et aux expressions de cette souffrance sur la santé des salariés. Malgré sa formulation, ce concept renvoie à des événements qui portent atteinte tant à la santé psychique que physique des travailleurs. Ces atteintes d’origine professionnelle ont pour trait commun leur caractère avant tout social. En effet, les risques psychosociaux sont principalement causés par des organisations du travail, des méthodes de management ou des relations interpersonnelles néfastes. Si l’expression de risques psychosociaux a émergé hors du champ juridique, elle est désormais communément utilisée en droit pour traiter des questions de santé et de sécurité au travail. L’appréhension juridique de ces risques n’est pourtant pas évidente. Ceux-ci sont difficiles à délimiter, teintés de subjectivité et peu enclins à être appréhendés au vu de l’histoire du droit social. Toutefois, le droit est de plus en plus sensible à l’appréhension des différentes dimensions de la personne du salarié. En outre, si la consécration des risques psychosociaux en tant que catégorie juridique est marginale, les événements auxquels renvoie ce concept sont saisis par les textes de droit nationaux et extranationaux ainsi que par la jurisprudence. Dès lors, les dispositifs et solutions juridiques applicables aux relations de travail de droit privé sont en capacité de prévenir ces risques, de les sanctionner ou de les réparer. À ce titre, une multitude d’acteurs internes ou externes à l’entreprise sont en capacité d’agir face à ces risques. / The concept of "psychosocial risks at work" gathers several work-related suffering risks. These risks are, at the same time, related to the generating acts of pain and to the expressions of suchpain on employees’ health. Despite its formulation, this concept refers to events affecting both mental and physical health of workers. Such affecting events share the same social ground. Indeed, psychosocial risks are mainly caused by the companies’ organization themselves, management methods or harmful relationships. Even though the expression of psychosocial risks was formerly developed out of the legal environment, it is now generally used in law to deal with issues of health and safety at work. However, the comprehensive understanding of such risks is not yet obvious from a legal perspective. These are complicated to define and delimit, tinged with subjectivity and unlikely to be understood in light of the employment law history. However, law is increasingly taking into account the different dimensions of the workers’ individuality. Also, if the psychosocial risks fail to be recognized, so far, as an independent and entire legal concept, both laws (domestic and international) and case law are more and more referring to it. Therefore, measures and legal solutions applicable to the working relationships in private companies enable to prevent such risks, punish or compensate them. As such, a wide range of people, whether related or not to the company, are able to duly face these factors.

Text in English / The purpose of this research was to investigate occupational health and safety challenges and their impact on health care workers (HCWs) in selected public hospitals from the Gauteng Province, South Africa. Method: A quantitative descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among HCWs in the study sites. A two-staged sampling that include purposive sampling of study sites and census sampling of 2000 HCWs was used. Self-administered questionnaires were used to obtain data from HCWs. In addition, two different checklists were used to conduct retrospective records reviews to assess occupational health and safety (OHS) policy compliance and occupational injuries and diseases occurrence. The SAS Release 9.3 was used to analyse data. The Fischer Exact test and Chi-square were also used to determine the association of variables and P-value was set at <0.05 to indicate significant association. Results: A total of eight public hospitals and 926 (46.3%) HCWs who were all females nurses participated in this survey. Major occupational health hazards reported by the participants include: needle-stick injuries 275 (54.67%), slips trips and falls 67 (13.32%) and splashes 57 (11.33%). The analysis of open-ended responses indicated increased workloads, long hours of work and shift work as the most reported psychosocial hazards among HCWs. The reviewed records indicated that back injuries 22 (4.37%), tuberculosis (TB) 17 (3.38%) and asthmatic reactions 8 (1.59%) were the commonly reported occupational injuries and diseases among the HCWs. The records review also revealed a lack in the conducting of adequate medical surveillance among participants. The results showed poor compliance with the OHS policy and a negative impact of biological and psychosocial hazards on the HCWs. Conclusion: There was a high risk of exposures to biological hazards whilst providing care to patients, thus warranting the implementation of robust preventive measures. As a result, the guidelines were developed to promote the health and safety of HCWs with a view to promoting policy compliance and preventing the occurrence of occupational injuries and diseases as well as their impact among HCWs. / Health Studies / D.Litt et Phil. (Health Studies)

Text in Afrikaans / Summaries in English and Afrikaans / This study aims to investigate the relation between a crane operator in a slab handlingarea's experience of his/her work environment and occupational health. A study of the literature leads one to the conclusion that the nature of crane operators' work environment may cause health problems. According to the literature crane operators are high risk cases regarding musculoskeletal disorders. The empirical study affirms that there are risk factors present in the crane operator's work environment, which may influence his/her occupational health. It is statistically proven that there is a meaningful difference between crane operators with a negative experience of the work environment and crane operators with a positive experience of the work environment, and the amount of illnesses experienced by crane operators as well as their general health. Recommendations are made regarding training, adjustability and flexibility of the work station, job rotation, job expansion and enrichment, and social contact. / Die doel van die studie is om die verband tussen 'n kraanoperateur in 'n platblokhanteringsarea se ervaring van sy/haar werksomgewing en beroepsgesondheid te ondersoek. Die literatuurstudie lei tot die gevolgtrekking dat die aard van kraanoperateurs se werksomgewing aanleiding kan gee tot gesondheidsprobleme. Volgens die literatuur is kraanoperateurs hoerisikogevalle ten opsigte van spierskeletstelselbeserings. Die empiriese studie bevestig dat daar risikofaktore voorkom in die kraanoperateur se werksomgewing wat sy/haar beroepsgesondheid kan be"invloed. Statisties is bewys dat daar 'n betekenisvolle verskil is tussen kraanoperateurs met 'n negatiewe ervaring van die werksomgewing en kraanoperateurs met 'n positiewe ervaring van die werksomgewing en die hoeveelheid siektetoestande wat kraanoperateurs ervaar, en die algemene gesondheid van kraanoperateurs. Aanbevelings om risikofaktore te beheer word gemaak ten opsigte van opleiding, verstelbaarheid en buigbaarheid van die werkstasie, posrotasie, posverbreding en - verryking, en sosiale kontak. / Industrial Psychology / M. Com (Industrial Psychology)

Introduction: Despite being one of the most preventable diseases, TB still remains a serious and largely neglected disease. Nurses as compared to the general population are at greater risk of acquiring nosocomial TB. This study was conducted to describe the perceptions of nurses on the underlying contributory factors that may lead to the spread of TB in the clinics treating TB patients. Methods: Quantitative, non – experimental, descriptive, exploratory and cross sectional design was used. A structured and pretested questionnaire was used. Findings: The key contributory factors identified were insufficient TB training for staff and lack of knowledge on the TB legislative framework and TB policy directives. Conclusion: The findings indicate the need for a comprehensive TB infection prevention and control policy, with associated standards for provision and practice. / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)

Introduction: Despite being one of the most preventable diseases, TB still remains a serious and largely neglected disease. Nurses as compared to the general population are at greater risk of acquiring nosocomial TB. This study was conducted to describe the perceptions of nurses on the underlying contributory factors that may lead to the spread of TB in the clinics treating TB patients. Methods: Quantitative, non – experimental, descriptive, exploratory and cross sectional design was used. A structured and pretested questionnaire was used. Findings: The key contributory factors identified were insufficient TB training for staff and lack of knowledge on the TB legislative framework and TB policy directives. Conclusion: The findings indicate the need for a comprehensive TB infection prevention and control policy, with associated standards for provision and practice. / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)

Workers’ compensation originated internationally because of the need to address the plight of workers and communities left destitute due to occupationally sustained disabilities or death. This study examines how the right to no-fault compensation developed in South Africa in comparison to the comparable law in Canada and Australia. Specific limitations regarding the right to workers' compensation pursuant to the South African compensatory laws were identified. Limitations identified include the persons falling within the ambit of the law, circumstances creating a right to compensation, the right to claims for increased compensation uniquely provided for in South African compensatory law and founded in the negligent conduct of employers as well as common law redress for damages. The background of the administrative remedy in the form of the right to compensation for occupational injuries and diseases ought to be seen in the light of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa 1996. / Mercantile Law / LL. M.