One of the problems in organizations, especially in hospitals, is that injury rates are increasing because most safety programs lack the essential safety measures for accident reduction in the workplace. The study examined the safety measures that played a role in accident and injury reduction in the workplace. Specifically, the old and new safety programs of an anonymous company was investigated to identify the safety measures that distinguished both programs, their impact on injury rates, and whether the variables of safety program and the variables of safety performance are independent. Data were described by a narrative method, displayed by descriptive statistics, and analyzed by chi square test of independence. The results showed that: (1) The new safety program had twenty-one additional safety measures more than the old safety program; (2) The old safety program increased the recordable injuries by an average of 85%, increased lost workday cases by an average of 14%, and increased incidence rates by an average of 31%; (3) The new safety program decreased the recordable injuries by 48%, decreased lost workday cases by 3%, decreased incidence rates by 51%, and decreased lost workday rates by 12%; and (4) chi square test of independence showed that the safety performance for the recordable injuries and lost workday cases were different across the old and new safety programs. X² (1, N = 1259) = 29.76, p < 0.001. The researcher concluded that: (1) The new management at the company was committed to safety performance improvements; (2) The new safety program performed better than the old safety program; and (3) safety performance variables were dependent of the safety program variables. The researcher recommended that the new management finalize pending policies and also, to perform facility safety inspections semi-annually rather than annually in selected areas so that hazards can be identified more quickly. Lastly, this study and the results thereof, provided useful information to safety professionals and organizations that plan to develop and implement a successful safety program that will reduce accidents and injuries in the workplace.

One of the problems in organizations, especially in hospitals, is that injury rates are increasing because most safety programs lack the essential safety measures for accident reduction in the workplace. The study examined the safety measures that played a role in accident and injury reduction in the workplace. Specifically, the old and new safety programs of an anonymous company was investigated to identify the safety measures that distinguished both programs, their impact on injury rates, and whether the variables of safety program and the variables of safety performance are independent. Data were described by a narrative method, displayed by descriptive statistics, and analyzed by chi square test of independence. The results showed that: (1) The new safety program had twenty-one additional safety measures more than the old safety program; (2) The old safety program increased the recordable injuries by an average of 85%, increased lost workday cases by an average of 14%, and increased incidence rates by an average of 31%; (3) The new safety program decreased the recordable injuries by 48%, decreased lost workday cases by 3%, decreased incidence rates by 51%, and decreased lost workday rates by 12%; and (4) chi square test of independence showed that the safety performance for the recordable injuries and lost workday cases were different across the old and new safety programs. X² (1, N = 1259) = 29.76, p < 0.001. The researcher concluded that: (1) The new management at the company was committed to safety performance improvements; (2) The new safety program performed better than the old safety program; and (3) safety performance variables were dependent of the safety program variables. The researcher recommended that the new management finalize pending policies and also, to perform facility safety inspections semi-annually rather than annually in selected areas so that hazards can be identified more quickly. Lastly, this study and the results thereof, provided useful information to safety professionals and organizations that plan to develop and implement a successful safety program that will reduce accidents and injuries in the workplace.

This study examined the relationship between helping (organizational citizenship behaviours) and workplace safety. It is the second study in a sequence, building on an initial study by Burt and Williams (2012). The aims of the current study are three-fold. Firstly, further evidence was sought to support the argument put forth by Burt and Williams (2012) suggesting that there are situations in which helping behaviours can lead to an increase in safety risk. Additionally, based on findings from Burt and Williams (2012), the following two situations were investigated: I) why do helpers often not tell the target of help that help has been given; and, II) in the instance where help inadvertently leads to a safety risk increase for the target, why does the target fail to communicate this risk increase back to the helper. The personality traits of humility and agreeableness were hypothesised to positively relate to the first and second situations, respectively. The sample consisted of 79 participants across a variety of high risk occupations. Participants completed an anonymous questionnaire, containing measures of job risk, negative outcomes of helping behaviours, humility, agreeableness, single item measures to assess situation I and II, and subsequent measures to further investigate these two situations. The results showed clear evidence that helping can be associated with safety risks. Both of the personality-based hypotheses failed to reach significance. However, the results suggest that helpers often fail to tell the target of help that help has been given, through a lack of understanding regarding the importance of communicating one’s helping behaviours, and a lack of time or opportunity. Additionally, results suggest that the instance where help inadvertently leads to an increased safety risk for the target (but the target fails to inform the helper of this risk increase), occurs through the target wanting to protect the helper’s confidence, and not wishing to be seen as ungrateful. The results provide valuable information to significantly add to the limited literature regarding helping behaviours and occupational safety. The findings from this study potentially allow organizations to decrease the negative safety outcomes of such behaviours. Limitations and suggestions for future research are discussed.

This study sought to investigate the relationship between safety voicing and employee turnover. A model of the safety exit interview process was developed, along with reasons why conducting a safety exit interview may help improve workplace safety. A generic safety exit survey template was developed and administered to a sample of workers previously employed in high safety risk occupations. 126 participants completed the study measures. The type of information which the safety exit survey elicited is described. Results found clear evidence that safety concerns had influenced participants to leave their previous job. It was also found participants wished to voice these safety concerns at exit, but for some reason they could not or chose not to do so. Results also support the predictions that management and co-worker trust and support for safety, would be negatively associated with voicing within the safety exit survey context. Support was also found for the prediction that management trust and support for safety, would be positively associated with the actual voicing of safety issues on the job. Overall, this study seeks to improve workplace safety through encouraging the use of a safety exit interview.

Problem: Nurses are potentially exposed to hazardous drugs (HDs) in their practice. HD exposure is associated with adverse outcomes (reproductive problems, learning disabilities in offspring of nurses exposed during pregnancy, and cancer occurrence). Safe handling precautions (safety equipment and personal protective equipment, [PPE]) minimize exposure to HDs and decrease the potential for adverse outcomes. Despite existing OSHA recommendations, adherence to precautions is below recommendations. The purpose of this study was to examine relationships among factors affecting nurses’ use of HD safe handling precautions, to identify factors that promote or interfere with HD precaution use, and to determine nurse managers’ perspectives on use of safe handling precautions. This study used a conceptual model which proposes that both individual and organizational factors influence precaution use. Methods: A cross-sectional, correlational design was used. Nurses (N = 165; 46% response rate) from oncology centers across the US who reported handling chemotherapy completed a mailed survey. Instruments measured HD precaution use, knowledge, self efficacy, barriers, perceived risk, conflict of interest, interpersonal influences and workplace safety climate. Hierarchical regression was used. Twenty managers of nurses handling chemotherapy were interviewed. Results: Nurses were experienced in oncology (M = 15.8 ± 7.6) yrs, well-educated (62.5% ≥BSN), certified in oncology nursing (85%), worked in outpatient settings (69%), and on average treated 6.8 ± 5.2 patients per day. Chemotherapy exposure knowledge was high (M = 10.9, ± 1, 0-12 scale); as was self efficacy for using PPE (M = 20.8 ± 3, 7-24 scale), and perceived risk (M = 3.14 ± .6, 0-4 scale). Total precaution use during HD administration and disposal was low (M = 1.9, SD = 1.1, 0= never to 5 = 100%). Nurse characteristics did not predict HD precaution use. In the final model (R2 = .29, F (2, 155) = 24.6, p < .000), fewer patients per day, fewer barriers and better workplace safety climate were independent predictors of higher precaution use. Conclusions: Results emphasize the importance of organizational influence on nurses’ HD safe handling precaution use and suggest fostering a positive workplace safety climate and reducing barriers as interventions.

Problem: Nurses are potentially exposed to hazardous drugs (HDs) in their practice. HD exposure is associated with adverse outcomes (reproductive problems, learning disabilities in offspring of nurses exposed during pregnancy, and cancer occurrence). Safe handling precautions (safety equipment and personal protective equipment, [PPE]) minimize exposure to HDs and decrease the potential for adverse outcomes. Despite existing OSHA recommendations, adherence to precautions is below recommendations. The purpose of this study was to examine relationships among factors affecting nurses’ use of HD safe handling precautions, to identify factors that promote or interfere with HD precaution use, and to determine nurse managers’ perspectives on use of safe handling precautions. This study used a conceptual model which proposes that both individual and organizational factors influence precaution use. Methods: A cross-sectional, correlational design was used. Nurses (N = 165; 46% response rate) from oncology centers across the US who reported handling chemotherapy completed a mailed survey. Instruments measured HD precaution use, knowledge, self efficacy, barriers, perceived risk, conflict of interest, interpersonal influences and workplace safety climate. Hierarchical regression was used. Twenty managers of nurses handling chemotherapy were interviewed. Results: Nurses were experienced in oncology (M = 15.8 ± 7.6) yrs, well-educated (62.5% ≥BSN), certified in oncology nursing (85%), worked in outpatient settings (69%), and on average treated 6.8 ± 5.2 patients per day. Chemotherapy exposure knowledge was high (M = 10.9, ± 1, 0-12 scale); as was self efficacy for using PPE (M = 20.8 ± 3, 7-24 scale), and perceived risk (M = 3.14 ± .6, 0-4 scale). Total precaution use during HD administration and disposal was low (M = 1.9, SD = 1.1, 0= never to 5 = 100%). Nurse characteristics did not predict HD precaution use. In the final model (R2 = .29, F (2, 155) = 24.6, p < .000), fewer patients per day, fewer barriers and better workplace safety climate were independent predictors of higher precaution use. Conclusions: Results emphasize the importance of organizational influence on nurses’ HD safe handling precaution use and suggest fostering a positive workplace safety climate and reducing barriers as interventions.

Background: Lay press investigations have been published that describe pharmacist errors and the workplace environment in the community pharmacy setting. However, recent studies that explore pharmacists' perceptions of patient safety in the workplace are limited. Objectives: 1) To describe pharmacists' perceptions of workplace patient safety; 2) To compare pharmacists' perceptions of workplace patient safety across practice setting type, pharmacist roles, average hours worked per shift, and average hours worked per week. Methods: Actively licensed Tennessee pharmacists were recruited from January 1 and June 30, 2019 to complete a 13-item survey of workplace patient safety perceptions ( =1391). Descriptive statistics were calculated, and nonparametric statistical tests employed to compare differences in perceptions across practice setting type, pharmacist roles, and hours worked per shift and per week. Results: Statistically significant differences in workplace patient safety perceptions were noted across practice setting type (p values <.001) and pharmacist roles (p values <.001). The extent to which pharmacists agreed/strongly agreed that their employer provides a work environment that allows for safe patient care ranged from 29.7% of chain community pharmacists to 85% of compounding pharmacists. Fifty-two percent of staff pharmacists, 56.5% of relief pharmacists, and 58.5% of managers/pharmacists in charge agreed or strongly agreed that their employer provides a work environment that allows for safe patient care, whereas 89.3% of regional managers/directors/vice-presidents and 72.5% of clinical/specialty pharmacists indicated the same. Average hours per shift was inversely correlated with perceptions of workplace patient safety (p values <.001). Conclusion: Tennessee pharmacists' perceptions of workplace patient safety varied widely across practice setting type and pharmacist roles. Perceptions of safety were notably lower in the chain community pharmacy setting. Additional research is warranted to better understand the relationship between pharmacist perceptions and quantifiable patient safety metrics, particularly in the chain community pharmacy setting.

Thesis (MPH.) -- University of Limpopo, 2005 / Refer to document

The increasing level of computerization in design and engineering work has led to development of software such as Digital Human Modeling (DHM) Tools. These tools are used to simulate and visualize human work as well as evaluating ergonomic conditions. The ergonomic assessment methods based on observations, such as OWAS and RULA, are used for characterizing static load and are usually integrated in DHM tools. Researchers now aims at developing assessment methods of dynamic work where even time-dependent variables are taken into account. The purpose of this thesis is to develop a concept for quantification of wrist movements in flexion and extension, based on three exposure variables; angular position, angular velocity and repetitiveness. The concept is intended to form the basis for further development of a comprehensive assessment method for wrist movements, adapted for use in DHM tools. Such an approach is necessary because of the large amount of work-related cumulative disorders, reported from industry. The method approach contained a literature review, an establishment of concept content, a collection of motion data using goniometry and computer programming, in order to illustrate the function of the concept. The result proposed a quantification concept for wrist movements in flexion and extension, concerning angular position exposure, angular velocity level exposure and repetitiveness. The concept is based on a combination of modified and established evaluation methods, including suggestions for how to identify fundamental cycles, in order to determine repetitiveness. The presented concept provides a basis for further development of a comprehensive assessment method and highlights deficiencies in the lack of existing definitions concerning exposure threshold values. / Den ökande datoriseringen av konstruktion och produktionsplanering har lett till utveckling av mjukvaror såsom Digital Human Modeling (DHM)-verktyg. Dessa används för att simulera och visualisera människors arbete samt utvärdera ergonomiska förhållanden. De metoder som används för detta bygger på observation av statiska positioner, exempelvis OWAS och RULA, vilka i de flesta fall finns implementerade i DHM-verktygen. Forskare strävar nu efter att utveckla ergonomiska bedömningsmetoder av dynamiskt arbete där även tidsberoende variabler beaktas. Syftet med detta examensarbete är att utveckla ett koncept för kvantifiering av handledsrörelser i flexion och extension, med avseende på handledsposition, vinkelhastighet och repetitivitet. Konceptet ska ligga till grund för vidare utveckling mot en komplett bedömningsmetod av handledsrörelser, anpassade för användning i DHM-verktyg. En sådan är nödvändig på grund av den stora mängd arbetsrelaterade belastningsskor som rapporteras från industrin. Genomförandet bestod av litteraturstudier, beslut om konceptinnehåll, insamling av rörelsedata för handleden med hjälp av en electrogoniometer samt programmering för att illustrera kvantifieringskonceptet i siffror samt för att förenkla implementering i DHM-verktyg. Resultatet visar ett kvantifieringskoncept för handledsrörelser i flexion/extension med avseende på de ovan givna exponeringsvariablerna, samt ett förslag på hur identifikation av fundamentala cykler kan ske. Detta för att ge en uppfattning om graden av repetitivitet. Det presenterade konceptet i denna rapport ger en grund för fortsatt utveckling mot en heltäckande bedömningsmetod, samt belyser svårigheter i definitioner av exponeringsgränsvärden.

This study used Zohar‟s (2000) multi-level model of climate to examine the extent to which shared perceptions of workplace civility climate relate to teacher job satisfaction, affective commitment, and counterproductive work behaviors (CWB-abuse) towards other teachers. Workplace civility climate is defined as employee perceptions of how management uses policies, procedures, and practices to maintain a civil workplace. An online-survey was used to assess a cross-sectional sample of K-12 teachers (N = 2222) nested in 207 schools in a large US school district. There was adequate agreement among teacher perceptions of school civility climate for aggregation and between-group variance of civility climate among schools. The results of hierarchical linear models revealed school-level civility climate perceptions were significantly negatively associated with lower levels of teacher experienced incivility, CWB-abuse and associated with higher levels job satisfaction and affective commitment, thus supporting four out of five hypotheses. However, school-level civility climate did not function as a moderator of the relationship between a teacher‟s experience of incivility and acts of CWB-abuse towards other teachers. The findings of this study provide evidence that shared perceptions of civility climate are associated with higher levels of individual-level employee well-being.