An interesting study which explored the role of specific learning orientations in financial auditing that enhance or limit learning. Specifically, they looked at how an open error or blame error climate moderates the relationship between four work conditions and learning from errors. An experiential questionnaire approach was utilised with 141 Dutch auditors. Providing background: Results… Continue reading Mitigating work conditions that can inhibit learning from errors: Benefits of error management climate perceptions

This coroner’s report investigated the death of a worker who fell into a tank. Key factors were a failure to secure a hatch on the tank, and the absence of barricades, harnesses, and restraints. The event occurred on night shift. The coroner astutely observed that there was “almost complete reliance on the JSA procedure to… Continue reading Coroner: reliance on paperwork systems, lack of operational verifications and almost complete reliance on JSAs to maintain safety

This paper evaluated the role of resilience engineering principles in managing safety in building repair and maintenance. Data was from 145 professionals in this area, using structural equation modelling. Providing background: ·         Work in modern socio-technical systems often differs substantially between work-as-imagined versus work-as-done ·         A resilience engineering (RE) approach “has been identified as a… Continue reading Framework for measuring resilience of safety management systems in Australian building repair and maintenance companies

Use of story/narrative-based safety messages found to be more effective in influencing safety behaviour compared to technical warnings in a 2010 experimental study. Summary to be posted in the coming weeks. Three variations of a safety message (image 2) were used. Participants then assembled a playset, and researchers observed the activity. Overall, they found: ·        A… Continue reading Use of story/narrative-based safety messaging in workplace safety

Blame, what is it good for? Absolutely something positive, according to a new study to be posted soon. van Mourik et al. explored the interaction between the role of specific learning orientations in financial auditing that enhance or limit learning. Specifically, they looked at how an open error climate (open EMC) or blame error climate… Continue reading Blame climate found to enhance error learning (* with caveats)

Another coroners investigation that may interest you. This involved the deaths of two track workers after being struck by a reversing track machine. The coroner noted that: ·     Technology that was relied on wasn’t able to provide the info people needed, when they need it, such as via a dirty reversing camera as it wasn’t covered… Continue reading Coroners report detailing tick and flick processes, inadequate track protections, and production pressure

This systematic review evaluated Job Safety Analysis (JSA) research to answer the following: (1)    Which sectors and areas have used JSA? (2)    What has been the aim of employing JSA? (3)    What are the shortcomings of JSA? (4)    What are the new advances in the field of JSA? Providing background: ·       While different definitions, goals… Continue reading Applications, Shortcomings, and New Advances of Job Safety Analysis (JSA): Findings from a Systematic Review

This study analysed 75 investigation reports from the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB). The authors coded the reports based on attributed causal/contributory factors and the types of corrective actions assigned. Providing background: In this study, they grouped the accident factors into errors…for some reason. Of course, these types of categories depend on… Continue reading An analysis of major accident in the US Chemical Safety Board (CSB) Database

An upcoming summary is a paper that evaluated the role of resilience engineering principles in managing safety in building repair and maintenance. Multiple definitions of resilience exist, as do resilient capacities. However, a common thread is the ability to make adjustments under varying conditions. These adjustments are described as: 1) reactive, where adjustments are needed… Continue reading Resilience Engineering in building repair and maintenance

What are the applications and shortcomings of JSAs across industry? An upcoming summary reviewed the literature to explore these questions. Unexpectedly, JSAs being “tedious and time-consuming to perform was the most frequent drawback mentioned by studies”. Other expected shortcomings: ·        Lack of a universally accepted risk assessment framework to accompany JSAs ·        Lack of worker participation in… Continue reading Shortcomings of JSAs