This was a really interesting study that explored the collection and use of ‘soft intelligence’ in healthcare. Soft data (what we may also call small data, as opposed to big data) is the type that derives from sources beyond the conventional metrics and formal knowledge-sharing and management systems. I can’t do this study justice, so… Continue reading Beyond metrics? Utilizing ‘soft intelligence’ for healthcare quality and safety

This explored some challenges faced by women working in the Construction Industry (CI), by way of in-depth interviews & drawing on complexity theory to explore the complex, multi-layered issues. First, existing literature was covered. The CI is perceived as masculine, hostile and dangerous – fostering a male dominant image. Up to 40% of women in… Continue reading Complexity of women’s modern-day challenges in construction

This explored goal realisation & goal conflicts when viewed from the model 1 / model 2 frame of rule perception and management. The sample was via semi-structured interviews in a single military operational unit. While rules and regulations are a necessary resource in organisations – they can also restrict the ability of people to scope… Continue reading Goal Conflicts, Classical Management and Constructivism: How Operators Get Things Done

ABSTRACT Objective Mechanical injury has been postulated as a risk factor for widespread pain, although to date, the evidence is weak. The aim of this study was to determine whether repeated exposure to mechanical trauma in the work place predicts the onset of widespread pain and to determine the relative contribution of mechanical trauma compared… Continue reading Mechanical Injury and Psychosocial Factors in the Work Place Predict the Onset of Widespread Body Pain

This ethnographic study explored the types of challenges faced by healthcare workers and the adaptations they use to overcome them in everyday work. Resilient Healthcare (RHC) is a field that applies insights from multiple domains including safety science, ergonomics and human factors, engineering, psychology, sociology and more. A key focus within RHC is to better… Continue reading Understanding Complex Work Using the Resilience Mechanisms Framework: An Ethnographic Study

This studied the effects of psychological safety (PS) on unethical behaviour (EB) on team performance. 136 three-people teams at university were assessed both on attitudes to cheating (hypothetical) & on actual cheating (via a real assignment that students self-graded as a team, with fake elements added by the lecturer to capture cheating). EB was divided… Continue reading Thick as Thieves: The Effects of Ethical Orientation and Psychological Safety on Unethical Team Behavior

Are the terrors really in the night or are they rather in your biology or your workplace? This study explored the links between the risk of occupational injuries and work scheduling arrangements, such as long working hours, shift work and rest breaks- drawing on 29 high-quality studies. The data are presented as risk ratios relative… Continue reading Terrors in the night or terrors at your workplace? Sleep, shiftwork schedules and accidents/injuries

This study explored the relationship between safety climate, hazard recognition and safety risk perception in US construction. Data from 280 workers employed in 57 construction workplaces was gathered via surveys and use of image-based construction scenarios for participants to identify possible hazards. Providing background on the topic, data is cited highlighting that: Up to 33.5%… Continue reading Impact of safety climate on hazard recognition and safety risk perception

ABSTRACT Background State-level injury rates or fatality rates are sometimes used in studies of the impact of various safety programs or other state policies. How much does the metric used affect the view of relative occupational risks among U.S. states? This paper uses a measure of severe injuries (fatalities) and of less severe injuries (non-fatal… Continue reading States With Low Non-Fatal Injury Rates Have high fatality rates and vice versa

This explored the views and experiences of patient safety walkarounds from the perspective of both senior managers and frontline clinical staff. Semi-structured interviews with 11 leaders and 33 frontline staff at two major teaching hospitals with mature walkaround programs was undertaken. Providing backgrounds, it’s said that walkarounds allow the capturing of intel that isn’t unearthed… Continue reading ‘I think we should just listen and get out’: a qualitative exploration of views and experiences of Patient Safety Walkrounds