This evaluated racial/ethnic inequalities in work-related injuries among US construction workers. Data was drawn from the 2004-2007 National Health Interview Survey data, which drew on survey results from 24,000 respondents. Results: Compared to white, non-Hispanic workers, minority workers were significantly more likely to suffer work-related injuries. They were also more likely to have lower socioeconomic… Continue reading Injury inequalities among U.S. construction workers

This explored the gap between work-as-imagined (WAI) and work-as-done (WAD) in community pharmacies compared between hierarchical task analysis of operating procedures versus field observations of work. 3 community pharmacies were included. Like elsewhere, the authors note that an existing assumption in community pharmacy is that individual pharmacies adhere to SOPs and with the pharmacist on… Continue reading Mind the gap: Examining work-as-imagined and work-as-done when dispensing medication in the community pharmacy setting

This study from Lingard and Hallowell et al. is very cool. They analysed safety data on a large construction project over 5 years. First it gives a good summary of issues around defining lag vs lead indicators. Some criticism has been levied at injuries and incidents due to their low statistical probability of occurring they… Continue reading Leading or lagging? Temporal analysis of safety indicators on a large infrastructure construction

This meta-analysis evaluated the published evidence to assess the efficacy of OHS training in terms of knowledge, attitude and beliefs, behaviour and health. 28 studies were included in the analysis. Results: Overall, results indicated a strong support for the effectiveness of training on worker attitudes and beliefs. This was also found to a lesser extent… Continue reading Effectiveness of occupational health and safety training: A systematic review with meta-analysis

This looked at the use of blame and punitive language in Patient Safety Net reports (PSNs), an event reporting system. It’s argued that a culture of blame “discourages event reporting, and receiving punitive reports inhibits the development of a just culture … thus reducing individual and system improvement in patient safety” (p1). A punitive report… Continue reading When Safety Event Reporting Is Seen as Punitive: “I’ve Been PSN-ed!”

This summarises research on Risk Matrix (RM) limitations and adds some new limitations. First, purported benefits of RMs is that they are intuitive & simple, and easy to explain and score. However, the authors note that the development of RMs has taken place isolated from scientific research in decision making and risk management. Research and… Continue reading The Risk of Using Risk Matrices

This looked at what sort of details people could most frequently recall relating to how disasters occurred. The author notes that based on other research, people recall “most vividly and frequently the causes that were spatially and temporally close to the disaster itself” (P3), called sharp end factors. Specifically, the study explored whether the blaming… Continue reading What causes the “sharp end effect” in the recall of disaster reports?

This explored the relationship between physical pain, and psychological distress factors, and the effects of demographic, lifestyle and fatigue indicators on the relationship. 231 Australian coal miners were included in the study. Results: Predictably, a significant relationship between pain and distress was found among coal miners. More widespread pain was associated with greater distress. Distress… Continue reading Psychological distress and pain reporting in Australian coal miners

This 3 yr study explored the impacts experienced by workers due to low-bidding on a large infrastructure project. First, spending on temporary structures was seen to be resisted. Examples included (not) adding gates to ladders or cheap and poorly assembled work platforms, allowing tools to fall through. For equipment & structures, the trade-offs tried to… Continue reading An industry structured for unsafety? An exploration of the cost-safety conundrum in construction project delivery

This is a healthcare study which analysed root cause analysis (RCA) investigation reports over an 8-year period from a major academic institution. 302 RCAs were included and the main goal was to assess the types of solutions proposed in the reports to prevent reoccurrence of the events. It’s stated that despite intensified efforts towards increasing… Continue reading Our current approach to root cause analysis: is it contributing to our failure to improve patient safety?