This explored two industry sectors with high risk of both musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) and mental health disorders (MHDs) and what workplace risk management practices are in place to manage those issues. Safety documents were revised and interviews were obtained from organisations within both sectors. 10 logistics/transport companies & 9 residential aged care facilities were selected;… Continue reading Workplace risk management practices to prevent musculoskeletal and mental health disorders: What are the gaps?
Author: Ben Hutchinson
Interventions and measurements of highly reliable/resilient organization implementations: A literature review
This reviewed literature on High Reliability Organisations (HRO) and similar approaches in Resilience Engineering (RE) from 1981 to 2020 to determine its impact. 34 articles out of 1400 met inclusion. For background: · “There is a class of organizations that can do catastrophic harm to themselves and a larger public” and within this set, there’s… Continue reading Interventions and measurements of highly reliable/resilient organization implementations: A literature review
The science of human factors: separating fact from fiction
This brief read discussed some of the misconceptions about human factors for healthcare improvement. It’s open access, so you can read the paper yourself. They discuss where training interventions are likely to be appropriate vs not appropriate. More appropriate uses is: · To help familiarise people with new tools or functions, which should include strengths and… Continue reading The science of human factors: separating fact from fiction
A culture of denial: Sociological similarities between the Moura and Gretley mine disasters
This 2000 paper from Hopkins compares the underlying sociological and organisation factors behind both the Moura and Gretley mine disasters. I’ve skipped a lot, so check out the full paper for the details. First he says that while every disaster has its own unique set of events, “It does not follow that every disaster requires… Continue reading A culture of denial: Sociological similarities between the Moura and Gretley mine disasters
Behavior-Based in Hong Kong’s Safety Management Construction Industry
I found this an interesting throw-back to 1997, where Helen Lingard and Steve Rowlinson studied the impact of a BBS intervention in Hong Kong construction. ** Note 1: Noting the findings relate to HK industry from 1997, but there’s some broader learnings I think are really interesting and not just related to BBS, e.g. system… Continue reading Behavior-Based in Hong Kong’s Safety Management Construction Industry
Can ChatGPT exceed humans in construction project risk management?
This study pit ChatGPT 4 versus competent construction personnel (project/site managers, engineers etc.) in a task of project risk management. They specifically compared results between the AI model and people on a construction project case study: · Identify and list the potential project risks · Which risks are most critical and analyse them? · How are these risks… Continue reading Can ChatGPT exceed humans in construction project risk management?
When Things Go Right: Safety II in an Academic Emergency Department
This study explored variability and ED clinician proactive adaptations in order to enhance safety in the face of demands and pressures. Data was based on a cross-sectional survey. Background: · Patient safety, according to one agency, is defined as “the prevention of errors, injury, or other preventable harm and reduction of unnecessary harm” · They… Continue reading When Things Go Right: Safety II in an Academic Emergency Department
Human Factors and New Views of safety applied to management systems: A systematic literature review
This conference paper from Leonidas Brasileiro, Julio Cesar de Faria Alvim Wasserman and Gilson Brito Alves Lima may interest you. It explored how different concepts under HF and New View have been applied to management systems via literature review (2000 – 2023). Note: I’ve skipped a lot, so check out the paper. Some extracts: · “New… Continue reading Human Factors and New Views of safety applied to management systems: A systematic literature review
Management walk-arounds: Lessons from the Gulf of Mexico oil well blowout
This 2011 paper from Andrew Hopkins discusses the function of management walkarounds, and their role in the genesis of major accidents, using the Macondo blowout accident. *** Note: This type of description is replete with counterfactuals and the clarity of hindsight, so keep that in mind. Overall, Hopkins argues that despite the best intentions of… Continue reading Management walk-arounds: Lessons from the Gulf of Mexico oil well blowout
Examining the asymptote in safety progress: A literature review
This paper is highly recommended. I can’t do it justice as it covers a lot of material, but the authors argue that a range of safety practices and beliefs are linked to a plateau in safety performance improvements. Practices associated with compliance, control and quantification could be, at least partially, responsible for this inability to… Continue reading Examining the asymptote in safety progress: A literature review
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