This study explored the links between safety climate at work as a predictor for the risk of long-term sickness absence (LTSA). They followed 63,500 employees from the general working population in Denmark, without prior LTSA, over four biannual national cohort surveys from 2012-2018. Providing background: Results Over the two-year period, 8.6% of the population who… Continue reading Safety climate at work and risk of long-term sickness absence: Prospective cohort with register follow-up among 63,500 workers
Effects of Schedule Pressure on Construction Performance
This study explored the effects of schedule pressure on construction performance, with a focus on trade-offs in scheduling. Survey data from 102 construction practitioners from 38 construction sites in Singapore was collected, and development of causal loop diagrams. Providing background: · In the shorter term, contractors can avoid delays by accelerating projects via means like adding… Continue reading Effects of Schedule Pressure on Construction Performance
Suicide and drug‐related mortality following occupational injury
I just summarised a new study which looked at suicide rates in Australian mining, compared to other industries (e.g. construction or the all-population average). As expected, pretty sad and troubling findings overall. Interested in learning more about this topic, I found another study, from 2019, that explored the links between suicide and fatal drug overdoses… Continue reading Suicide and drug‐related mortality following occupational injury
The differing impacts of operational and financial slack on occupational safety
This studied the effects of operational and financial slack on occupational safety (OSHA safety violations), by evaluating performance of 3945 publicly listed companies in the US. Slack is defined as a pool of resources in an organisation in excess of the minimum to produce a given output. It includes different levels, including financial slack and… Continue reading The differing impacts of operational and financial slack on occupational safety
Performance of barrier systems and functions in the construction industry
This study characterised Spanish construction accidents via identified circumstances, the barriers and barrier systems and the specific ways each of the barriers functioned. 241 investigation reports were evaluated. They cover some research on barriers and barrier systems – noting there’s various models and definitions based on perspective. One way to look at them is safety… Continue reading Performance of barrier systems and functions in the construction industry
AI and biases in healthcare / clinical medicine
A couple of weeks ago I saw a post on LI saying something about the virtues of machine learning or AI applications. One statement that stood out to me was how AI avoids human biases, or something to that effect (* as if that was an inherently bad thing, anyway). Interested in the factual basis… Continue reading AI and biases in healthcare / clinical medicine
Internal auditors’ independence under workplace bullying stress: an investigative study
This study examined the direct influence that workplace bullying (WB) played on the independence of internal auditors. Data consisted of 267 surveys from people within 85 middle eastern government and private colleges. Providing background, they note: · For internal auditors, independence is “the absence of limitations that could compromise their impartiality in performing their duties” (p2).… Continue reading Internal auditors’ independence under workplace bullying stress: an investigative study
Shift length and productivity: 12-h and 8-h
I’ve covered a bit on the links between shift lengths and safety/risk. (Cliffs notes: it’s more complicated than just shift hours and involves a raft of factors), but don’t think I’ve covered much on the links between shift length and productivity. Ferguson and Dawson’s excellent 2011 paper covered a range of topics on the relative… Continue reading Shift length and productivity: 12-h and 8-h
Successful risk assessment may not always lead to successful risk control: A systematic literature review of risk control after root cause analysis
This systematic review explores how healthcare translates risk analysis and investigation to action plans, such as how risk controls were determined and implemented (e.g. Hierarchy of Control), and whether these were successful. Of 231 identified studies, 60 met inclusion criteria. Results None of the studies in the review used any systematic method for generating risk… Continue reading Successful risk assessment may not always lead to successful risk control: A systematic literature review of risk control after root cause analysis
Safety regulation enforcement and production safety: The role of penalties and voluntary safety management systems
This study explored the relationship between OHS enforcement from OSHA and a firm’s future violation behaviour (violation being penalties issued by the inspectorate). Regression analysis based on a sample of 2,965 US manufacturers with 4,474 violation records issued by OSHA was analysed. The following questions were explored: 1) Will firms take corrective action responsibly and… Continue reading Safety regulation enforcement and production safety: The role of penalties and voluntary safety management systems
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