SafetyInsights.org

This study explored the impact that empowering leadership can have on worker deviance. Two studies were ran – one field study and a second lab study. Providing background, they note: ·        Deviance is voluntary behaviours that violate organisational norms and which threaten the well-being of the organisation and/or its members ·        Empowering leadership is “the process of… Continue reading The Unintended Consequences of Empowering Leadership – Increased Deviance for Some Followers

The final two of six asserted assumptions/myths from Besnard & Hollnagel’s 2012 discussion paper. Myth 1: Accident investigation is the logical and rational identification of causes based on facts ·        Here they argue that a range of factors and pressure influence investigations. Therefore, the “depth or extent of analysis, the methods deployed, or the choice of… Continue reading Myths of logical and impartial investigations and safety as no.1 priority: Besnard & Hollnagel 2012

This study explored the pre-post effects of a safety management by walking around (SMBWA) intervention. They also hypothesised that SMBWA would improve the organisation-level safety climate because enhanced safety climate may act as a form of organisational resource to buttress motivation and alleviate burnout. The sample, including control groups, was 19 working sites with 224… Continue reading Does managers’ walking around benefit workplace safety? A safety climate intervention field study

Results from a newly published study (and one I’ll possibly summarise in the future). It explored the status of human factors and ergonomics (HFE) metrics in the context of product realization in an electronics manufacturing company. Five engineering metrics were categorised and matched to HFE metrics: Key findings included: ·        HFE metrics were most commonly observed… Continue reading Examining human factors and ergonomics aspects in a manufacturing organisation’s metrics system: measuring up to stakeholder needs

Data from Tahira Probst et al. on the links between workplace injury underreporting and the relationship with safety climate. Data was from >1300 employees of 38 US construction companies. They found, expectedly, that BLS surveillance data is “flawed and underestimates the true rate of injuries within U.S. companies”. Indeed, this data indicates that while the… Continue reading Accident underreporting and the influence of safety climate

This study explored the types of hazard categories that construction workers are more or less proficient at recognising. 287 workers across 57 US construction workplaces were assessed on their hazard recognition patterns via construction photos with a range of hazards. Hazards were categorised via the Haddon energy release concept, below. Note, this only evaluated physical… Continue reading Hazard Recognition Patterns Demonstrated by Construction Workers

Another couple of apparent myths from Besnard and Hollnagel’s 2012 paper. This time they argue that two assumptions are: 1) Safety can be improved by barriers and protection; more layers of protection results in higher safety·        In this example, the argument draws on risk homeostasis from Wilde, which hasn’t stood the empirical test of time. However,… Continue reading Myths of risk control & accident causality: Besnard & Hollnagel 2012

This study explored whether the prescription and practice of Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS) enhance or hinder the operationalisation of resilience engineering (RE) principles. Data was via semi-structured interviews across three construction projects. Providing background, it’s noted that: ·        Despite the requirements of SWMS around high-risk construction work, there’s a paucity of published research on their… Continue reading Resilience Engineering and Safe Work Method Statements in Construction Projects

A paper I go back to probably every year or two from Denis Besnard and Hollnagel explored some myths (as they see it) around industrial safety. I’ll post a couple on each occasion. For each myth they provide a brief background on why they believe it’s a myth and then a possible revision to improve… Continue reading Myths of human error and rule following: Besnard & Hollnagel 2012

This meta-analysis evaluated the available literature on links between safety training and workplace hazards on the development of safety knowledge and performance. Specifically, they explored how training engagement impacts knowledge and performance and how risk severity impacts the relationship. 113 studies were included. Providing background, they note: ·        In the case of the Upper Big Branch… Continue reading The dread factor: How hazards and safety training influence learning and performance