SafetyInsights.org

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?

This explored how Community Pharmacy (CP) staff perceive & experience the roles of procedures within the workplace. 24 pharmacy staff (pharmacists & support staff) were interviewed. Results: 3 main themes emerged. 1) the influence of work demands, 2) the influence staff role has on how procedures are viewed & 3) the dissemination and enforcement of… Continue reading When procedures meet practice in community pharmacies: qualitative insights from pharmacists and pharmacy support staff

This study from David Oswald and colleagues provides a summary of the use and abuse of construction safety indicators by way of semi-structured interviews. First, prior research on lagging indicators was summarised: 1) leading indicators have a reverse relationship and act like lagging 2) measure unsafety more than safety 3) capture things already gone wrong… Continue reading The use and abuse of safety indicators in construction

This studied the level of agreement between leaders & their teams on the perception of leaders’ safety behaviours pre & post-leadership training, & the impact training had on changing leadership behaviours & followers’ safety self-efficacy; 48 leaders & 211 followers completed surveys. When leaders & followers agreed, leaders’ leadership behaviours & followers’ self-efficacy to give… Continue reading Leader-team perceptual distance affects outcomes of leadership training: Examining safety leadership and follower safety self-efficacy

This explored the factors involved in 247 cases of geotechnical accidents from OSHA records 1984-2013. For context, some research suggests that accidents are both more prevalent (12% higher than average) and more severe (47% higher than average) in the geotechnical engineering sector than in the construction industry as a whole. Results: The geotech phase of… Continue reading Work-related injuries and fatalities in the geotechnical site works

This studied how the stigma associated with having a workplace incident may impact self-reported safety behaviours and psychological health outcomes, while controlling for safety climate. 528 workers were surveyed. While authors hypothesised that safety stigma would be positively associated with safety compliance and participation (due to the social pressure of engaging in expected routines), the… Continue reading Stigma at work – The psychological costs and benefits of the pressure to work safely