The impact of workplace change on occupational health and safety: A study of four manufacturing plants

Author(s):  
Malcolm Macintosh ◽  
Richard Gough
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 150-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seyed Sajad Mousavi ◽  
Reza Khani Jazani ◽  
Elizabeth A. Cudney ◽  
Paolo Trucco

Purpose This study aims to quantify the multifaceted relationship between lean implementation and occupational health and safety (OHS) performance. Hypotheses based on a set of antecedents (mediating factors) are built and quantitatively tested. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected through an international survey with responses from more than 20 countries. Partial least square-based structural equation modeling was used to test a theoretical framework derived from literature. Leading indicators (formative indices) were used to evaluate the four antecedents of OHS performance (mediating factors). Findings All the identified antecedents show a significant mediating role. Antecedents related to the working environment and organizational factors have the strongest mediating effect. Results support the importance of using OHS leading indicators to appropriately measure the impact of lean implementation on workers’ health and safety. Research limitations/implications The proposed OHS leading indicators connecting lean practices to OHS performance antecedents are only explored in this study. Therefore, to establish a comprehensive, validated and practically usable set of leading indicators, further research is needed. Practical implications As there are some synergistic and trade-off relationships between lean and safety, the findings of this study will enable managers and organizations to leverage the positive effects of lean implementation on workers’ health and safety and mitigate the negative effects. Originality/value Several prior studies investigated the multifaceted link between lean and OHS; however, this is the first study that tested direct and mediated influence by defining a coherent set of antecedents. The results justify and strongly support the adoption of OHS leading indicators to measure the impact of lean implementation on OHS performance.


Author(s):  
Esther Cloutier ◽  
Elise Ledoux ◽  
Madeleine Bourdouxhe ◽  
Hélène David ◽  
Isabelle Gagnon ◽  
...  

The Québec health sector is facing profound macroeconomic and macro-organizational changes. This article addresses the impact of these changes on the work of home health aides (HHAs) and their occupational health and safety (OHS). The study was carried out in the home care services of four local community service centers (CLSCs) with different organizational characteristics. It is based on an analysis by triangulation of 66 individual and group interviews, 11 work days, and 35 multidisciplinary or professional meetings observed, as well as administrative documents. HHAs are experiencing an erosion of their job because the relational and emotional components of their work are disappearing. This results in an increase in musculoskeletal and psychological health problems. This study also shows that managers’ decisions can reduce or increase the HHAs’ work constraints. Stability in the clientele served and the possibility of organizing their routes are good examples of positive impacts.


2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 88-97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Viswanadham Silaparasetti ◽  
G.V.R. Srinivasarao ◽  
Firdouse Rahman Khan

Purpose: The study aims to examine and evaluate the impact of five Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) factors, i.e., Commitment of management, Communication, Training & Education, Health Care and Policies in predicting construction workers’ behavior in construction projects of Oman.Design/methodology/approach: A questionnaire was designed, and data was collectedon arandom sampling basis. Two hundred and fifty-twosamples were collected, and the data was analyzed using Smart PLS -Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) technique.Findings: The study shows thatCommitment of management, Communication, and Training &Educationplays a pivotal role in inspiring the construction workers to improve their perception towards Health and Safety behavior. These factors help in theclear-cut understanding of safety issues and aid in skills development and increase capabilities. All the factors influence the sustainable positive OHS results. Research limitations/Implications: The present study covers only the construction workers. Entire stakeholdersinvolved in construction project (contractors, clients, and consultants) canbe includedfor further studies. Social Implications: The study will help to improve the Health and Safety practices in the construction industry and expected to bring in more awareness among workers, which will inevitably bring in a culture of safe behavior. The ultimate result will be asubstantial reduction or elimination in safety-relatedincidents, which helps all the stakeholders (Contractors, Clients and Consultants).Originality/Value: Only a very few have examined the impact of Occupational Health and Safety factors on the workers’ behavior, and usage of SmartPLS is a novel idea, and it is a first-hand study of its kind.


2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (10) ◽  
pp. 172
Author(s):  
Gilbert Joshua Atteh Sewu ◽  
Emmanuel Gyabeng ◽  
Adelaide Angela Dadzie ◽  
Nana Kwame Nkrumah

A survey was conducted to investigate the impact of occupational health and safety measures (OHSMs) on the performance of Banks in Ghana. Questionnaires were administered to employees of various Banks in the country. Using a Likert scale, respondents were asked to assess the impact of OHSMs on the performance of their Banks. The reliability of the survey data collected was tested using Cronbach’s alpha. Subsequently, Pearson correlation and simple regression were used to understand the statistical relationships between variables in terms of the magnitude and the direction (positive or negative) and to determine the degree of variance among dependent and independent variables. Findings suggest that there was a slightly moderate positive correlation between OHSMs and performance of Banks. Although employees generally agreed that OHSMs were in practice, the measures should be improved and government should reinforce policies for the implementation of OHSMs and ensure compliance by the Banks.


AAOHN Journal ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 48 (12) ◽  
pp. 553-562 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia Marie McGovern ◽  
Laura K. Kochevar ◽  
Debra Kay Olson ◽  
Wendie F. Nelson ◽  
Mary J. Findorff

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 195-201
Author(s):  
Marta Niciejewska ◽  
Olga Kiriliuk

AbstractThe article presents the element of occupational health and safety management in enterprises, with particular emphasis on the identification of occupational hazards. The factors that may be a source of occupational hazards have been classified and divided. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of occupational hazards on work safety in the opinion of employees of micro and small enterprises. The research was carried out using the proprietary questionnaire. The results were verified by means of a direct interview with elements of observation. The research was compared with the trends prevailing in the enterprises of the European Union countries according to the results of the research conducted by EU-OSHA. Polish respondents considered physical and psychophysical factors to be the main occupational hazards. The results turned out to be very similar to those presented by EU-OSHA in its publicly available reports. The basic principle of occupational health and safety management, i.e. identification of occupational hazards, is reliability and correctness. Identification of occupational hazards gives the opportunity to take correct and effective corrective and preventive actions reducing occupational risk, for example through the effective use of personal protective equipment, or a more detailed treatment of both introductory and instructional training. The article also highlights the migration of individual occupational hazards, which depends on many factors, both professional and non-professional.


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