scholarly journals Human factors and maintenance in delivery transportation: drivers' work outside the cab in focus

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Arto Reiman
Keyword(s):  
Risk Management ◽  
Human Factors ◽  
Work Environment ◽  
Truck Drivers ◽  
Occupational Accidents ◽  
Equipment Maintenance ◽  
Road Transportation ◽  
Fatal Accidents ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Depth Analysis

PurposeTo investigate safety at truck drivers' work outside the cab with a special focus on work environment and equipment maintenance to prevent occupational accidents.Design/methodology/approachTwo statistical databases on Finnish occupational accidents for truck drivers are analysed. Firstly, the national accident statistics database is examined to understand the broad context, and secondly a database on fatal accidents is analysed to better understand the root causes of the accidents and their relationship to human factors in maintenance. Based on the root cause analysis, four accident scenarios are created, and risk management measures are prioritized by occupational safety and health specialists (n = 7).FindingsThe study shows that there are a variety of accidents in truck drivers' work. Most of the accidents occur outside the cab while performing tasks other than driving. Further, in-depth analysis of the fatal accidents increases understanding of the possibilities of different risk management and maintenance actions in preventing such accidents.Research limitations/implicationsDatabases contain different limitations concerning the data.Practical implicationsTruck drivers' work environments are wide in nature. Efficient safety management requires broad participation from different stakeholders. In addition to safe work activities, work environment and equipment maintenance is highlighted as a key component for safe and fluent delivery transportation.Social implicationsRoad transportation forms a backbone of modern society. Accidents affect the efficiency of transportation and cause manifold costs reaching all the way to the societal level.Originality/valueThis study adds an important dimension of delivery transportation to a current scientific discussion on human factors and maintenance.

Strategic approach to managing human factors risk in aircraft maintenance organization: risk mapping

2019 ◽  
Vol 91 (4) ◽  
pp. 654-668 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayse Kucuk Yilmaz
Keyword(s):  
Risk Management ◽  
Human Factors ◽  
Organizational Behavior ◽  
Human Factor ◽  
Risk Mapping ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Aircraft Maintenance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Strategic Approach ◽  
Enterprise Risk

Purpose Aviation has multi-cultural business environment in all aspects as operational and management. Managing aviation requires high awareness on human factor risk which includes organizational behavior-related topics. The greatest risk to an enterprise’s ability to achieve its strategic goals and objectives is the human factor. Both organizational behavior and corporate culture behavior with social psychology are the most vital aspects of management and strategy in terms of human resources. Related risks, including organizational behavior and culture, have the potential to directly impact on both business performance and corporate sustainability. Therefore, in this paper, the most prominent risks were determined in accordance with social psychology, and after identification of human factor-based risks, these have prioritized and prepared risk mapping with fresh approach. For this reason, this study aims to develop risk mapping model for human factors that takes into account interrelations among risk factors three dimensional based new approach. This approach includes both identification of human factor based risks, prioritization them and setting risk mapping according to corporate based qualifications via tailoring risk list. Developed risk map in this paper will help to manage corporate risks to achieve improved performance and sustainability. Design/methodology/approach This new organizational behavior- and culture-focused risk mapping model developed in this study has the potential to make significant contribution to the management of the human factor for modern management and strategy. In enterprise risk management system, risk mapping is both strong and effective strategic methodology to manage ergonomics issue with strategic approach. Human factor is both determinative and also strategic element to both continuity and performance of business operations with safely and sound. In view of management and strategy, vitally, the human factor determines the outcome in both every business and every decision-making. Findings It is assumed that, if managers manage human risk you may get advantages to achieving corporate strategies in timely manner. Aviation is sensitive sector for its ingredients: airports, airlines, air traffic management, aircraft maintenance, pilotage and ground handling. Aim of this paper is to present risk management approach to optimize human performance while minimizing both failures and errors by aircraft maintenance technician (AMT). This model may apply all human factors in other departments of aviation such as pilots and traffic controllers. AMT is key component of aircraft maintenance. Thus, errors made by AMTs will cause aircraft accidents or incidents or near miss incidents. In this study, new taxonomy model for human risk factors in aircraft maintenance organizations has been designed, and also new qualitative risk assessment as three dimensions is carried out by considering the factors affecting the AMT’s error obtained from extensive literature review and expert opinions in the field of aviation. Human error risks are first categorized into two main groups and sub three groups and then prioritized using the risk matrix via triple dimension as probability, severity and interrelations ratio between risks. Practical implications Risk mapping is established to decide which risk management option they will apply for managers when they will look at this map. Managers may use risk map to both identify their managerial priorities and share sources to managing risks, and make decisions on risk handling options. This new model may be a useful new tool to manage ergonomic human factor-based risks in developing strategy in aviation business management. In addition, this paper will contribute to department of management and strategy and related literature. Originality/value This study has originality via new modeling of risk matrix. In this study, dimension of risk analysis has been improved as three dimensions. This study has new approach and new assessment of risk with likelihood (probability), impact (severity) and interrelations ratio. This new model may be a useful new tool to both assess and prioritize mapping of ergonomic-based risks in business management. In addition, this research will contribute to aviation management and strategy literature and also enterprise risk management literature.

Modeling firm resources –enterprise risk management relationships

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noraznira Abd Razak ◽  
Zuriah Ab Rahman ◽  
Halimahton Borhan
Keyword(s):  
Risk Management ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Strong Relationship ◽  
Enterprise Risk Management ◽  
Firm Resources ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Listed Firms ◽  
Enterprise Risk ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Depth Analysis

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to focus, explore, and provide an in-depth analysis of the relationship between company resources and the process of enterprise risk management (ERM) in order to strengthen corporate structures against emerging uncertainties. Design/methodology/approach – This paper proposes a strategic risk management framework for the development and sustainability of corporate performance by focussing on the dimension of firm resources extracted from the resources-based theory. This paper focussed on using Malaysia listed firms under Malaysian Bourse as sample frame using the random sampling technique whereby questionnaire were distributed among head of risk management department. Of the 600 questionnaires distributed, 223 were returned completed. Findings – The survey results indicate that intangible resources play a significant roles in resources – performance relationship while the other two main dimension that are tangible resources and capabilities have shown contradictory results. Research limitations/implications – This paper only focussed on using Malaysia listed firms under Malaysian Bourse as sample frame. Practical implications – The management of risk is a dynamic phenomenon and the change of management that parallel with its evolution demand a revisiting and revamping over and over again promptly. In order to adapt and survive the volatile environment time and again, the effort to ensure long-term sustainability has to be made by the firm as success and failure can quickly replace one another in a relatively short period. The results highlight the various insight that might be helpful to managers in terms of managing the performance of the firm by concentrating entirely on its risk management and resources managements process. Originality/value – Overall it was shown that only certain dimension of resources within the firm has strong relationship with the performance variation. As such, the company has to ensure that deployment of resources has to be optimized accordingly by focussing on the types of resources that matters so that possibility of improving the outcome of the firm in the volatile global environment can be realized.

scholarly journals Risk factors contributing to truck drivers’ non-driving occupational accidents

2018 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 183-199 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arto Reiman ◽  
Mikael Forsman ◽  
Ingela Målqvist ◽  
Marianne Parmsund ◽  
Annika Lindahl Norberg
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Critical Incident ◽  
Occupational Safety ◽  
Safety Management ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Truck Drivers ◽  
Occupational Accidents ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Managerial Decision ◽  
Content Type

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify various individual factors and combinations thereof that can contribute to truck drivers’ occupational accidents, particularly connected to work performed outside the cab in various work environments. Design/methodology/approach In total, 74 accidents were analysed through in-depth interviews with truck drivers. These interviews were conducted employing the critical incident technique, and analysed utilising a qualitative content analysis approach. Findings The contributing factors identified were categorised into 14 categories. In all, 13 of these were grouped into four sections reflecting the drivers’ work outside the cab: “Goods and equipment”, “Loading/unloading area”, “Loading/unloading tasks”, and “Organisation”. A single risk factor was associated with 40 accidents while the other 34 involved combinations of factors. Research limitations/implications Although the tasks performed by truck drivers in different countries are probably similar, one limitation might be that all the accidents characterised occurred in one country: Sweden. Practical implications The findings reveal that complex combinations of risk factors often contribute to accidents. In addition to the transportation company itself, other stakeholders, such as clients, and designers and manufacturers of technology, may influence the occupational safety of truck drivers. Different stakeholders who could contribute to managerial decision making that is designed to prevent accidents are identified and discussed. Originality/value This investigation contributes to an in-depth understanding of the causes of accidents in the transportation industry. The findings are discussed from the perspective of the stakeholders and safety management in an attempt to identify key stakeholders who can improve accident prevention.

Exploring the role of human factors in lean management

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 339-366 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paolo Gaiardelli ◽  
Barbara Resta ◽  
Stefano Dotti
Keyword(s):  
Human Factors ◽  
Work Environment ◽  
Job Characteristics ◽  
Operational Performance ◽  
Physical Work ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Lean Practices ◽  
Physical Work Environment

Purpose Although lean popularity is rapidly growing, its implementation is far from problem-free and companies may experience difficulties in sustaining long-term success. On this premises, the purpose of this paper is to understand to what extent human factors, affected by the implementation of both hard (defined as technical and analytical tools) and soft (concerning people and relations) lean practices, play a key role in achieving long-term superior performance. Design/methodology/approach The analysis of the relationships between lean practices implementation, human factors and operational performance is carried out in a single exploratory case study. A retrospective approach is adopted to trace the changes of human and operational performance before, during and after the introduction of lean management (LM) implementation. In particular, a mixed method concurrent design merging results of a qualitative analysis with data collected from a survey is selected to provide a more realistic benefit in the exploration of the proposed research questions. Findings The results show a short-term direct relationship between the implementation of lean practices (hard and soft) and physical work environment and job characteristics, directly connected to operational outcome. In the long term, operational performance is influenced by employee behaviour outcome and conditioned by physical work environment and job characteristics with the mediating effect of individual characteristics. Practical implications The proposed model supports the building of a roadmap for LM implementation, taking into account the role of the human factors to achieve superior operational performance. Moreover, it helps managers to implement a monitoring system to check how social and technical components of a LM system evolve over time. Finally, it supports the definition of specific training programs, tailored for specific workers’ types. Originality/value This paper extends theory in LM, highlighting how hard and soft lean practices have to interact to enable a successful LM implementation.

Human factors and project challenges influencing employee engagement in a project-based organisation (PBO)

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 873-885 ◽  
Author(s):  
Judy Matthews ◽  
Tracy Stanley ◽  
Paul Davidson
Keyword(s):  
Human Factors ◽  
Work Environment ◽  
Employee Engagement ◽  
Project Team ◽  
Knowledge Development ◽  
Exploratory Research ◽  
Design Development ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Team Meetings

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide insights into the project challenges, human factors and knowledge development that influence the nature of employee engagement in a project team within a global project-based organisation. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative research design used semi-structured interviews, and observations in team meetings and the work environment to identify characteristics in the work environment which influenced employee engagement. Findings Workplace characteristics that influence employee engagement relate to the project challenges, the problem-solving nature of work, and achieving specified outcomes within time allocations. Human factors including the manager’s behaviours with feedback and recognition of effort, mentoring, and encouraging collaboration are important in team environment. The potential for learning and knowledge development from the project and with the team positively influence engagement. Research limitations/implications This study examines the characteristics of an established project team of 13 consultant engineers from eight nationalities, and forms a basis for future comparison with other project teams with different job types and demographic profiles. Practical implications This study contributes to project management (PM) research by broadening the focus from human factors influencing employee engagement to project challenges and knowledge development, with implications for managers in project-based organisations in terms of job design, development of team climate, team processes and their own behaviours. Originality/value This study contributes to human factors in PM literature through exploratory research into the antecedents of employee engagement.

Human factors paradigm and customer care perceptions

2015 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 288-299 ◽  
Author(s):  
Colin Clarke ◽  
Lesley-Jane Eales-Reynolds
Keyword(s):  
Patient Safety ◽  
Human Factors ◽  
Work Environment ◽  
International Health ◽  
Data Teams ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Customer Care ◽  
Compromise Patient Safety ◽  
Individual Task

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine if customer care (CC) can be directly linked to patient safety through a human factors (HF) framework. Design/methodology/approach – Data from an online questionnaire, completed by a convenience healthcare worker sample (n=373), was interrogated using thematic analysis within Vincent et al.’s (1998) HF theoretical framework. This proposes seven areas affecting patient safety: institutional context, organisation and management, work environment, team factors, individual, task and patient. Findings – Analysis identified responses addressing all framework areas. Responses (597) principally focused on work environment 40.7 per cent (n=243), organisation and management 28.8 per cent (n=172). Nevertheless, reference to other framework areas were clearly visible within the data: teams 10.2 per cent (n=61), individual 6.7 per cent (n=40), patients 6.0 per cent (n=36), tasks 4.2 per cent (n=24) and institution 3.5 per cent (n=21). Findings demonstrate congruence between CC perceptions and patient safety within a HF framework. Research limitations/implications – The questionnaire requested participants to identify barriers to rather than CC enablers. Although this was at a single site complex organisation, it was similar to those throughout the NHS and other international health systems. Practical implications – CC can be viewed as consonant with patient safety rather than the potentially dangerous consumerisation stance, which could ultimately compromise patient safety. Originality/value – This work provides an original perspective on the link between CC and patient safety and has the potential to re-focus healthcare perceptions.

Identifying high-frequency–low-severity construction safety risks: an empirical study based on official supervision reports in Shanghai

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Guangbin Wang ◽  
Muyang Liu ◽  
Dongping Cao ◽  
Dan Tan
Keyword(s):  
Risk Management ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Construction Safety ◽  
Risk Identification ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Construction Operations ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Safety Risks ◽  
Depth Analysis ◽  
Unsafe Condition

PurposeFew of the established risk identification methods refer to low-severity yet high-frequency safety risks data that may lead to several safety risks being ignored, thus reducing the potential of learning from a considerable number of cases. The purpose of this study is to explore a new valid method based on preaccident safety supervision data to identify these minor construction safety risks during routine construction operations.Design/methodology/approachA total of 329 official construction safety supervision reports containing 5,159 safety problem records from Shanghai between 2016 and 2018 served as raw material for in-depth analysis. Given the characteristics of the data collected, text mining integrated with natural language processing was applied to review the supervision reports and group safety risks automatically.FindingsThis study clarifies the way in which the supervision data should be employed to analyze high-frequency–low-severity safety risks. From these data, seven unsafe-act-related and nine unsafe-condition-related risks are identified. Regarding unsafe-act-related risks, inappropriate human behaviors could usually occur in personnel management, contract management, expense management, material management and acceptance work. For unsafe-condition-related risks, hoisting, scaffolding and reinforcement works are the main generators of onsite safety hazards during construction operations.Practical implicationsThe study includes implications for project managers and supervisors to facilitate more effective proactive risk management by paying more attention to collecting and employing the supervision data established in each routine inspection.Originality/valueWhereas previous research focused on analyzing severe accidents, this study seeks to identify the high-frequency–low-severity construction safety risks using the preaccident supervision data. The findings could provide a new thought and research direction for construction safety risk management.

Information security in the South Australian real estate industry

2014 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deepa Mani ◽  
Kim-Kwang Raymond Choo ◽  
Sameera Mubarak
Keyword(s):  
Risk Management ◽  
Information Security ◽  
Real Estate ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Security Threats ◽  
The South ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Real ◽  
The Real Estate ◽  
Real Estate Sector

Purpose – Opportunities for malicious cyber activities have expanded with the globalisation and advancements in information and communication technology. Such activities will increasingly affect the security of businesses with online presence and/or connected to the internet. Although the real estate sector is a potential attack vector for and target of malicious cyber activities, it is an understudied industry. This paper aims to contribute to a better understanding of the information security threats, awareness, and risk management standards currently employed by the real estate sector in South Australia. Design/methodology/approach – The current study comprises both quantitative and qualitative methodologies, which include 20 survey questionnaires and 20 face-to-face interviews conducted in South Australia. Findings – There is a lack of understanding about the true magnitude of malicious cyber activities and its impact on the real estate sector, as illustrated in the findings of 40 real estate organisations in South Australia. The findings and the escalating complexities of the online environment underscore the need for regular ongoing training programs for basic online security (including new cybercrime trends) and the promotion of a culture of information security (e.g. when using smart mobile devices to store and access sensitive data) among staff. Such initiatives will enable staff employed in the (South Australian) real estate sector to maintain the current knowledge of the latest cybercrime activities and the best cyber security protection measures available. Originality/value – This is the first academic study focusing on the real estate organisations in South Australia. The findings will contribute to the evidence on the information security threats faced by the sector as well as in develop sector-specific information security risk management guidelines.

Construction material supply risk management using Asian option contracts: the case of a pipeline project

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (10) ◽  
pp. 3395-3414
Author(s):  
Mohammad Vahdatmanesh ◽  
Afshin Firouzi
Keyword(s):  
Risk Management ◽  
Scenario Analysis ◽  
Price Risk ◽  
Asian Option ◽  
Steel Pipeline ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Price Fluctuations ◽  
Option Contracts ◽  
Pipeline Project ◽  
Total Price

PurposeSteel price uncertainty exposes pipeline projects that are inherently capital intensive to the risk of cost overruns. The current study proposes a hedging methodology for tackling steel pipeline price risk by deploying Asian option contracts that address the shortcomings of current risk mitigation strategies.Design/methodology/approachA stepwise methodology is introduced, which uses a closed-form formula as an Asian option valuation method for calculating this total expenditure. The scenario analysis of three price trends examines whether or not the approach is beneficial to users. The sensitivity analysis then has been conducted using the financial option Greeks to assess the effects of changes in volatility in the total price of the option contracts. The total price of the Asian options was then compared with those of the European and American options.FindingsThe results demonstrate that the Asian option expenditure was about 1.87% of the total cost of the case study project. The scenario analysis revealed that, except for when the price followed a continuous downward pattern, the use of this type of financial instrument is a practical approach for steel pipeline price risk management.Practical implicationsThis approach is founded on a well-established financial options theory and elucidates how pipeline project participants can deploy Asian option contracts to safeguard against steel price fluctuations in practice.Originality/valueAlthough the literature exists about the theory and application of financial derivative instruments for risk management in other sectors, their application to the construction industry is infrequent. In the proposed methodology, all participants involved in fixed price pipeline projects readily surmount the risk of exposure to material price fluctuations.

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