Dynamics of a culture of workplace safety in human service organizations: A qualitative analysis

2019 ◽  
Vol 62 (6) ◽  
pp. 1561-1574
Author(s):  
Micheal L Shier ◽  
Aaron Turpin ◽  
David B Nicholas ◽  
John R Graham
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Development ◽  
Safety Culture ◽  
Human Service ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Workplace Safety ◽  
Service Organizations ◽  
Service Workers ◽  
Workplace Conditions ◽  
Workplace Cultures

Workplace cultures are an important component in creating safe work environments. In-depth qualitative interviews ( n = 85) were conducted with human service workers of a large publicly administered human service organization in Canada to learn more about the organizational and/or workplace conditions that contribute to a safety culture. Findings reveal that a safety culture within this human service workplace is defined by values or attitudes associated with safety and structured mechanisms that help promote workplace safety. Insights from respondents help to identify areas for workplace and organizational development to promote health and safety within human service workplaces.

Survivor or Laborer

Affilia ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 453-476 ◽  
Author(s):  
Theresa Anasti
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Human Service ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Human Service Organizations ◽  
Risky Behaviors ◽  
The United States ◽  
Service Organizations ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Sex Trade ◽  
Sex Worker

Regardless of primary population served, human service organizations are likely to come into contact with individuals who have been currently or formerly involved in the sex trade. In the United States, social workers have had a fraught history with this population, either treating them like delinquents or like victims in need of rescue. Sex worker activists in the United States continue to decry the negative treatment provided by individuals in the helping professions, even as harm reduction, the practice of reducing the harm of risky behaviors, has entered the service provision lexicon as an antidote to abstinence-only services. This article uses qualitative interviews with managers of human service organizations in the city of Chicago to determine how they think about their work with sex workers and how they perceive the proposed solutions to “fixing” the sex trade: abolitionism and decriminalization. Findings show that despite the dominant discourse of abolitionism in the United States, most of managers in this project believe full decriminalization of sex work will best assist their sex worker clients. Future research needs to understand how this finding holds in different settings and how this affects current efforts to advocate for decriminalization.

scholarly journals Promotion of Safe Work Practices in the Agricultural Sector through Coaching as a Training Strategy in Australia

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 149
Author(s):  
Richard Skiba
Keyword(s):  
Safety Culture ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Workplace Safety ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Vocational Education And Training ◽  
Learning Approaches ◽  
Training Strategy ◽  
Safe Work

There is currently, and historically, a high rate of workplace incidents and fatalities in the Australian Agricultural sector. This paper considers the use of coaching as a mechanism for provision of best practice safety training and development of a safety culture in Agricultural work places, particularly based on the current industry profiles and preferred methods of workplace learning. Current studies, including Safe Work Australia and AgHealth Australia data, and literature, such as Krauesslar and Passmore (2015) and Somes (2018), are reviewed to explain how coaching can enable workers to feel motivated and involved in workplace safety, and in effect, reducing the incidence of workplace injuries and fatalities. As such, the paper considers ‘what is the most successful training method to develop a stronger health and safety culture in the Agricultural Sector?’ The discussion finds that the most commonly and most effective learning approaches utilized in agricultural settings are based on ‘farmers learning from farmers’. This is effectively a coaching approach, and in turn, workplace coaching should be considered as a generic foundation skill taught to all workers in Agriculture to encourage effective consultation practices and communication between workers. The development of coaching skills can occur through their inclusion in formal training programs, such Certificate III or IV level programs in Vocational Education and Training and through short specific targeted programs.

scholarly journals "Producing People" in Documents and Meetings in Human Service Organizations

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 180-184
Author(s):  
Malin Åkerström ◽  
Katarina Jacobsson
Keyword(s):  
Human Service ◽  
Human Service Organizations ◽  
Thematic Issue ◽  
Service Organizations ◽  
Service Work ◽  
Service Workers ◽  
The Public ◽  
Individual Client ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Policy Problems

This thematic issue is devoted to how human service work may be influenced by accentuated administrative processes, as well as reinforced by digitalization, in contemporary society. The public sector has expanded the requirements of documentation, auditing and evaluation practices. Policy, problems and persons are shaped and enacted in meetings and documents. Meetings and documents comprise the forum for making highly important decisions for the individual client or for various categories of clients. Still, people’s participation in meetings and their reading and production of documents are often overlooked in studies of human service organizations. In this thematic issue, empirically-oriented researchers describe and analyze human service workers’ administrative routines, particularly focusing on processes of client inclusion and exclusion.

scholarly journals Under the Cover of Silence: The Burden of Marital Rape among Immigrant, Muslim, South Asian Survivors of Domestic Violence

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dheeshana S. Jayasundara ◽  
Durdana Ahmed ◽  
Prita Das Gupta ◽  
Susan Garcia ◽  
Sarah Thao
Keyword(s):  
Domestic Violence ◽  
Sexual Behavior ◽  
South Asian ◽  
Human Service ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Marital Rape ◽  
Service Workers ◽  
Diverse Communities ◽  
Muslim Communities ◽  
Domestic Violence Survivors

This chapter looked at the experiences of marital rape among immigrant South Asian Muslims domestic violence survivors who are living in Texas, USA. Based on qualitative interviews with 20 participants, this chapter discusses the hidden nature of marital sexual abuse. Specific themes include: abuse took place in a larger context of domestic violence; duality in sexual behavior allowed for husband and wife; submission through threat and intimidation; it is not rape but, I feel the same as a rape victim; shame of talking about something so private; and divorce and vulnerability from sexual advances by outside men. Implications to advocates and human service workers, especially those living in Western countries and work with Muslim communities are discussed, as well as how to effectively assist these diverse communities in a culturally sensitive manner, being mindful of their religious background.

scholarly journals Psychological and sociological factors impacting on migrant worker contribution to, and adaptation of, workplace safety culture

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Skiba
Keyword(s):  
Safety Culture ◽  
Migrant Workers ◽  
Migrant Worker ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Workplace Safety ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Workplace Engagement ◽  
Safety Issues ◽  
Sociological Factors

This paper highlights potential health and safety issues which may emerge in workplaces engaging migrant workers, particularly as effected by social distancing during training prior to employment, such as experienced by international students.  There are a number of factors that can contribute to the ways in which a migrant worker applies health and safety in their workplaces, including language and culture, that are commonly addressed through training, socialisation and workplace engagement.  With these opportunities limited due to social distancing, migrant workers have less opportunity to contribute to and embrace organisations’ safety culture.  This onus then falls onto employers to ensure that safe practices are learned, imbued and correctly and consistently applied with an objective of fostering a strong safety culture where employees go above and beyond what is expected in terms of safety performance that is mutually understood and shared.

Where Do Job Demands Come From? A Study of Human Service Workers

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. S. Kristensen ◽  
A. Guichard ◽  
M. Borritz ◽  
E. Villadsen
Keyword(s):  
Human Service ◽  
Job Demands ◽  
Service Workers ◽  
Human Service Workers

Conducting Worksite Investigations

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruce P. Bernard
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Safety ◽  
Health Management ◽  
Health Hazard ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Employee Health ◽  
Hazard Evaluation ◽  
Workplace Hazards ◽  
Health Concerns ◽  
Workplace Conditions ◽  
Safety And Health

This chapter focuses on conducting worksite investigations, including walkthrough surveys, and provides occupational health and safety personnel, employees, and employers the opportunity to identify and assess current workplace conditions and employee health concerns and make recommendations on how to reduce or eliminate any identified workplace hazards. The methods described cover ways to implement corrective actions necessary for preventing future adverse incidents and to identify shortcomings in safety and health management programs. Various specific examples are provided. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Hazard Evaluation Program, which has experience with all types of workplace hazards, is described. Preparing for and conducting workplace investigations is described in detail.

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