The role of design issues in work-related fatal injury in Australia

PROBLEM: This study aimed to provide an assessment of the contribution of design to the occurrence of fatal work-related injuries in Australia. METHODS: The Australian National Coroners' Information System was the data source for fatal injuries. Deaths resulting from workplace injuries on or between 1 July 2000 and 30 June 2002 were included. RESULTS: Seventy seven (37%) of the 210 identified workplace fatalities definitely or probably had design-related issues involved. In another 29 (14%), the circumstances were suggestive that design issues were involved. The most common scenarios involved problems with rollover protective structures and/or associated seat belts; inadequate guarding; lack of residual current devices; inadequate fall protection; failed hydraulic lifting systems in vehicles and mobile equipment; and inadequate protection mechanisms on mobile plant and vehicles. SUMMARY: Design is a significant contributor to work-related fatal injury in Australia. There is considerable scope for preventing serious work-related injury through improving design of plant, equipment, and vehicles used for work-related purposes.     

参保人数超过一亿——工伤保险工作的重大突破

在《工伤保险条例》实施满3周年之际,记者从劳动和社会保障部获悉,截至2006年11月底,全国工伤保险参保人数达到1亿30万人,劳动和社会保障部与建设部《关于做好建筑施工企业农民工参加工伤保险有关工作的通知》(劳社部[2006]44号)出台。它标志着我国工伤保险工作的两项重大突破。工伤保险参保人数突破1亿2006年,全国工伤保险工作以贯彻落实《国务院关于解决农民工问题的若干意见》为重点,不断扩大工伤保险覆盖面,全面推进落实高风险企业农民工参保的“平安计划”,工伤预防、工伤康复试点工作推向深入,工伤保险工作取得了积极进展。全国工伤保…     

Teenagers' part-time employment and their work-related attitudes and aspirations

We assessed the relationship between the quality (i.e., job characteristics, role stressors, and interpersonal relationships) and quantity of part-time employment, and work-related attitudes and aspirations among 349 students. Neither the linear nor the quadratic components of employment quantity predicted any of the outcome variables. Motivation to do good work was predicted both by role stressors and by family achievement orientation. Career maturity was predicted by role stressors at work, and cynicism by role stressors and satisfaction with interpersonal relationships. In contrast, job involvement was significantly related to family achievement orientation but not to any perceived job factors. These findings question the assumption that only intensive work during high school exerts negative effects for teenagers, and support the importance of employment quality for teenagers as well as adults. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

疫情下的工伤认定——访中国医疗保险研究会副会长陈刚

2020年1月23日,是武汉市"封城"的日子。同一天,人力资源社会保障部、财政部、国家卫生健康委下发了《关于因履行工作职责感染新型冠状病毒肺炎的医护及相关工作人员有关保障问题的通知》(人社部函[2020]11号)(以下简称"11号文"),为危难时期奋战在一线的医护及相关工作人员,吃上了一颗"定心丸"。     

Traumatic work-related fatalities in forestry and sawmill workers in Australia

Work-related traumatic forestry and sawmill fatalities were studied as part of a larger study of all work-related traumatic fatalities in Australia from 1982 to 1984. Data on 79 cases were obtained from inspection of coroners' files. The fatality incidence per 100,000 person-years was extremely high for loggers (396), and high for forest service workers (52) and workers employed in sawmills (30), compared to the entire Australian workforce (8.1). Felling/trimming trees, traffic-related activities and operating heavy machinery (forestry workers) and loading/unloading logs and operating bench saws (sawmill workers) were the most common tasks being performed at the time of the fatal injury. Being struck by a falling tree, often one that had been disturbed by the tree being felled, was the most common mechanism of fatal injury. Isolation, poor work practice, errors of judgement, and equipment problems were the most common contributing factors to the fatal incidents. Emphasis on correct work practice and training (especially in felling), equipment maintenance, and availability of communication and medical retrieval in isolated areas are recommended.     

机场安检人员工作压力源及影响因素研究

探讨国内机场安检人员的工作压力源,为开展航空安全心理援助提供有效的依据。通过运用叙述统计分析、主成分分析、t检定、因子分析、多变量分析等方法对机场安检人员工作压力进行分析。对机场安检人员调查问卷进行数据统计的基础上,将采集的有效数据导入SPSS14.0进行检验,Bartlett球形检验结果(2χ=269.713,P=0.000<0.01,KMO值=0.533>0.5),表明采集数据各个变量之间是独立的,适用于进行主成分分析。主成分分析结果表明人际关系因子、工作负荷因子和设备及法令法规因子为机场安检人员的主要压力源。工资收入和工作年限对压力源有显著的影响。工资越低的人感觉工作负荷越大。工作年限10年以上的人在工作负荷和设备与法令规定因子感受较强烈。调查问卷设计合理,涵盖了较为全面的职业压力信息,所获压力因子具有一定的客观性和代表性。     

Gender aspects of work-related injuries in a Swedish municipality

The purpose of this study was to investigate gender aspects of work-related injuries in a Swedish municipality (population 41,000). All unintentional injuries treated at in- and out-patient facilities were recorded during a period of 1 year. The work-related injuries were mapped out in more detail with the help of standardized and structured surveys via telephone interviews and hospital records. The rate of work-related injuries among the gainfully employed was 33 per 1000. Males were observed to suffer more work-related injuries than females (46 compared to 12 per 1000 gainfully employed persons), and there were gender differences with regard to work-related injuries and injury event patterns. Young men showed the highest rate of injuries. Injuries caused during machine operation were the most common for both males and females, amounting to almost one quarter of all injuries. Injuries caused by falls were most common amongst females in the age groups 15–24 (25%) and 45–64 (28%). More attention should be given to gender aspects of work-related injuries and their prevention.     

Study of factors associated with risk of work-related stairway falls

This report describes a study of stairway risk factors based on video tape recordings of workers using 31 flights of stairs selected from among the industries with the highest frequency and severity rates for stair-related injuries. The video tapes were reviewed to identify all incidents, i.e., falls, trips, slips, missteps, and moments of temporary instability. The characteristics of the 98 stair users who were involved in an incident were compared to the characteristics of a matched group of stair users who did not have incidents. The factors that best discriminated between the incident group and the nonincident group were: (a) The incident group tended to be those whose movement was impeded by others and who were older; and (b) The nonincident group tended to be those who were wearing glasses and those who were very large or heavy individuals. The influence of stairway physical features on the risk of injury was examined using correlation analysis. The measure of risk was the incidence rate (observed incidents per number of observed uses) for each flight as well as for each tread. Among the several variables significantly correlated with higher incidence rate are: (a) higher effective riser height and less effective tread depth; the safest stairs have an effective riser height not greater than 7 in. (18 cm) and an effective tread depth no less than 11 in. (27 cm); and (b) for descent only (92% of the injuries), the size of the nosing projection; it appears that nosing projections that exceed $\text{11}\text{16}$ in. (1.8 cm) are associated with higher incidence rates.     

The outcomes of downward managerial mobility

Research examining the effects of unemployment among white collar workers has produced patterns of findings different to those for lower socio-economic groups. The present longitudinal questionnaire study examines the psychological impact of managerial job moves which are downward in status, and considers the effects of periods of unemployment between job changes. The results indicate that among managers the negative impact of downward status moves on psychological adjustment is greater than that of temporary role loss. These effects are associated with decrements in preceived growth and development opportunities at work. The relationship between work and non-work life for our understanding of psychological adjustment is considered.     

Comparing safety climate factors as predictors of work-related driving behavior

INTRODUCTION: Research suggests safety climate (SC) is a strong predictor of safety-related outcomes in organizations. This study explores the relationship between six SC dimensions and four aspects of work-related driving. METHOD: The SC factors measured were "communication and procedures," "work pressures," "relationships," "safety rules," "driver training," and "management commitment." The aspects of self-reported occupational driving measured were traffic violations, driver error, driving while distracted, and pre-trip vehicle maintenance. RESULTS: Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that the SC factors accounted for significant amounts of variance in all four aspects of work-related driving, over and above the control factors of age, sex, and work-related driving exposure. However, further investigation indicated certain SC factors (particularly safety rules, communication, and management commitment) were more strongly related to specific aspects of work-related driving behavior than others. Together, the SC factors were better able to predict self-reported distraction from the road than the other aspects of driving behavior measured. Implications for occupational safety, particularly for the management of work-related drivers are discussed.     

The measurement of job control

Subjective or perceived control over job-related activities or events is a frequently measured construct in organizational stress research. Karasek (1985) assessed perceived control as both decision authority and skill discretion at work (job decision latitude). Ganster (1989b; Dwyer and Ganster, 1991) developed a multidimensional or general measure of worker control, as well as a specific measure of work predictability. Because little published psychometric data exist for these scales, we investigated the item-level measurement properties of Karasek's and Ganster's measures. We hypothesized two separate, two-factor solutions, decision authority and skill discretion, for the job decision latitude scale, and general control and predictability, for the work control scale. The dimensionality of both measures was assessed in multiple, independent samples using confirmatory factor analyses (LISREL) with maximum likelihood estimation. Simultaneous solutions across samples were used to determine the fit of the factor models to the data. The hypothesized two-factor solutions were confirmed for both Karasek's and Ganster's scales, although item refinement is indicated. We also investigated the relative independence between Karasek's and Ganster's scales and found a lack of independence between the general control and decision authority items in one sample. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The measurement of experienced burnout

A scale designed to assess various aspects of the burnout syndrome was administered to a wide range of human services professionals. Three subscales emerged from the data analysis: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment. Various psychometric analyses showed that the scale has both high reliability and validity as a measure of burnout.     

The use of state workers' compensation administrative data to identify injury scenarios and quantify costs of work-related traumatic brain injuries

PROBLEM: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a public health problem but little is known about the nature of that problem in the working population. METHOD: The author used a national definition to identify cases in Washington State from workers' compensation (WC) hospital billing data, quantified the cost of WC insurance benefits using actuarial cost estimates, and identified high risk industries using ANSI Z16.2 typology. RESULTS: There were 928 cases of TBI with a lifetime claim cost of $159 million from the Washington State Fund (1994-2001). Sixty percent of injuries resulted in death or disability. The highest risks of TBI are concentrated in 16 industrial insurance risk classes and the highest costs in 19 North American Industry Classification codes. Injury scenarios were identified for nine industrial insurance risk classes. CONCLUSIONS: TBI is a disabling and costly workplace injury in the state of Washington, affecting even teenagers and seniors who are not generally considered to be part of the workforce. Injury typology codes provide useful information for improving workplace safety. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: This research provides industry with quantitative information regarding the cost of work-related traumatic brain injury and the usefulness of using workers' compensation claims data to reduce the burden of workplace injury.     

基于因子分析的民航从业人员职业压力研究

从职业压力源入手,分析社会环境、工作环境、个人心理和技术等因素对民航从业人员职业压力因子的影响,提出了评价民航从业人员职业压力因子指标体系.用问卷调查的方式采集数据,应用因子分析法和主成分分析法确定了主要压力因子.建议依据主要压力因子,制定管理策略以降低职业压力因子产生的不利影响.     

浅谈工伤事故的应急救护常识

通过典型事故案例的分析,介绍了不同类型的伤害事故的应急救护常识。     

Ethics and fundamental principles of risk acceptance criteria

Ethics are concerned with distinguishing between what actions are “right” and “wrong” and what values are “good” and “bad”, etc. and there is a long academic tradition in discussing ethics and ethical theories. Risk acceptance criteria, on the other hand, distinguish between levels of risks that are acceptable and levels that are intolerable. In some sense, one may say that risk acceptance criteria distinguishes between “good” and “bad” systems and activities with regards to the risk they expose the society or elements of a society to and there is thus an obvious link between ethics and risk acceptance criteria or to risk management at large. However, there are few references in the literature that explores this link, and in this paper, the ethical foundation of fundamental principles of risk acceptance criteria will be elaborated upon.This paper considers some important principles for establishing risk acceptance criteria for safety critical systems and activities. The various principles and the philosophies behind them might at first sight seem contradictory and exclusive, but it is demonstrated how they may coexist in one and the same regulatory regime; They may complement each other in order to achieve the overall safety objectives of society. Then, some brief considerations of the ethical foundations for the principles will be given and some relevant examples of actual risk acceptance criteria will be given from the maritime industries. However, it is believed that the principles and discussions are of general interest and apply to all areas of technical risk and to safety regulations in a broader perspective.     

船员劳动工伤伤害主因及基于管理的防范性措施研究

本文根据某大型航运企业最近9年来发生的船员劳动工伤事故,按“企业职工伤亡事故分类标准”中的分类方法,对这些船员劳动工伤事故进行分类统计分析,并提出如何从管理角度,防范此类劳动工伤事故的发生.指出防止船员劳动工伤事故的管理性措施包括:建立船员职业健康安全管理体系,为船员提供一个健康的、安全的、卫生的工作场所;制定配套的船员劳动安全规章制度;建立完善的劳动安全监督机制;加强对船员劳动工伤事故的调查分析;加强安全教育和现场监督管理;进行船员劳动安全风险辨识;为船员提供必要的劳动防护等.