Key factors influencing management decisions concerning safety equipment selection

The construction industry involves many hazardous activities that may expose workers to a wide variety of health hazards. Selection of construction safety equipment is crucial in ensuring workers’ safety. This article aims to examine key factors influencing management decisions concerning safety equipment selection, utilizing exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). A questionnaire survey is conducted in the construction companies in Bangkok, Thailand. The factor analysis extracts 103 sets of data into six key factors – namely supplier agreements, supplier support, personal, equipment design, safety-related policies and cost value factors – with a total of 20 associated items. The AHP results conclude that the safety-related policies, equipment design and personal factors are the most important factors when selecting construction safety equipment. A construction company can use the study results as a checklist to help assess different safety equipment, and to select the best equipment.     

Exposure to fall hazards and safety climate in the aircraft maintenance industry

PROBLEM: Falls represent a significant occupational hazard, particularly in industries with dynamic work environments. This paper describes rates of noncompliance with fall hazard prevention requirements, perceived safety climate and worker knowledge and beliefs, and the association between fall exposure and safety climate measures in commercial aircraft maintenance activities. METHODS: Walkthrough observations were conducted on aircraft mechanics at two participating facilities (Sites A and B) to ascertain the degree of noncompliance. Mechanics at each site completed questionnaires concerning fall hazard knowledge, personal safety beliefs, and safety climate. Questionnaire results were summarized into safety climate and belief scores by workgroup and site. Noncompliance rates observed during walkthroughs were compared to the climate-belief scores, and were expected to be inversely associated. RESULTS: Important differences were seen in fall safety performance between the sites. The study provided a characterization of aircraft maintenance fall hazards, and also demonstrated the effectiveness of an objective hazard assessment methodology. Noncompliance varied by height, equipment used, location of work on the aircraft, shift, and by safety system. DISCUSSION: Although the expected relationship between safety climate and noncompliance was seen for site-average climate scores, workgroups with higher safety climate scores had greater observed noncompliance within Site A. Overall, use of engineered safety systems had a significant impact on working safely, while safety beliefs and climate also contributed, though inconsistently. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: The results of this study indicate that safety systems are very important in reducing noncompliance with fall protection requirements in aircraft maintenance facilities. Site-level fall safety compliance was found to be related to safety climate, although an unexpected relationship between compliance and safety climate was seen at the workgroup level within site. Finally, observed fall safety compliance was found to differ from self-reported compliance.     

Effects of falling weight impact on industrial safety helmets used in conjunction with eye and face protection devices

Industrial workplaces pose concurrent hazards to the upper part of the head and the eyes. Under the circumstances, workers may use protective helmets in conjunction with protective goggles or spectacles. In order to assess the compatibility of this equipment, a method and a test stand for evaluating the behavior of safety helmets and protective goggles/spectacles upon the impact of a falling weight were designed. The results of tests concerning the displacement and deformation of helmets and spectacles/goggles, the forces acting on the helmets, as well as the forces exerted by the spectacles/goggles on the headform upon falling weight impact are presented. The results revealed the ways in which the tested equipment interacted with each other. The influence of equipment construction on the test results was analyzed and inferences concerning the safety of the studied protective devices were made. Some general construction guidelines were formulated for the compatibility of the equipment.     

高校化学实验室个体防护装备的选择与管理

高校化学实验室在日常教学科研实验活动中会使用到各种易燃易爆及有毒有害危险化学品,也可能会接触到某些压力容器及机械等设备,在化学实验过程中存在着多种安全风险,化学实验室的安全性直接关系到师生员工的人身安全及学校实验教学和科研的开展。为实验室师生选择恰当的个体防护装备后,可直接对人体起到保护作用,免遭或减轻事故和职业危害因素的伤害。本文对高校化学实验室的事故风险进行分析后,介绍高校化学实验室个体防护装备的选择与管理,包含其选择要点、装备管理。     

农民工职业危害防护需求意愿调查分析

为了调查农民工职业危害防护的具体需求意愿及他们对企业职业危害管理现状的认知,分析农民工职业危害防护需求意愿与农民工职业危害防护行为之间的关系。采用问卷调查的定量调查方法进行调查。调查对象中男性农民工409人,女性农民工157人。参与问卷调查的农民工,均接触一种及以上的职业性有害因素。调查内容包括了解公司预防和控制职业病的政策,参与公司的职业危害管理决策,实施的职业性健康安全培训、健康监护、个人防护用品的使用等预防和控制职业病的管理措施等方面,本次调查显示,农民工对于预防职业危害表现出强烈的需求愿望,且对企业的职业危害防护现况表示了不满,倾向于采取极端的行为维护自身的健康权益。但另一方面,农民工实际参与企业职业危害防护的行为率较低,与他们的需求意愿相比有明显的差距。     

Threat perception and the readiness to participate in safety programs

Reacting to a perception of threat, workers can become fatalistic or increase their readiness to participate in plant safety programs. A field study of 396 production workers at eight factories tested key relationships derivable from this assumption. Workers were found to be particularly sensitive to presumed personal jeopardy from existing safety hazards. These threat perceptions were tied to previous encounters with accidents and to training for a specific task. In contrast, occupational climates seen as supportive to safety efforts did not effect personal threat evaluations. Safety instruction and co-worker support were established as complementary factors that moved workers toward an activist path of participation rather than a fatalistic acceptance of an existing situation. While relationships were primarily investigated on an individual level, special conditions at certain enterprises were found to influence worker willingness to become involved in safety endeavors.     

Deaths in construction related to personnel lifts, 1992-1999

Problem: This study examined deaths of construction workers due to personnel lifts (boom-supported and scissor lifts, suspended scaffolds, and crane platforms). Methods: Deaths of construction workers for 1992–1999 were examined using data from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, a Bureau of Labor Statistics database. Results: The study identified 339 deaths: 42% from boom-supported lifts; 26% from suspended scaffolds; 19% from scissor lifts; 5% from crane platforms; and 7% from unapproved lifts (e.g., forklift platforms). The main causes of death were falls (36%), collapses/tipovers (29%), and electrocutions (21%). Discussion: Recommendations include: following OSHA regulations, wearing personal fall protection equipment, adequate maintenance, inspection before use, and training on the model of lift used. Precautions are also needed to prevent contact with overhead power lines. Impact on industry: The increasing popularity of boom-supported lifts and scissor lifts, both in construction and other industries, make their safety an important issue.     

Use of association rules to explore cause–effect relationships in occupational accidents in the Taiwan construction industry

Most models of the incidence of occupational accidents in the construction industry are composed of multiple factors. Although statistical techniques can be used to infer cause-and-effect relationships among these factors, the large number of factors involved and the complexity of the relationships among them make it difficult for managers to identify potential hazards in construction projects and thus develop effective safety procedures. This study addresses this problem by using the association-rule method of data mining in performing an analysis of 1347 accidents in the Taiwan construction industry during the period 2000–2007. The association-rule method enables potential cause-and-effect relationships to be identified among the many factors that play a role in occupational accidents in the construction industry. The study finds that such accidents tend to occur when certain combinations of hazards are present – especially working in high places without protective measures, loss of balance when in motion, failure to use protective equipment, insufficient experience, and injurious contact with unstable structures. These hazards are especially evident in small enterprises with less than 10 persons. The results can help management to formulate effective safety policies with regard to management shortcomings and staff training.     

欧美、日本与中国个体防护标准比对

个体防护装备,以往称劳动防护用品,是以保护劳动者安全和健康为目的,并且直接与人体接触的装备或者用品。从某种意义上讲,它是保障劳动者安全和健康的最后一道防线,在保护劳动者和确保安全生产方面有着重要意义。经过多年努力,我国在个体防护装备的技术标准方面制定并颁布了一系列国家标准和行业标准,并形成了初步的标准体系,本文研究了ISO、CEN、JIS的个体防护标准体系,并着重对其体系和有代表性的标准进行比对分析,从而归纳出我国个体防护及检测技术标准存在的问题,对制定和提高我国个体防护装备的体系建设具有一定的参考意义,并为个体防护及检测领域的相关国际标准的研制工作提出一些建议。     

美国粮仓农工的安全风险识别与防护

本文通过谷物装卸设备存在危险的实例,强调了储粮仓内农工存在淹埋及窒息风险,重点介绍了美国职业安全和健康署（OSHA）提出的标准和相关法规,以及粮仓农工的安全风险识别与防护经验,以对我国粮仓农工的安全与防护提供帮助。     

Self-reported incidents,accidents, and use of protective gear among small-scale forestry workers in Sweden

Self-reported data were collected from 156 self-employed small-scale forestry workers regarding their work, including use of safety gear and number and type of incidents and accidents. About 40% of the respondents reported that during the previous 24 months they had some kind of work-related accident where an injury occurred, and/or experienced in incident, a close call that could have resulted in an injury. Of those injured or involved in an accident, 50% reported that at the time of the accident or incident they were not fully using their safety gear. Sixty-seven percent of the accident victims reported seeking medical attention for their injuries. No significant relationships were found between production level, age, use of safety gear or sensation seeking tendencies and the reports of accidents and incidents. Accidents and incidents were most likely to occur during felling, thinning and transportation activities and were usually caused by unforeseen interactions with falling trees/branches or equipment. Compared to earlier surveys of Swedish small-scale forestry workers, consistent use of all required safety gear was down by 10% to 50%. Protective pants and gloves were the items least likely to be used while ear, eye and foot protection were most likely to be used. The results indicate that better planning during felling processes may be the key to reducing the number of accidents for this population.     

Health and Safety Perception of Workers in Turkey: A Survey of Construction Sites

This study reports the general health and safety (HS) conditions in the Turkish construction industry from the perspective of construction labor. Toward this aim, a questionnaire survey was carried out with 800 workers employed in 32 construction projects in Turkey. Contractors were found to neglect their legal liabilities in paying workers’ insurance premiums. Also, they overlooked safety training and were reluctant to hiring physicians at construction sites and investing in personal protective equipment (PPE). As the real constructors of projects, workers did not attach adequate importance to occupational training. In addition, they were not willing to use some PPE. Key participants of HS affairs such as workers, contractors, unions, and government should comprehend their drawbacks to overcome the current dangerous view of the industry. In this regard, related government bodies should compel contractors and workers to adapt to the relatively new regulations on occupational HS.     

Qualitative Assessment for Inherently Safer Design (QAISD) at preliminary design stage

Conventional hazard evaluation techniques such as what-if checklist and hazard and operability (HAZOP) studies are often used to recognise potential hazards and recommend possible solutions. They are used to reduce any potential incidents in the process plant to as low as reasonably practicable (ALARP) level. Nevertheless, the suggested risk reduction alternatives merely focus on added passive and active safety systems rather than preventing or minimising the inherent hazards at source through application of inherently safer design (ISD) concept. One of the attributed reasons could be the shortage of techniques or tools to support implementation of the concept. Thus, this paper proposes a qualitative methodology that integrates ISD concept with hazard review technique to identify inherent hazards and generate ISD options at early stage of design as proactive measures to produce inherently safer plant. A modified theory of inventive problem solving (TRIZ) hazard review method is used in this work to identify inherent hazards, whereby an extended inherent safety heuristics tool is developed based on established ISD principles to create potential ISD options. The developed method namely Qualitative Assessment for Inherently Safer Design (QAISD) could be applied during preliminary design stage and the information required to apply the method would be based on common process and safety database of the studied process. However, user experiences and understanding of inherent safety concept are crucial for effective utilisation of the QAISD. This qualitative methodology is applied to a typical batch reactor of toluene nitration as a case study. The results show several ISD strategies that could be considered at early stage of design in order to prevent and minimise the potential of thermal runaway in the nitration process.     

Influence of weather conditions on the performance of energy absorbers and guided type fall arresters on a flexible anchorage line during fall arresting

Energy absorbers and guided type fall arresters on a flexible anchorage line belong to very popular group of equipment protecting against falls from a height. This equipment is used in different weather conditions (different temperature, humidity, precipitation, etc.), which influence its parameters. Fibre ropes and webbing, made from polyamide fibres, used in energy absorbers and guided type fall arresters, are sensitive to weather conditions. Laboratory tests proved that the changes in temperature, humidity, etc., especially influence dynamic elongation of this equipment and the force acting on anchor point during fall arresting. These phenomena decide directly about the fall arresting process and can influence safety of people working on a height.     

Enhancing safety competencies of young adults: A randomized field trial (RCT)

IntroductionYoung workers are exposed to various occupational hazards, often with limited experience and skills. In this study, we investigated the effects of the Attitude to Work Program on the safety competencies of young workers. Based on the social cognitive theory, the intervention was developed to help young people adopt an active role in preventing occupational hazards and overcoming barriers to safe work.MethodThe program was implemented in eight upper secondary-level vocational schools in Finland during 2015. A total of 464 students participated in the cluster randomized field trial. Those in the intervention group (n = 229) participated in the Attitude to Work Program. During the program, students identified and practiced behavioral strategies to prevent occupational hazards. Students in the control condition (n = 235) received written material about the same safety-related topics.ResultsThe short-term follow-up showed that the intervention significantly increased safety preparedness and the internal safety locus of control among the students in the intervention condition in comparison to those in the control condition. Students in the intervention condition also showed reduced risk-taking attitudes relative to those in the control condition. Furthermore, those who benefited most from the program were high conscientiousness students. The sensation-seeking level or vocational track did not moderate any of the intervention effects.ConclusionThe results demonstrated that safety competencies can be modified by intervention techniques based on a social-cognitive framework.Practical implicationsThis study provides tools for school-based safety training and future intervention development. Further research is needed to study the relationships between cognitive factors, safety behavior, and accidents.     

JSP技术及其在安全管理信息系统中的应用

基于B/S模式并结合JSP(JavaServerPagesTM)技术 ,实现省、市职能部门对企业安全生产监督管理及安全信息共享平台。政府职能部门能够及时监管各地安全动态、发布公告和指令、校验特种作业人员和注册安全主任资格等 ;用户能进行事故隐患和执法监督行为投诉、事故快报、安全技术咨询、地方或行业法规标准查询等活动。从而 ,达到构建安全管理、安全技术服务、安全信息发布、事故预防集成系统的目的。     

外委施工人员的安全现状分析及对策

从外委施工人员的从业特点和职业伤害方面，分析了其安全现状，并提出了相应的防治对策。     

An evaluation of scaffold safety at construction sites

PROBLEM: This study evaluated common scaffold safety practices in construction. METHOD: A 150-point checklist was used to evaluate supported scaffold safety practices at 113 scaffolds in nine areas of the eastern United States. RESULTS: Thirty-six scaffolds (31.9%) were either in danger of collapse or missing planking, guardrails, or adequate access. There was a strong statistical correlation between structural flaws and fall protection hazards, and between proper scaffold safety practice and (a) competent persons with scaffold safety training, (b) use of separate scaffold erection contractors, and (c) scaffolds that were not simple frame types. A slightly weaker correlation was found with union status of the scaffold erector, and no correlation was found with geography, site size, number of scaffold users, and trade working on the scaffold. DISCUSSION: Recommendations are made for safer scaffold practice, including a simple four-factor scaffold inspection method. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: Implementation of the four-factor method could result in a cost-effective way to identify unsafe scaffolds.     

Assessment of perceived injury risks and priorities among truck drivers and trucking companies in Washington State

Problem

The trucking industry experiences one of the highest work-related injury rates. Little work has been conducted previously in the United States to assess the hazards, needs, and injury prevention priorities in trucking. Method: Two separate industry-wide surveys of 359 trucking companies and 397 commercial truck drivers were conducted in Washington State. Results: Trucking companies and drivers both ranked musculoskeletal and slip, trip, fall injuries as the top two priorities. Controlling heavy lifting, using appropriate equipment, and addressing slippery surfaces were frequently listed as solutions. There appears to be a gap in safety climate perception between workers and employers. However, driver and company priorities agreed with industry workers' compensation claims. There is room for safety program management improvement in the industry. The study findings detail opportunities for prioritizing and reducing injuries. Impact on Industry: This information can be used to focus and design interventions for the prevention of work-related injuries while improving industry competitiveness.