Recovery from job stress: The stressor‐detachment model as an integrative framework

This paper reviews empirical evidence on psychological detachment from work during nonwork time. Psychological detachment as a core recovery experience refers to refraining from job‐related activities and thoughts during nonwork time; it implies to mentally disengage from one's job while being away from work. Using the stressor‐detachment model as an organizing framework, we describe findings from between‐person and within‐person studies, relying on cross‐sectional, longitudinal, and daily‐diary designs. Overall, research shows that job stressors, particularly workload, predict low levels of psychological detachment. A lack of detachment in turn predicts high strain levels and poor individual well‐being (e.g., burnout and lower life satisfaction). Psychological detachment seems to be both a mediator and a moderator in the relationship between job stressors on the one hand and strain and poor well‐being on the other hand. We propose possible extensions of the stressor‐detachment model by suggesting moderator variables grounded in the transactional stress model. We further discuss avenues for future research and offer practical implications. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Attraction in organizations: A model of workplace romance

Antecedents and consequences of participating in a romantic relationship in the workplace are critically examined. These factors are derived from social-psychological theories of interpersonal attraction, romantic attraction, love, emotion, and social exchange, as well as from previous research addressing romance in the workplace. The antecedent factors explain the processes by which romantic relationships develop between two members of the same organization, and the consequent factors highlight both the beneficial and detrimental effects that such relationships have on the participants, coworkers, and the host organization. Based on these formation and impact factors, a conceptual model of workplace romance is developed along with a series of testable propositions in order to facilitate and direct future research on romantic organizational behavior.     

Status inconsistency in organizations: From social hierarchy to stress

This paper adopts the concept of status inconsistency from the wider sociological literature in order to explain one of the social psychological processes possibly underlying the linkage between organizational demography and occupational stress. In doing so, we review the methodological and theoretical difficulties that arise in applying status inconsistency to an organizational setting. After explicitly discussing our assumptions, we develop out of the literature a series of propositions explicating the nature of the relationships between demography, status, status inconsistency and occupational stress. In offering these propositions we not only attempt to show how status inconsistency may be used to explain many of the empirical relations found to exist between demography and occupational stress, but also try to show the potential value of the status inconsistency concept as both an independent and dependent variable in general organizational research.     

Toward an integrative approach of the industrial risk management process in France

Management in the field of environmental protection and risk prevention has evolved to the increasing participation of all stakeholders in the decision-making process. It certainly results from the development of the Information society and the global increase of knowledge of the population, combined with the concerns of the populations related to a sustainable development of our civilisation. Our ‘risk society’, following the big industrial disasters (Flixborough,Tchernobyl, Bhopal, Challenger, and more recently Toulouse), has also developed a cautious attitude towards the role of the expertise when it comes to assessing risks, along with a question of the ability of science to give definite answers.

This has lead in particular to the adoption of the Aarhus convention in 1998 and the evolution of several regulations in the developed countries. For example, in France the new law no. 2003–699 of 30 July 2003 about the ‘prevention of the technological and natural risks and to the compensation for the damages’ has introduced an important innovation into the process of technological risks prevention.

This law has enabled the involvement of the stakeholders in the decision-making process related to risk prevention and has urged the development of specific tools to deal with the complexity of risk management issues, in particular for those related to land-use planning.

As technical support to decision-makers in risk management from both public and private sectors, INERIS has played an important role for the evolution of the French risk management system.

This paper describes an analysis on the difficulty to control major accident hazards in an evolving context where the industrial systems becomes more and more complex and where the expectations of the civil society has increased. Then, the authors describe how an integrated vision for industrial risk management has emerged in France and is being implemented in a new law adopted after the Toulouse disaster.     

An adaptive management system for hazardous technology organizations

This paper introduces a management system suitable for hazardous technology organizations which has been developed based on the assumptions that in these organizations safety is a critical strategic factor, the existence of an enhanced safety culture is a crucial condition for safety and that safety culture enhancement implies in organizational changes. The management system was theoretically developed and then implemented at a Brazilian nuclear research and development installation, as a case study, in order to validate the theoretical propositions assumed in the system development. The developed management system comprises a day-to-day based organizational framework which treats safety as one of the organization strategic perspectives and provides a continuous adaptation of the complex causal inter-relationships which occur between the implementation of new management practices – designed and implemented according to the requirements of the criteria of excellence of the Brazilian quality award management assessment model – and the organization safety culture. The results achieved in the case study permitted to demonstrate the validness of all the system theoretical propositions and to conclude that the continuous and systematic operation of the management system makes an effective safety culture enhancement possible and simultaneously facilitates that the new management practices be effectively implemented, thus making continuous organizational improvement possible.     

Managers' reactions to a corporate acquisition: A test of an integrative model

Drawing upon previous theoretical and empirical work on mergers and acquisitions, survivors' reactions to layoffs, organizational stress, and perceived personal control, we proposed a structural model of managers' reactions to the acquisition of their company. The model was evaluated on the basis of survey data collected from a sample of middle-level managers (N=91) whose company was acquired through a hostile takeover by another company. Both were Fortune 500 companies. Though most variables were measured 16 months after the initial implementation phase of the merger, manifest indicators of change in job control were measured twice: at the beginning of the implementation phase and 16 months later. Mixed latent/manifest variable structural equations analyses provided results that were generally consistent with the proposed model. Implications of the results as well as suggestions for future research are discussed.     

Etzioni's model of organizational involvement: A perspective for understanding commitment to organizations

There are two predominant views of organizational commitment: instrumental and affective. The purpose of the paper is to explore the extent to which an adapted version of Etzioni's macro organizational model of involvement may serve as a single model of both affective and instrumental perspectives of organizational commitment. Moral commitment and alienative commitment are treated as affective forms of organizational attachment, and calculative commitment is treated as an instrumental form of organizational attachment. The paper employs five samples for the investigation. It develops scales for measuring each of the three dimensions of commitment. The paper concludes that organizational commitment is multidimensional. It also concludes that employees report a mixture of commitment types. Evidence is offered in support of the affective character of moral and alienative commitment. Although the evidence is equivocal, there is support for the independence of the two dimensions of affective commitment: moral and alienative. Evidence is also offered for the differential association of the three dimensions of organizational commitment with related aspects of organizational behavior. The paper extends our understanding of organizational commitment by providing a place for both instrumental and affective forms of psychological attachment to organizations. It offers scales which may be used for future research, and it suggests research which may extend the adapted model in this paper as well as provide direction for practising managers.     

The teacher stress process: A cross-cultural analysis

A cross-cultural systems analysis was performed on teacher stress data from Canada and Sweden. The LISREL structural analysis was based on a conceptual model adapted from Kyriacou and Sutcliffe. Although the LISREL solution did not reach statistical significance it was concluded that the conceptual model in the essential features was corroborated by the LISREL analyses. Measurement errors, as well as the sensitivity of the used goodness of fit test (chi square) to the size of the samples was put forward as explanations of the failure to reach statistical significance for the LISREL structural solutions. Furthermore, it was argued that the heterogeneity of the teachers with respect to the stages of their professional careers should be considered in further research on teacher stress, to be able to capture the process aspects more adequately.     

Coordinating work in complex organizations

Differentiation, interdependence, and interest conflict between work units were investigated as determinants of managerial selection between coordination strategies. One hundred and four MBA students with managerial experience participated in a simulation in which they were required to select a strategy to manage systematically different relations between work units. Findings reveal a three-way interaction between differentiation, interdependence, and interest conflict affecting the degree of cooperation and centralization of selected strategies. The formalization of such strategies was affected by an interaction between differentiation and interest conflict. Implications for theory and practice are described.     

An experimental examination of implicit stress theory

Implicit theories lead individuals to make assumptions about one trait based on their knowledge of another trait. This study experimentally examined Implicit Stress Theory under conditions of high and low performance information. The objective was to test for evidence of Implicit Stress Theory in ratings of effectiveness, commitment, and burnout. Results indicated moderate support for Implicit Stress Theory such that raters evaluated employee burnout and commitment as higher when the employee was perceived to be working under stressful conditions. Interestingly, the data suggested stronger support (based on the proportion of variance explained) for an Implicit Performance Theory such that information regarding good performance was associated with higher levels of commitment and less burnout than poor performance.     

A conceptual offshore oil and gas process accident model

The purpose of this paper is to present and discuss an accident prevention model for offshore oil and gas processing environments. The accidents that are considered in this work relate specifically to hydrocarbon release scenarios and any escalating events that follow. Using reported industry data, the elements to prevent an accident scenario are identified and placed within a conceptual model to depict the accident progression. The proposed accident model elements are represented as safety barriers designed to prevent the accident scenario from developing. The accident model is intended to be a tool for highlighting vulnerabilities of oil and gas processing operations and to provide guidance on how to minimize their hazards. These vulnerabilities are discussed by applying the 1988 Piper Alpha and the 2005 BP Texas City disaster scenarios to the model.     

感潮港口多时段船舶引航过程风险仿真模型

为研究感潮港口船舶在不同潮时进港靠泊的引航过程风险演化规律,以优化泊位利用率和提高港口的生产效率,有必要进行多时段船舶引航过程风险的动态仿真。在对船舶引航任务场景和历史数据进行分析的基础上,采取HHM方法构建船舶引航过程的关键风险指标体系,采用AHP-CRITIC方法结合风险因素的主客观分布特点获取不同引航阶段中各指标权重,最后利用不确定人工智能云模型进行多时段船舶引航过程风险的建模仿真。通过某集装箱船的感潮水域引航过程场景分析,融合采样点的客观数据和专家知识对6个靠泊窗口期船舶引航过程风险进行动态仿真。结果表明:船舶引航过程风险演化整体呈U形曲线模式,相比正常航行阶段风险值,船舶引航初始和靠泊阶段风险值高60%左右;感潮港口6个窗口期的船舶引航过程风险略有差异,潮高、潮流对船舶交通流和起锚、靠泊作业安全影响明显。     

3个品种水稻种子萌发对酸雨胁迫的响应

为了探索不同水稻种植区水稻品种对酸雨胁迫的响应规律,采用室内实验方法研究pH值为2.0、2.5、3.0、3.5、4.0、5.0的模拟酸雨对隆安优8、天协1、协优57水稻品种种子发芽率、发芽势、发芽指数、活力指数和异状发芽率5个指标的影响.结果表明:酸雨持续胁迫7d后,上述3个品种的发芽势(率)、发芽(活力)指数随胁迫强度增加(pH值为5.0～3.0)呈先增后减的变化,pH值为2.5时种子仅有异状发芽,pH值为2.0时均不发芽;3者的发芽势(率)、发芽(活力)指数等均与胁迫时间(1～7d)呈显著负相关(异状发芽率呈正相关).综合分析认为,酸雨对3个水稻品种的伤害阈限为pH值2.5～3.5;一定胁强(pH值为2.5)下,3类种子上述5项萌发指标与CK呈显著差异的胁时不同:隆安优8、协优57(4d,2d,2d,2d,4d)大于或等天协1(3d,2d,2d,2d,3d),表明3者对酸雨的抗性存在一定差异,即隆安优8、协优57大于天协1.     

An ontology-based framework for process monitoring and maintenance in petroleum plant

In production plants, monitoring and maintaining industrial processes and emergency shutdowns are not straightforward tasks due to the large number of events and alarms which are triggered during the plant shutdown process. It is also vitally important to provide decision support to stakeholders for efficient and effective monitoring and maintenance of production process. This paper presents a novel framework and design to enhance maintenance decisions based on the knowledge gathered through the process of monitoring. This monitoring process is based on signals which are triggered during the plant safety shutdown process. We have designed and implemented a framework using an ontology and business rules to define the logical structure and operation of the petroleum plant with the objective of monitoring the cause and effect of the petroleum plant shutdown process. To enhance maintenance decisions, we have extended the ontology and the framework to ensure that decision makers have sufficient information to make the right decision at the right time. The proposed extended framework is designed, implemented and evaluated using an example petroleum production plant as a case study.     

A process mapping model for calculating indirect costs of workplace accidents

This article follows an earlier one in which four criteria and four bases for the development of an indirect-cost calculation model adapted to the accuracy requirements and time constraints of workplace decision-makers were established. A two-level model for calculating indirect costs using process mapping of the organizational response to a workplace accident is presented. The model is based on data collected in interviews with those employees in charge of occupational health and safety in 10 companies of various sizes in different industry sectors. This model is the first to use process mapping to establish the indirect costs of workplace accidents. The approach allows easy identification of the duration and frequency of actions taken by stakeholders when a workplace accident occurs, facilitates the collection of the information needed to calculate indirect costs and yields a usable, precise result. A simple graphic representation of an organization's accident processes helps the user understand each accident's cost components, allowing the identification and reduction of inefficiencies in the overall process. Impact on Industry: By facilitating data collection and shortening the time needed to assess indirect costs of workplace accidents, this indirect cost calculation tool is better suited for workplace use than those currently available.     

A dynamic cellular automaton model for evacuation process with obstacles

A dynamic cellular automaton (CA) model is proposed to simulate the evacuation process in the rooms with obstacles. Besides the basic parameters such as human psychology, placement of the doors, doors width, position of the obstacles and light of the environment, distribution of the crowd plays an important role in this model. Applying our model, simulation of the evacuation process for a restaurant and a classroom are presented. Also effects of pedestrians distribution, doors position and doors width on the evacuation time are discussed and the obtained results are compared with several static models.     

基于序列偏差的化工过程危险辨识

研究了化工事故中偏差连锁关系以及控制化工事故的作用连锁关系.将变化论的思想应用到HAZOP分析中,提出了一种基手序列偏差的HAZOP分析程序,用于化工过程危险辨识.在常规HAZOP分析的基础上构建序列偏差图,以此确定各个偏差的重要度,选择偏差控制策略.以某聚氯乙烯聚合工艺过程中的偏差"引发剂贮槽搅拌无"为例介绍了该方法.应用该方法认清了偏差如何发展为事故,如何选择控制策略,以预防事故发生,达到系统安全的目的.     

An economic evaluation of a participatory ergonomics process in an auto parts manufacturer

Problem

We assess the costs and consequences of a participatory ergonomics process at a Canadian car parts manufacturer from the perspective of the firm.

Method

Regression modeling was used with interrupted time series data to assess the impact of the process on several health measures. Consequences were kept in natural units for cost-effectiveness analysis, and translated into monetary units for cost-benefit analysis.

Results

The duration of disability insurance claims and the number of denied workers' compensation claims was significantly reduced. The cost-effectiveness ratio is $12.06 per disability day averted. The net present value is $244,416 for a 23-month period with a benefit-to-cost ratio of 10.6, suggesting that the process was worth undertaking (monetary units in 2001 Canadian dollars).

Discussion

Our findings emphasize the importance of considering a range of outcomes when evaluating an occupational health and safety intervention.

Impact on industry

Participatory ergonomics process can be cost-effective for a firm.