Occupational health and safety professionals and management: identity, marriage, servitude or supervision?

The role and training of occupational health and safety professionals is a continuing subject of debate in the light of recent European legislation. This paper discusses the possible roles of professionals in the context of the complexities of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) management. It presents the roles using the metaphor of parent-adult-child relationships (Harris, 1970) and discusses the ways in which different relationships can lead to different problems of functioning. It concludes with presenting the possible role of training in tackling these problems.     

Developing the understanding of underlying causes of construction fatal accidents

A study of a small sample of construction fatal accidents was used to pilot a potential method of analysis for the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Construction Division. The work was conducted in the context of a Governmental Inquiry into construction fatalities in 2009, but has been developed further since. The sample of 26 accidents (28 fatalities) was drawn from the 211 fatal accidents in the years ending 2006–2008, to be broadly illustrative of the range of accident characteristics. The accidents were analysed on the basis of available inspectorate reports and structured interviews with the investigating inspectors. A standard method of classification on four levels was developed, based on the Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS) classification of errors and task level factors, with additional categories covering the organisational and regulatory/market levels of the system. The results showed a concentration of underlying factors associated with inadequacies in planning and risk assessment, competence assurance, hardware design, purchase and installation, and contracting strategy. These findings were partially validated by comparing them with another sample of 50 accidents analysed earlier by the HSE. This paper describes the development and testing of the investigation and classification method and how it is being further developed since the initial study. It also provides a summary of the findings relating to underlying causes.     

White birch (Betula papyrifera Marshall) foliar litter decomposition in relation to trace metal atmospheric inputs at metal-contaminated and uncontaminated sites near Sudbury, Ontario and Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec, Canada

Decomposition of white birch (Betula papyrifera Marshall) foliar litter was examined at metal-contaminated and uncontaminated sites established along gradients of soil Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn concentrations near Sudbury, Ontario and Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec. Over an 18-month study period, a significantly lower rate of litter mass loss was observed at the Sudbury contaminated site (S1) than at the uncontaminated site (S2). This result was not duplicated at corresponding sites (RN1, RN2) in Rouyn-Noranda, despite similar levels of soil metal contaminants and atmospheric inputs. Concentrations of metals in litter increased at all sites with time. However, the greatest litter Cu and Ni concentrations were observed at S1 (188 and 192 microg/g, respectively), a result of substantial net gains of these elements from atmospheric inputs. On a per hectare basis, Cu accumulation in litter at S1 approached recommended application rates of Cu as copper sulphate for control of fungal diseases in agricultural operations, indicating that the current rate of Cu smelter emissions in Sudbury may cause the observed impairment of decomposition.     

Landowner Satisfaction with the Wetlands Reserve Program in Wisconsin

We evaluated ecological monitoring data and landowner perceptions to the federally funded Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) in a three-county region in Wisconsin. We surveyed landowner satisfaction, involvement, participation, and use of the WRP restoration sites. We found that landowners are satisfied with the overall program (mean, 3.6 ± 0.2 [SE], on a scale of 1–5, with 5 being completely satisfied). WRP restorations significantly increased the area of wetland within the sites surveyed, the increase was primarily of fresh meadow (736.32 ha after restoration). Satisfaction is related to landowner participation during restoration and to the economic incentives provided by the WRP, Landowner satisfaction and the number of plant communities after restoration are unrelated to each other or to restoration and easement costs per hectare. Survey participants recommended some changes to the WRP, including a reduction in the tax rate of land enrolled in the WRP, approval for permanent deer stands, and increased communication with WRP officials during the restoration. Monitoring information collected for WRP restoration sites does not allow assessment of whether WRP sites are functionally equivalent to natural sites. We suggest that the WRP require a more rigorous monitoring program, including guidelines for invasive species control. Managers should also encourage collaborations with external researchers and consider restorations within an experimental framework.