Effects of safety climate on safety norm violations: exploring the mediating role of attitudinal ambivalence toward personal protective equipment

Problem

Research on the role of organizational and psychosocial factors in influencing risk behaviors and the likelihood of injury at work showed that safety climate also has great impact on workers’ behavior. However, the mechanisms through which this impact operates are still partially unclear.

Method

In order to explore the role that attitudinal ambivalence toward wearing PPE might play in mediating the impact of safety climate on safety norm violations, a questionnaire was administered to 345 Italian workers.

Results

Three dimensions of safety climate (i.e., company safety concern, senior managers’ safety concern, supervisors’ attitudes towards safety) were found to be positively associated with the individual ambivalence level, whereas the fourth one (i.e., work pressure) was negatively correlated with it. In turn, low levels of ambivalence were associated with a lower tendency to break the safety norms, even though the perception of a good safety climate also maintained a direct effect on unsafe behaviors.

Impact on industry

Designers of training program for the prevention of work related injuries must pay great attention to the psycho-social factors (such as the effects of the safety climate perception by employees on their attitudes and behaviors), and include specific contents into the prevention programs in order to improve workers compliance with safety norms.     

Fall from equipment injuries in U.S. mining: Identification of specific research areas for future investigation

Introduction

The objective of this study was to evaluate the circumstances leading to fall from equipment injuries in the mining industry.

Method

The 2006 and 2007 Mine Safety and Health Administration annual injury databases were utilized for this study whereby the injury narrative, nature of injury, body part injured, mine type, age at injury, and days lost were evaluated for each injury.

Results

The majority of injuries occurred at surface mining facilities (∼ 60%) with fractures and sprains/strains being the most common injuries occurring to the major joints of the body. Nearly 50% of injuries occurred during ingress/egress, predominately during egress, and approximately 25% of injuries occurred during maintenance tasks. The majority of injuries occurred in relation to large trucks, wheel loaders, dozers, and conveyors/belts. The severity of injury was independent of age and the median days lost was seven days; however, there was a large range in severity.

Impact on industry

From the data obtained in this study, several different research areas have been identified for future work, which include balance and stability control when descending ladders and equipment design for maintenance tasks.     

重大危险设备的确定及其失效后果严重度分析

采用火灾、爆炸危险指数(F&EI)方法对石化设备的危险性进行评价,根据计算设备的危险指数值来确定其是否为重大危险设备;应用模糊综合评价方法对石化装置失效后果严重程度进行综合评价研究,建立了石化装置失效后果严重程度的综合评价指标体系;采用定性与定量相结合的层次分析法计算评价因素的权重,运用模糊综合评判理论,提出失效后果严重度的二级模糊综合评价方法,实现对其失效后果严重度的综合评判。实例表明:模糊综合评价方法可操作性强、效果较好,可在石化装置失效后果严重度评价中广泛应用。     

基于危险工艺装置设置安全联锁系统的研究

针对危险工艺装置设置安全联锁系统(SIS)问题进行分析和研究,提出在装置建设和改造中,应合理设置独立的SIS,并根据生产装置的安全度等级选择合适的联锁回路,并具有一定的冗余能力,以避免由于硬件随机失效或系统故障时造成联锁功能无法执行;指出SIS在设计时应遵循独立原则、故障安全型原则、共享原则、可靠性原则等。研究结果表明:SIS可提高化工装置的本质安全度,保障生产过程的安全、稳定运行,最大限度地减少由于过程失控造成的人身伤害和设备损坏。     

关于电器产品电气安全性能在线检测及远程监管系统的研究

为解决出口电器产品电气安全问题,政府部门检验职能逐步转向对整个生产环节进行监管。通过在线检测及远程监管系统的建立,对企业综合信息、产品质量信息、外贸申报信息、政府监管信息等产业链信息进行管理和验证,实现了抽批检验、验证检验、过程检验、型式试验、质量体系监督管理、质量事故追溯等,对产品信息源的真实性、准确性实施有效监控,突破了政府部门传统检验监管发展的瓶颈,在保证监管有效性的同时降低了成本提高了效率。     

应急救援装备保障体系浅析

介绍了应急救援装备的种类,分析了我国应急救援装备的现状与发展趋势,论述了应急救援装备的作用,提出了应急救援装备保障的总体要求。     

如何加强特种设备作业人员的培训考核与管理工作

阐述了如何革新教学和管理模式,加强对特种设备作业人员培训考核与管理工作。     

双级气浮快滤法在洗衣污水处理中的应用

阐述了双级气浮快滤法处理洗衣污水的工艺流程、处理原理、调试改进过程、处理效果,为气浮法在处理铁路客运洗衣污水中应用提供了宝贵经验,具有重要推广价值.     

定型机油烟废气监测分析方法初探

定型机废气污染是当前环境投诉的热点之一,油烟污染是定型机废气的主要问题,我国尚无定型机废气监测分析的标准方法。本文参照《餐饮业油烟排放标准》（试行）（GB 18483-2001）中的方法,比较了餐饮业油烟废气和定型机油烟废气在成分、排放方式等方面的相同点和不同点,从采样方法、采样时间等对定型机油烟废气的监测分析进行了初探,确定了定型机油烟废气竣工验收参考的采样方法和时间等要素。     

The roles of garment design and scene complexity in the daytime conspicuity of high-visibility safety apparel

INTRODUCTION: This study examines the effects of high-visibility garment design on daytime pedestrian conspicuity in work zones. Factors assessed were garment color, amount of background material, pedestrian arm motion, scene complexity, and driver age. METHOD: The study was conducted in naturalistic conditions on public roads in real traffic. Drivers drove two passes on a 31-km route and indicated when they detected pedestrians outfitted in the fluorescent garments. The locations of the vehicle and the pedestrian were recorded. RESULTS: Detection distances between fluorescent yellow-green and fluorescent red-orange garments were not significantly different, nor were there any significant two-way interactions involving garment color. Pedestrians were detected at longer distances in lower complexity scenes. Arm motion significantly increased detection distances for pedestrians wearing a Class 2 vest, but had little added benefit on detection distances for pedestrians wearing a Class 2 jacket. DISCUSSION: Daytime detection distances for pedestrians wearing Class 2 or Class 3 garments are longest when the complexity of the surround is low. The more background information a driver has to search through, the longer it is likely to take the driver to locate a pedestrian--even when wearing a high-visibility garment. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: These findings will provide information to safety garment manufacturers about characteristics of high-visibility safety garments which make them effective for daytime use.