Psychological factors - 1,739 entries found
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2006
CIS 08-246
Acting on relational suffering at work - Manual for the responsible persons faced with situations of conflict, bullying and indoctrination
Agir sur les souffrances relationnelles au travail - Manuel de l'intervenant confronté aux situations de conflit, de harcèlement et d'emprise au travail [in French] Van meningsverschil tot hyperconflict - Gids voor wie beroepsmatig tussenkomt en geconfronteerd wordt met conflicten en grensoverschrijdend gedrag op het werk [in Dutch]
This guide to the prevention of relational suffering is the result of a research programme during which various methodological approaches were used. A first chapter is devoted to concepts and phenomena, as well as to the different phases during the evolution of a conflict. Next, the prevention of these problems is discussed and four main intervention methods are explained. Finally, good pluridisciplinary practices are addressed in a specific chapter.
Service public fédéral Emploi, travail et concertation sociale, rue Ernest- Blerot 1, 1070 Bruxelles, Belgium, Nov. 2006. 151p. Illus. 140 ref.
http://www.emploi.belgique.be/WorkArea/showcontent.aspx?id=5884 [in French]
http://www.werk.belgie.be/WorkArea/showcontent.aspx?id=5110 [in Dutch]
CIS 08-245
Violence, bullying and sexual harassment: organizational risk factors
Violences, harcèlement moral ou sexuel au travail: facteurs de risque organisationnels [in French] Ongewenst grensoverschrijdend gedrag op het werk: organisatorische risicofactoren [in Dutch]
Often, cases of violence, bullying or sexual harassment at work are attributed to the personality of the perpetrator, overlooking the role played by the organization, the work team and the tasks to be accomplished. This study examines the contribution of these risk factors to the incidence, development and persistence of abusive and violent behaviour at work. It involved a literature survey, interviews and questionnaire surveys.
Service public fédéral Emploi, travail et concertation sociale, rue Ernest- Blerot 1, 1070 Bruxelles, Belgium, Sep. 2006. 47p. Illus.
http://www.emploi.belgique.be/WorkArea/showcontent.aspx?id=8714 [in French]
http://www.werk.belgie.be/WorkArea/showcontent.aspx?id=8714 [in Dutch]
CIS 08-20
Hopkins A.
Studying organisational cultures and their effects on safety
The understanding of how organisational cultures influence safety requires a strategy for investigating organizational culture. By far the most widely used research strategy is the perception survey. An alternative for researchers is to immerse themselves in one or more organizations, making detailed observations about activities and drawing inferences about the nature of the organization's culture (the ethnographic method). A third technique makes use of the wealth of material that is assembled by inquiries into major accidents. This article describes how this material can be used to provide insights into organizational cultures. It draws on specific examples from previous work as well as the cultural analysis carried out by the Columbia Accident Investigation Board. It concludes with some additional suggestions for carrying out research on safety-relevant aspects of organizational culture.
Safety Science, Dec. 2006, Vol.44, No.10, p.875-889. Illus. 28 ref.
CIS 08-111
Murray M., Tilley N.
Promoting safety awareness in fishing communities through community arts: An action research project
Commercial fishing is a very dangerous industry. Traditionally safety education has focused on making fishermen aware of safety regulations and procedures. An alternative approach is to raise community awareness of safety issues and to consider both individual and collective strategies for improving safety in the industry. This article discusses of the use of drama, music and associated arts-based activities designed to promote safety awareness in three fishing communities in Newfoundland. Local residents planned and performed all of the activities. Discussions were subsequently conducted with key community leaders to clarify the process of implementing safety measures identified. The participants were very enthusiastic about the projects and keen to develop other similar activities in their communities.
Safety Science, Nov. 2006, Vol.44, No.9, p.797-808. Illus. 26 ref.
CIS 07-1497
Cherry N.M., Chen Y., McDonald J.C.
Reported incidence and precipitating factors of work-related stress and mental ill-health in the United Kingdom (1996-2001)
The objective of this study was to estimate the incidence of work-related stress and mental illness reported by occupational physicians and psychiatrists in the United Kingdom. Annual average incidence rates were calculated by sex, occupation and industry against appropriate populations at risk. For the period between 1996 and 2001, annual averages of 3624 new cases were reported by psychiatrists, and 2718 by occupational physicians. The rates were higher for men in reports based on the former and for women on the latter. Most diagnoses were of anxiety and depression or work-related stress, with post-traumatic stress accounting for around 10% of cases reported by psychiatrists. High rates of mental ill-health are observed among professional and associated workers and in those in personal and protective services. Factors (such as work overload) intrinsic to the job and issues with interpersonal relations were the most common causes overall.
Occupational Medicine, 2006, No.56, p.414-421. Illus. 15 ref.
CIS 07-1313
Beseler C.L., Stallones L.
Structural equation modeling of the relationships between pesticide poisoning, depressive symptoms and safety behaviors among Colorado farm residents
The objective of this study was to use structural equation modelling (SEM) to test the theory that a past pesticide poisoning may act as a mediator in the relationship between depression and safety practices. A cross-sectional survey of farmers and their spouses was conducted in eight counties in north-eastern Colorado. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) scale. SEM showed that poor health, financial difficulties and a history of pesticide poisoning significantly explained the depressive symptoms. Specific depressive symptoms appeared to be significantly associated with animal handling and farm machinery.
Journal of Agromedicine, 2006, Vol.11, No.3/4, p.35-46. Illus. 24 ref.
CIS 07-1466
Carruth A.K., Skarke L., Gilmore K., Brown E.R.
Potential exposure to hazardous work activities: Tractor usage among farmwomen
This study examined the involvement and work patterns of 665 women in Texas and 657 women in Louisiana who were 18 years old and older and whose family participated in farming operations. Surveys were used to gather specific data regarding tractor work patterns, tractor knowledge, sources of information about tractors and demographic information. Among the women, 577 (43.6%) reported driving tractors at least one day a year. This subset was used to describe characteristics of tractors and tractor-related activities. Findings indicate that women learn to drive tractors in their 20s, use husbands as the primary source of their information about tractors, engage in a wide variety of farm activities and acknowledge having limited knowing about driving tractors. Other findings are discussed. It is concluded that interventions that target women to become more knowledgeable regarding the injury risks associated with driving tractors need to be designed.
Journal of Agromedicine, 2006, Vol.11, No.3/4, p.25-34. 31 ref.
CIS 07-1495
Ishizaki M., Kawakami N., Honda R., Nakagawa H., Morikawa Y., Yamada Y.
Psychosocial work characteristics and sickness absence in Japanese employees
This cross-sectional study was undertaken to examine the association between sickness absence in Japanese employees and job demand/control and occupational class as psychosocial work characteristics. Data were collected by means of a questionnaire from 20,464 male and 3,617 female employees. A comparison was made between the group with more than six days of sickness absence in the preceding year and the group with 0-6 days of sickness absence. Job demands, job control, and worksite support from supervisors and colleagues were analysed by the Job Content Questionnaire and the NIOSH Generic Job Stress Questionnaire. Both low job control and low support at the worksite were associated with a high frequency of sickness absence. But there was no clear relationship between job demands and sickness absence. The lowest sickness absence rate was found in male managers and the highest in male and female labourers. Other findings are discussed.
International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, Sep. 2006, Vol.79, No.8, p.640-646. 33 ref.
CIS 07-1237
Hopkins A.
What are we to make of safe behaviour programs?
This article provides a critical look at the assumptions that underlie safe behaviour programmes and identifies some of their limitations. They often run the risk of assuming that unsafe behaviour is the only cause of accidents worth focusing on. It is argued that unsafe behaviour is often merely the last link in a causal chain and not necessarily the most effective link to focus on for the purposes of prevention. One major drawback of these programmes is that they miss critically important unsafe behaviour, such as attempts by workers to re-start processes that have been temporarily interrupted. Conventional safe behaviour programs aimed at front line workers are also of no use in preventing accidents in which the behaviour of front line workers is not involved. It is concluded that, given that it is the behaviour of management that is most critical in creating a culture of safety in any organization, behavioural safety observations are likely to have their greatest impact if directed upwards, at managers.
Safety Science, Aug. 2006, Vol.44, No.7, p.583-597. Illus. 32 ref.
CIS 07-1023
Marais K., Saleh J.H., Leveson N.G.
Archetypes for organizational safety
This article proposes an initial set of six system safety archetypes that model dynamic organizational behaviours that often lead to accidents. The archetypes help clarify why safety-related decisions do not always result in the desired behaviour, and how independent decisions in different parts of the organization can combine to have a negative, and often unforeseen, impact on safety. Examples from the NASA manned space program and general industry are used to illustrate the archetypes. As accident analysis and investigation tools, the archetypes can be used to develop dynamic models that describe the systemic and organizational factors contributing to accidents. As risk analysis tools, the archetypes can be used to improve understanding of the ways that risk can arise in complex socio-technical systems.
Safety Science, Aug. 2006, Vol.44, No.7, p.565-582. Illus. 27 ref.
CIS 07-1243
Notelaers G., Einarsen S., De Witte H., Vermunt J.K.
Measuring exposure to bullying at work: The validity and advantages of the latent class cluster approach
Although bullying is a complex phenomenon, the dominant method used in bullying surveys only distinguishes two groups: victims versus non-victims. Hence, the complex nature of workplace bullying may not be accounted for. A latent class cluster approach is suggested to model data obtained from the Negative Acts Questionnaire (NAQ) administered to 6175 employees in Belgium. In this study, six latent classes emerged: "not bullied," "limited work criticism," "limited negative encounters," "sometimes bullied," "work related bullied," and "victims." The results show that compared to the traditional operational classification method, the latent class cluster approach shows higher construct and higher predictive validity with respect to self-assessments and indicators of strain and well-being at work.
Work and Stress, Oct.-Dec. 2006, Vol.20, No.4, p.289-302. 31 ref.
CIS 07-1241
Nakata A., Ikeda T., Takahashi M., Haratani T., Hojou M., Fujioka Y., Swanson N.G., Araki S.
Impact of psychosocial job stress on non-fatal occupational injuries in small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises
This study examined the association between psychosocial job stress and occupational injuries among workers in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Subjects included 1049 men and 721 women from 244 SMEs. Perceived job stress was evaluated with the Japanese version of the generic job stress questionnaire, which covered 14 job stress variables. Occupational injury was assessed by self-report during the last one-year period. Workers with high quantitative workload (odds ratio (OR) 1.55 for men, 1.62 for women), high cognitive demands (OR 1.70 for men, 1.53 for women) and low job satisfaction (OR 1.33 for men, 1.93 for women) had a significantly increased risk of occupational injury in the multivariate model. Other findings are discussed.
American Journal of Industrial Medicine, Aug. 2006, Vol.49, p.658-669. Illus. 44 ref.
CIS 07-1247
Leroy J.F., Faulx D., Devacht I., Antonissen D.
Acting against relational suffering at work - Manual for persons having to resolve conflicts, bullying and abuse of authority at work
Agir sur les souffrances relationnelles au travail - Manuel de l'intervenant confronté aux situations de conflit, de harcèlement et d'emprise au travail [in French] Van meningsverschil tot hyperconflict - Gids voor wie beroepsmatig tussenkomt geconfronteerd wordt met conflicten en grensoverschrijdend gedrag op het werk [in Dutch]
Relational suffering at work includes extreme conflicts, bullying, sexual harassment and violence. This guide is the result of a research programme in the course of which various methodological approaches were used. The first chapter covers concepts, phenomena and the various phases in the development of a conflict. Next, the means of prevention of these problems is addressed, together with four major intervention approaches (support discussion, mediation, group interventions and coaching). A final chapter is devoted to good practices.
Service public fédéral Emploi, Travail et Concertation sociale, rue Ernest Blerot 1, 1070 Bruxelles, Belgium, 2006. 147p. Illus. Bibl.ref.
http://www.emploi.belgique.be/WorkArea/showcontent.aspx?id=5884 [in French]
http://www.werk.belgie.be/WorkArea/showcontent.aspx?id=5110 [in Dutch]
CIS 07-1020
Guarnieri F.
Human error and organizational failures: Findings from the implementation of the Tripod Delta method
Erreurs humaines et défaillances organisationnelles: résultats de la mise en œuvre de la méthode Tripod Delta [in French]
This article presents an analytical method for assessing latent organizational failures likely to impact on safety and health at the workplace. Failures are represented in the form of eleven organizational factors. By means of individual questionnaires, the method enables the assessment of the degree of command and control of each of the factors. It is based on the employees' perception of enterprise safety and health practices. The practical implementation of the method at the production site of a French tyre manufacturer is described.
Revue Technique Apave, 4th quarter 2006, No.316, p.32-34. Illus. 5 ref.
CIS 07-1232
Job pressure in the construction industry
Pression du travail dans la construction [in French]
This article presents the summary of a study on job pressure and stress in the construction industry, according to which "sustainable work" depends on four factors: occupational stress, motivation, learning possibilities and work-life balance.
Prevent Focus, Dec. 2006. p.14-16. Illus. 1 ref.
CIS 07-1019
Parker D., Lawrie M., Hudson P.
A framework for understanding the development of organisational safety culture
A framework for the development and maturation of organizational safety culture is described. The content of the framework was informed by 26 semi-structured interviews with experienced oil and gas company executives. The form of the framework is based on earlier studies of the typology of organizational cultures. The result is a set of short descriptions of each of a number of aspects of organizational safety at each of five levels of safety culture advancement. The framework was assessed for validity. Theoretical implications and possible applications of the framework are discussed.
Safety Science, July 2006, Vol.44, No.6, p.551-562. 32 ref.
CIS 07-1238
Jansen N.W.H., Kant I., van Amelsvoort L.G.P.M., Kristensen T.S., Swaen G.M.H., Nijhuis F.J.N.
Work-family conflict as a risk factor for sickness absence
The objective of this study was to assess the relationships between work-family conflict and sickness absence among 5072 men and 1015 women. Data on work-family conflicts were obtained by means of questionnaires and sickness absence from company records. High levels of work-family conflict, work-home interference and home-work interference were all associated with higher odds of sickness absenteeism, after controlling for age and long term disease. Differences in average number of days absent between cases and non-cases of work-home interference were significant for men and most pronounced in women.
Occupational and Environmental Medicine, July 2006, Vol.63, No.7, p.488-494. 39 ref.
CIS 07-1236
Bourbonnais R., Brisson C., Vinet A., Vézina M., Abdous B., Gaudet M.
Effectiveness of a participative intervention on psychosocial work factors to prevent mental health problems in a hospital setting
This article describes the evaluation of a workplace intervention aimed at reducing adverse psychosocial work factors (psychological demands, decision latitude, social support, and effort-reward imbalance) and mental health problems among care providers of a Quebec hospital. Participants were interviewed by phone before and one year after the intervention. One year after the intervention, there was a reduction of several adverse psychosocial factors in the experimental group, whereas no such reduction was found in the control group. Results suggest positive effects of the intervention. See CIS 07-1235 for details of the development and implementation phases of the study.
Occupational and Environmental Medicine, May 2006, Vol.63, No.5, p.335-342. 34 ref.
CIS 07-1235
Bourbonnais R., Brisson C., Vinet A., Vézina M., Lower A.
Development and implementation of a participative intervention to improve the psychosocial work environment and mental health in an acute care hospital
This article describes the development and implementation phases of a participative intervention aimed at reducing adverse psychosocial work factors and their mental health effects among 500 care providers in a Quebec hospital. A prior risk evaluation was performed and showed a high prevalence of adverse psychosocial factors and psychological distress among care providers compared to a reference population. Psychosocial variables at work associated with psychological distress were high psychological demands (prevalence ratio (PR)=2.27), low social support from supervisors and co-workers (PR=1.35), low reward (PR=2.92), and effort-reward imbalance (PR=2.65). Qualitative methods permitted the identification of 56 adverse conditions. It was decided to target interventions towards team work and team spirit, staffing processes, work organization, training, communication, and ergonomics. See CIS 07-1236 for an assessment of the effectiveness of the intervention.
Occupational and Environmental Medicine, May 2006, Vol.63, No.5, p.326-334. 40 ref.
CIS 07-1234
Wieclaw J., Agerbo E., Mortensen P.B., Bonde J.P.
Risk of affective and stress-related disorders among employees in human service professions
The objective of this case-control study was to examine the risk of affective and stress related disorders in human service occupations. 28,971 cases were identified among all hospitalized patients and outpatients in Denmark aged 18-65 who received a first time ever diagnosis of affective or stress-related disorder between 1995 and 1998. Each case was assigned five never-admitted referents of the same sex and age, randomly drawn from the Danish population. Health care, education, social work, and customer services were defined as human service occupations and constituted 21% of all those in the study. The relative risk of depression in human service professions was 1.35 for women and 1.49 for men. The risk of stress was 1.18 for women and 1.49 for men. Specific occupations contributed differentially to the magnitude of risk, with education and social services displaying the highest risks. No increase in risks was found in customer service occupations.
Occupational and Environmental Medicine, May 2006, Vol.63, No.5, p.314-319. 37 ref.
CIS 07-760
Op De Beeck R., Dufrasne D.
Comment on occupational accidents and safety culture
Des accidents du travail et de la culture de sécurité [in French]
An in-depth analysis of the causes of accidents attributed to human error reveals that they are mostly due to faulty technical design or to organizational weaknesses. This article discusses the importance of work organization and safety culture in avoiding accidents attributable to human error.
Prevent Focus, Nov. 2006,, No.9 p.14-17. Illus. 2 ref.
CIS 07-995
Durand E.
Psychotropic drugs and work - Opiate substitution therapies
Médicaments psychotropes et travail - Traitement de substitution aux opiacés [in French]
Third in importance after alcohol and tobacco, the consumption of psychotropic drugs in France is a problem that concerns occupational physicians faced with ethical and social issues related to the reintegration of drug addicts through employment. This literature survey focuses on opiate substitute therapies and their implications for the workplace.
Documents pour le médecin du travail, Dec. 2006, No.108, p.441-460. Illus. 75 ref.
http://www.dmt-prevention.fr/inrs-pub/inrs01.nsf/IntranetObject-accesParReference/TC%20111/$File/TC111.pdf [in French]
CIS 07-967
Nachreiner F.
Design of work systems: Does the application of ergonomic standards allow improvements in safety?
Conception des systèmes de travail: l'application des normes en ergonomie permet-elle d'améliorer la sécurité? [in French]
Following an overview of standardization work in the area of human factors, this review article discusses the problems related to applying the standards, particularly with respect to compliance testing, and describes ongoing activities to overcome these problems, including a revision of the basic standards and a possible evaluation standard. Applying standards is a first step towards integrating human factors in the design process. However, this can make designers, builders and users aware of the opportunities this approach offers for improving the design of work systems with regard to system performance and safety.
Cahiers de notes documentaires - Hygiène et sécurité du travail, Dec. 2006, No.205, p.9-14. 17 ref.
http://www.hst.fr/inrs-pub/inrs01.nsf/IntranetObject-accesParReference/ND%202256/$File/ND2256bis.pdf [in English]
http://www.hst.fr/inrs-pub/inrs01.nsf/IntranetObject-accesParReference/ND%202256/$File/ND2256.pdf [in French]
CIS 07-999
Peters G.A., Peters B.J.
Human error - Causes and control
This manual provides information on theories, methods and specific techniques for controlling human error. It explores ideas, concepts and examples from which selections or interpretations may be made to fit the needs of a particular situation. It shows how the application and extension of known generic principles could help in the prevention of consumer error, worker fault, managerial mistakes and organizational blunders and explains how to adopt good practices by identifying human error, understanding its causes and adopting plans for its prevention. See also the manual indexed under CIS 06-1496, which provides supplemental information on engineering, managerial and medical errors for use with this book.
CRC Press, Taylor and Francis Group, 6000 Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300, Boca Raton, FL 33487-2742, USA, 2006. 214p. 243 ref. Index. Price: GBP 39.99.
CIS 07-940
Gauchard G.C., Mur J.M., Touron C., Benamghar L., Dehaene D., Perrin P., Chau N.
Determinants of accident proneness: A case-control study in railway workers
A case-control study was carried out among 1305 French railway workers who had suffered an occupational injury during 1999-2000 and 1305 uninjured controls, all male. A standardized questionnaire was completed by an occupational physician in the presence of the subject. The data were analysed using logistic regression. Having more than one injury was associated with short service in the present job, younger age, sleep disorders, smoking, requesting a job change, physical disability and lack of physical activity. Safety training was negatively related to injury frequency. Short service in the present job was the only significant factor for single injuries. This study identified a number of work and individual factors that predicted occupational injury frequency and may be useful in designing preventive measures.
Occupational Medicine, May 2006, Vol.56, No.3, p.187-190. 12 ref.
CIS 07-987
Coisy P.
Preventing risks of violence in organizations that interact with the public
Prévenir le risque d'agression dans les établissements recevant du public [in French]
The increase in the frequency of violence to staff in organizations that interact with the public calls for the implementation of a system for dealing specifically with this hazard. Heads of organizations are required by law to ensure the safety of their staff. While no regulations specifically cover the risk of violence, a system should be established for dealing with this hazard in order to improve the safety and the productivity of staff. Such a system must include a hazard evaluation, the implementation of measures and training.
Revue Technique Apave, Jul.-Sep. 2006, No.315, p.30-31. Illus.
CIS 07-986
Guarnieri F.
Human failure and organizational weaknesses: What methods are available for enterprises?
Erreurs humaines et défaillances organisationnelles: quelles méthodes pour l'entreprise? [in French]
This article comments on the approaches that enterprises can use for identifying, analysing and correcting organizational weaknesses which most often are the underlying cause of major accidents. In particular, it describes an approach entitled "Tripod Delta", based on an analysis of both generic and enterprise-specific factors and using responses to an anonymous questionnaire addressed to all members of the organization. The approach has already been implemented by close to 300 large organizations worldwide.
Revue Technique Apave, Jul.-Sep. 2006, No.315, p.26-28. Illus. 13 ref.
CIS 07-970
Toulouse G., St-Arnaud L., Bourbonnais R., Damasse J., Chicoine D., Delisle A.
Study of the prevalence of musculoskeletal and psychological disorders, physical and psychosocial factors in 9-1-1 emergency call centre dispatchers
Etude de la prévalence des troubles musculo-squelettiques et psychologiques, des facteurs physiques et psychosociaux chez les préposés des centres d'urgence 9-1-1 [in French]
This study examined musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and physical and psychosocial stress among emergency call centre operators in Quebec. It was carried out in the form of a self-administered questionnaire survey addressed to the operators of five emergency call centres. 96% of the respondents declared having suffered from musculoskeletal pain in at least one body region in the previous year. Furthermore, half of the operators of these centres were found to present a high level of psychological distress. The study describes the characteristics of the work of these operators, documents the links between risk factors and MSDs and mental health symptoms and proposes several leads for preventive measures.
Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail du Québec (IRSST), 505 boul. de Maisonneuve Ouest, Montreal (Quebec) H3A 3C2, Canada, 2006. viii, 75p. Illus. 82 ref. Price: CAD 10.60. Downloadable version (PDF format) free of charge.
http://www.irsst.qc.ca/files/documents/PubIRSST/R-472.pdf [in French]
CIS 07-998
Harvey S., Courcy F., Petit A., Hudon J., Teed M., Loiselle O., Morin A.
Organizational interventions and mental health in the workplace: A synthesis of international approaches
This report summarizes knowledge relating to organizational intervention programmes and strategies to improve mental health in the workplace. Frameworks for the understanding of stress interventions at work are described and an evidence-based framework is proposed. This requires the establishment of proof as to the presence of sources of stress and a clear description of the sources, symptoms and consequences of this stress in order to design and evaluate appropriate interventions. Evidence of the effectiveness of organizational interventions is reviewed and recommendations for future research and methodology are proposed.
Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail du Québec (IRSST), 505 boul. de Maisonneuve Ouest, Montreal (Quebec) H3A 3C2, Canada, 2006. iv, 48p. Illus. 94 ref. Price: CAD 7.42. Downloadable version (PDF format) free of charge.
http://www.irsst.qc.ca/files/documents/PubIRSST/R-474.pdf [in French]
http://www.irsst.qc.ca/files/documents/PubIRSST/R-480.pdf [in English]
CIS 07-997
Stuart H.
Suicide prevention: A resource at the workplace
Workers' suicide and suicide attempts are a result of complex interactions between individual vulnerabilities (such as mental health problems) and stressful working conditions. This paper argues in favour of preventive actions that can be undertaken at the workplace against the risk of suicide among workers. Contents: general suicide facts; occupation, mental disorders and stress as risk factors; productivity and cost aspects of mental health problems; medical and social support to workers with mental health disorders; creating a workplace conducive to good mental health; helping suicidal employees.
Queen's University, 99 University Avenue, Kingston, Ontario, Canada K7L 3N6, [ca 2006]. 16p. 10 ref.
CIS 07-767
Suplido-Westergaard M.L.
Recognizing national culture as a determinant of safety subculture
Safety culture includes the sum of beliefs, attitudes, competencies and behaviours shared by a group, affecting its safety and health. Current discourse on safety culture highlights interactions between persons, jobs and organizational factors. This article discusses the role of national culture in shaping safety culture, taking the example of Filipino migrant workers in Asia.
Asian-Pacific Newsletter on Occupational Health and Safety, Mar. 2006, Vol.13, No.1, p.19-23. Illus. 13 ref.
http://www.ttl.fi/NR/rdonlyres/40A4C040-6BE7-4DFC-858C-6D16C799DA53/0/Aasian_Pacific_Newsletter_12006.pdf [in English]
CIS 07-766
Kawakami T., Ujita Y.
National occupational safety and health programmes that can support safety and health culture at the workplace
The ILO Global Strategy on Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) adopted in 2003 (see CIS 05-54) highlights the building and maintenance of a national preventive safety and health culture as a major objective. A number of programmes were promoted in response, aimed at strengthening national OSH legislation, enforcement and information dissemination. This article describes several such programmes in Asia, involving small enterprises in Mongolia, small coal mines in China, construction sites in Cambodia and work improvement through neighbourhood development (WIND) in the agricultural sector in Vietnam (see CIS 07-818).
Asian-Pacific Newsletter on Occupational Health and Safety, Mar. 2006, Vol.13, No.1, p.4-7. Illus. 2 ref.
http://www.ttl.fi/NR/rdonlyres/40A4C040-6BE7-4DFC-858C-6D16C799DA53/0/Aasian_Pacific_Newsletter_12006.pdf [in English]
CIS 07-754
Durcy M, Richard A.M.
Wearing PPE: Removing the barriers
Port d'EPI: lever les obstacles [in French]
This collection of articles discusses factors influencing the wearing of personal protective equipment (PPE) on construction sites. Forcing workers to wear PPE correctly may be counter-productive. Given the various physiological and psychological barriers, awareness campaigns may be more constructive. Other factors include the advances achieved by equipment manufacturers and occupational medicine in terms of ergonomics and comfort, as well as in controlling allergies that are sometimes encountered with this type of equipment.
Prévention BTP, Nov. 2006, No.90, p.39-50. Illus.
CIS 07-749
Schmidt K.H., Neubach B.
Main and moderating effects of self-control demands and control deficits on indicators of job strain
Haupt- und Interaktionseffekte von Selbstkontrollanforderungen und Kontrolldefiziten auf Indikatoren der Arbeitsbeanspruchung [in German]
A survey of office workers was conducted to examine the relationships between job-related demands of self-control and indicators of job strain. The extent of job satisfaction and emotional exhaustion and depersonalization was determined among 630 employees of a municipal administration department in Germany. In addition, the tendency towards making mistakes (cognitive control deficits) was determined by questionnaire. Results showed a significant increase in emotional exhaustion and depersonalization and a significant decrease in job satisfaction with increasing job-related demands for self-control. The tendency towards cognitive control deficits rose significantly with increasing job-related demands for self-control.
Zeitschrift für Arbeitswissenschaft, 2006, Vol.60, No.1, p.37-46. Illus. Bibl.ref.
CIS 07-689
Martins Arezes P., Sérgio Miguel A.
Does risk recognition affect workers' hearing protection utilisation rate?
This study was carried out on a sample of 434 industrial workers exposed to noise pressure levels greater than the action level defined in Portuguese legislation (85dB(A)). A questionnaire was developed to assess workers' risk perception of high-noise exposure and their utilization of hearing protection devices (HPD). Multivariate data analysis of several variables revealed that risk recognition in general, and self-efficacy, in particular play a significant role as a predictor of workers' behaviour with respect to the use of HPD. Results suggest that risk recognition should be considered as an essential issue in the design and implementation of any hearing conservation programme, in particular in workers' training. In industrial environments, it is very likely to find several workers sharing the same workplaces and being exposed to the same noise pressure levels, who have different perceptions of the risks they are exposed to. These different perceptions could lead to different workers' attitudes and behaviours.
International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics, Dec. 2006, Vol.36, No.12, p.1037-1043. Illus. 18 ref.
CIS 07-747
Niedhammer I., Chastang J.F., David S., Barouhiel L., Barrandon G.
Psychosocial work environment and mental health: Job-strain and effort-reward imbalance models in a context of major organizational changes
This cross-sectional study explored the association between the two job-stress models, job-strain and effort-reward imbalance, and mental health outcomes in a working population exposed to major organizational changes. It involved 680 subjects, 504 men and 176 women. Psychosocial factors at work included psychological demands, decision latitude, social support, effort, reward, and overcommitment. Mental health outcomes were depressive symptoms and psychiatric disorders. Job strain, low decision latitude, effort-reward imbalance and especially job instability were found to be associated with depressive symptoms and/or psychiatric disorders among men. Overcommitment at work was a risk factor for both men and women. Social support at work played a role in reducing depressive symptoms for women. These findings emphasize the deleterious effects of the psychosocial work environment on mental health during major organizational changes.
International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health, Apr.-June 2006, Vol.12, No.2, p.111-119. 40 ref.
CIS 07-737
Vink P., Koningsveld E.A.P., Molenbroek J.F.
Positive outcomes of participatory ergonomics in terms of greater comfort and higher productivity
This literature survey focuses on the factors that enable participatory ergonomics to improve the working environment. Evidence is found in the literature that a positive approach has benefits in terms of shareholder value, productivity and comfort. Participation of end-users and management contributes to success. It is essential to have a good inventory of the problems, a structured approach, a steering group responsible for guidance and end-user involvement in the testing of ideas and prototypes. It is hypothesized that the chance of success increases with empowerment and positive experiences of end-users. Four cases of participatory ergonomics are presented, involving an office environment, installation work, assembly work and a construction site.
Applied Ergonomics, July 2006, Vol.37, No.4, p.537-546. Illus. 33 ref.
CIS 07-742
Glasscock D.J., Rasmussen K., Carstensen O., Hansen O.N.
Psychosocial factors and safety behaviour as predictors of accidental work injuries in farming
Using multivariate logistic regression analyses, this study examined psychosocial predictors of farm injuries, while controlling for exposure-related confounders. From a randomly selected sample of farms in Denmark, 393 farmers completed weekly accident registration over 12 months; 310 of these also completed questionnaires on psychosocial factors. Results indicated that farm stressors (including perceived economic problems), stress symptoms, and safety behaviour were predictors of occupational accidents. Higher levels of stressors and stress symptoms and poor safety behaviour were all associated with an elevated risk of injury. In the case of stress symptoms, the relation with accidents occurred via an interaction with safety behaviour. The combination of high levels of stress symptoms and poor safety behaviour was associated with a particularly high accident risk.
Work and Stress, Apr.-June 2006, Vol.20, No.2, p.173-189. 60 ref.
CIS 07-745
Holman G.T., Carnahan B.J., Thomas R.E.
Using surveys to identify stressors in generalized jobs: A direct clustering method
The objective of this study was to develop a method for identifying the physiological and psychological stress factors associated with various work tasks. The resulting method consisted of a three-section survey followed by a short interview. The first two sections of the survey provide descriptive information concerning both employee demographics and the physiological burden being placed on the employees, in terms of stress exhibited on specific body parts and the severity of that stress. The third survey section and interview then focuses on identifying correlations between job task and perceived stressors. This method was tested in a fisheries operation, considered as a pilot study. It identified eight high-risk tasks. Subsequent on-site analysis quantitatively verified that each of these tasks had been correctly classified by the presented method.
International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics, July 2006, Vol.36, No.7, p.671-677. 14 ref.
CIS 07-693
Päivinen M.
Electricians' perception of work-related risks in cold climate when working in high places
Work on telecommunications and electricity transmission masts can be especially demanding in cold winter climates. This study sought to evaluate workers' perception of work-related risks in the above conditions with special reference to the use of hand tools. A questionnaire and interviews about workers' risk perception were used. A total of 170 questionnaires were sent, of which 118 were returned. Six respondents were also interviewed. It is concluded that in both the telecommunications and electricity transmission sectors, tools, ice and equipment falling from masts were the greatest perceived risks, and preventing such occurrences is the key to any improvement of safety.
International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics, July 2006, Vol.36, No.7, p.661-670. Illus. 35 ref.
CIS 07-578
Smith D.R., Wei N., Zhang Y.J., Wang R.S.
Musculoskeletal complaints and psychosocial risk factors among physicians in mainland China
The aim of this study was to investigate musculoskeletal complaints (MSC) among a cross-section of physicians in China. A total of 361 doctors were surveyed, with MSC categories focusing on the neck, shoulder, upper back and lower back regions. The 12-month MSC period-prevalence at any region was 67.5%. Complaints were most commonly reported at the lower back (43.7%), followed by the neck (42.3%), shoulder (37.8%) and upper back (29%). Female gender was associated with an increased likelihood of MSC at any region (odds ratio, OR 3.05). Working in the internal medicine department was associated with an increased likelihood of MSC at the neck (OR 1.85), shoulder (OR 2.06), upper back (OR 2.19) and any region (OR 2.85). Psychosocial risk factors were also identified as follows: too much overtime (OR 2.04-2.65), high mental pressure (OR 2.28), inadequate work support (OR 3.62) and inadequate work discussion (OR 3.07).
International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics, June 2006, Vol.36, No.6, p.599-603.13 ref.
CIS 07-744
St-Vincent M., Denis D., Imbeau D., Trudeau R.
Symptoms of stress related to the characteristics of customer service in warehouse superstores
The stress symptoms of 91 sales clerks and 28 managers in six warehouse superstores of a large chain specializing in office supplies were documented with the Karasek and Maslach questionnaires. The results show different stress symptoms in the two populations. In managers, stress appears to be a result of an overinvestment in work. Stress in sales clerks is related to customer service characteristics, which were studied through work observation, interviews and the analysis of a daily journal. It was found that the time that can be allotted to each customer service intervention is less than one minute. In more than a third of such interventions, sales clerks must serve more than one customer at a time. On average, they cannot work continuously on the same task more than 1.5 min. Sales clerks are also stressed by difficult customers. Solutions are proposed mainly to reduce interruptions that lead to mistakes, stress, degraded performance and increased workload.
International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics, Apr. 2006, Vol.36, No.4, p.313-321. Illus. 25 ref.
CIS 07-530
Laborda Coronil A., Vallés López I.
Towards a safety and health culture?
@30Hacia una cultura de la prevención? [in Spanish]
This article discusses the findings of a survey on the beliefs and behaviours of workers with respect to occupational safety and health. The survey entitled Barómetro Mutua Egara was conducted by a Spanish mutual accident insurance institution in 500 enterprises. It provides an indicator of the level of safety as perceived by workers. It was found that close to 50% of workers do not apply or only partially apply the safety rules recommended by the enterprise. To encourage workers to adopt safety measures, they should be properly informed of the risks they face and receive suitable training.
Prevención, Apr.-June 2006, No.176, p.28-40. Illus.
CIS 07-750
Workplace violence prevention - Strategies and research needs
Report of a conference on workplace violence (WPV) held in Baltimore, USA, 17-19 November 2005. Contents: scope, background, methods and objectives; barriers and gaps that impede WPV prevention and strategies to overcome them; WPV prevention programmes and strategies; research needs for WPV prevention; linking research to practice; partners and their respective roles.
Publications Dissemination, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45226-2001, USA, Sep. 2006. ix, 38p. Illus. 17 ref.
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2006-144/pdfs/2006-144.pdf [in English]
CIS 07-323
Arcury T.A., Vallejos Q.M., Marín A.J., Feldman S.R., Smith G., Quandt S.A.
Latino farmworker perceptions of the risk factors for occupational skin disease
Most farm workers in the United States are Latino. Skin diseases are a health problem to which farm workers are particularly vulnerable. Preventive actions must therefore be adapted to farm workers' understanding of such diseases, including their beliefs or knowledge of risk factors. This study used in-depth interviews with 30 Latino farm workers (6 women, 24 men) to determine beliefs and perceptions of the causes of common occupational skin diseases in this population. Results indicate that farm worker beliefs and perceptions of skin disease causation can be integrated into a general model in which perceived risk factors include sun and heat, chemicals, plants, insects, moisture, hygiene and contagion. Each of these factors is moderated by the individual's personal susceptibility. The model suggests that health education is the most important factor for reducing skin disease among farm workers.
American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 2006, Vol.49, p.434-442. Illus. 20 ref.
CIS 07-270
Smith G.S., Huang Y.H., Ho M., Chen P.Y.
The relationship between safety climate and injury rates across industries: The need to adjust for injury hazards
Based on data from 33 companies, this study assessed the association between safety climate and injury rates using three injury measures (claims per 100 employees, claims per 100,000h worked and claims per USD one million payroll) derived from workers' compensation injury claims. Linear regression models were used to test the predictability of safety climate on injury rates. Results were then controlled for differences in hazard across industries based on national industry-specific injury rates. In the unadjusted model, company level safety climate was negatively and significantly associated with injury rate. However, this association was no longer apparent when controlling for the hazardousness of the specific industry. These findings may be due to overadjustment of hazard risk, or the overwhelming effects of industry specific hazards relative to safety climate effects that could not be differentiated with the statistical power in the study.
Accident Analysis and Prevention, May 2006, Vol.38, No.3, p.556-562. Illus. 48 ref.
CIS 07-269
Huang Y.H., Ho M., Smith G.S., Chen P.Y.
Safety climate and self-reported injury: Assessing the mediating role of employee safety control
This article proposes a model to link safety climate with self-reported injury using employees' perceived control on safety. Data were collected by means of questionnaires mailed to over 4000 employees from 18 companies across the USA. Results indicate that management commitment to safety, return-to-work policies, post-injury administration and safety training are important dimensions of safety climate. In addition, the data support the suggestion that safety climate is a critical factor in predicting the occurrence of a self-reported occupational injury, and that employee safety control mediates the relationship between safety climate and occupational injury. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating organizational factors and workers' characteristics in efforts to improve organizational safety performance.
Accident Analysis and Prevention, May 2006, Vol.38, No.3, p.425-433. Illus. 58 ref.
CIS 07-492
Khan F.I., Amyotte P.R., DiMattia D.G.
HEPI: A new tool for human error probability calculation for offshore operation
Offshore operations are particularly susceptible to human error because of the complex working environment. There is a need to provide techniques of human error quantification that can be embedded in the main framework of quantitative risk assessments. This article describes a new human error probability index (HEPI) based on the SLIM (success likelihood index methodology) approach. The application of HEPI could be used to limit the opportunities for human error occurrence and mitigate the results of such errors through changes in training, design, safety systems and procedures, resulting in a more error tolerant design and operation. Its application is illustrated through a case study of an incident in the offshore sector.
Safety Science, Apr. 2006, Vol.44, No.4, p.313-334. Illus. 26 ref.
CIS 07-495
Martinussen M., Richardsen A.M.
Air traffic controller burnout: Survey responses regarding job demands, job resources, and health
There are currently many changes taking place in the aviation sector that affect the work of air traffic controllers (ATCOs), and thus it was considered important to assess work-related demands and stress responses among ATCOs. The purpose of this study was to assess the level of burnout among ATCOs compared to workers in other occupations, to examine the relationship between job demands, job resources and burnout, and to examine if burnout could predict both work and health-related outcomes. A questionnaire survey was carried out among 209 Norwegian ATCOs. The overall level of burnout was lower than among journalists and police officers, and similar to that of construction workers. This could be related to selection procedures for the profession. Burnout was related to important outcome variables such as psychosomatic complaints and attitudes toward work.
Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine, Apr. 2006, Vol.77, No.4, p.422-428. 33 ref.
CIS 07-498
Chouanière D.
Stress and psychosocial risk factors: Concepts and prevention
Stress et risques psychosociaux: concepts et prévention [in French]
The first part of this review article describes the current understanding of stress and psychosocial risk factors, in particular external violence (from persons external to the enterprise), internal violence (from persons within the enterprise) including bullying, suffering and ill-being at work. Chronic stress is the cause of adverse health effects, including cardiovascular diseases, mental health disorders and musculoskeletal diseases. The second part of the article is devoted to stress prevention measures and more broadly to the prevention of psychosocial risk factors. This needs to be undertaken within the broader context of hazard evaluation (compilation of the single document) and the definition of prevention plans.
Documents pour le médecin du travail, 2nd Quarter 2006, No.106, p.169-186. Illus. 44 ref.
http://www.dmt-prevention.fr/inrs-pub/inrs01.nsf/IntranetObject-accesParReference/TC%20108/$File/TC108.pdf [in French]
CIS 07-477
Meshkati N.
Safety and human factors considerations in control rooms of oil and gas pipeline systems: Conceptual issues and practical observations
Oil and gas pipeline systems are run by human controllers who use computer-based workstations in control rooms. This article reviews human factor elements that could contribute to the lack of controller success in preventing or mitigating pipeline accidents. These elements exist in the work environment (e.g. shift hours, shift length, circadian rhythms, fatigue, ergonomics, workplace distractions) and in the design and operation of the computer system. This article discusses the critical effects of human and organizational factors and highlights the role of their interactions with automation in the safe operation of complex, large-scale pipeline systems. A case study demonstrates the critical role of human organizational factors in the control room of an oil and gas pipeline system.
International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics, 1st quarter 2006, Vol.12, No.1, p.79-93. 49 ref.
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