Abstract
Logging entails work in remote areas with multiple hazards and consistently ranks among the most fatal occupations in the United States. Location-sharing (LS) devices that enable users to communicate geographic positions to others have been suggested as a technological approach to improving workplace safety on logging operations. This study investigated logger intent to adopt LS-based safety practices. Employing concepts from the Theory of Planned Behavior, including intent, attitude, norms, and perceived behavioral control, we surveyed Idaho loggers at three logger training programs. We evaluated their likelihood of using LS devices on logging operations and examined factors associated with LS adoption. The results showed that Idaho loggers are likely to use (a) automatic position updates for hand fallers, (b) LS devices on all ground workers and heavy equipment, and (c) LS technology for general situational awareness. Participants also recognized specific safety benefits to LS, particularly for emergency situations, such as communicating the need for help or expediting the discovery of injured coworkers. Our findings support further development of LS technology for logging safety, particularly devices and applications that facilitate injury response for isolated workers, such as hand fallers.
Highlights
Location-sharing (LS) devices enable individuals to send geographic positioning information to others
Since we evaluated occupational behaviors in which individual actions and decisions are interconnected with the actions and decisions of others, including co-workers, other employees, and supervisors, our survey measured perceived behavioral control instead of self-efficacy, with one question addressing degree of influence on whether personal location-sharing devices (PLDs) are used (“a lot”, “some”, or “none”)
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, Idaho employed an average of 1,290 loggers
Summary
Location-sharing (LS) devices enable individuals to send geographic positioning information to others. InReach devices (Garmin Ltd., Olathe, KS, USA) designed for emergency situations allow users to send text messages to members of a contact list, or to signal an alert with coordinate specifications to the GEOS International Emergency Response Coordination Center (IERCC) [1,2]. Smartphone-based RF receivers, such as Beartooth (Beartooth Radio Inc., Bozeman, MT, USA) and goTenna (goTenna, New York, NY, USA), enable two-way LS using a Bluetooth-connected smartphone as the user interface for LS and communication. 2. In your opinion, would the following types of location-sharing devices improve safety on active logging operations?. 3. In your opinion, would the following features of location-sharing devices help improve workplace safety?.
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