Good Safety Practices Research Articles

A three-dimensional printed myringotomy, tympanostomy and ventilation tube placement simulator.

Tympanostomy is one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures in otolaryngology, and its complexity is challenging for trainee surgeons. Investing in medical education is a cornerstone of good patient safety practices. For trainees, use of simulators before operating on actual patients helps mitigate risks. This study aimed to develop a three-dimensional printed model simulator for myringotomy, tympanostomy and ventilation tube placement. An articulated model with a detachable portion, base and plastic bag to simulate the external auditory canal, middle ear and tympanic membrane, respectively, was modelled and printed. The final simulator was made from acrylonitrile butadiene styrene polymer and measured 4 × 4 × 12 cm. It was designed to mimic the angulation of patient anatomy in the myringotomy position and simulate the texture and colour of the tissues of interest. The cost was low, and testing with an operating microscope and endoscope yielded satisfactory results. The advent of three-dimensional printing technology has made surgical simulation more accessible and less expensive, providing several advantages for medical education. The proposed model fulfilled expectations as a safe, inexpensive, reproducible, user-friendly and accessible surgical education tool that can be improved and reassessed for further research.

Knowledge and awareness of food safety among middle school students in Tripoli, Libya

Introduction: To protect public health in society, it is imperative to promote good food safety practices by raising awareness and knowledge, especially among school students. This study aimed to assess the food safety knowledge and practices among middle school students in Tripoli, Libya.
 Methods: The study was conducted through a questionnaire to find out the level of food safety knowledge and practices among randomly selected students from several municipalities in Tripoli city, Libya, from May to November 2019. Approval from the director of the Basic Education Administration was taken. Data were analyzed to determine the association of demographics and the level of knowledge and practices, the correlation between knowledge and practice scores. The data analysis was performed by SPSS. A Chi-square test was used to find out the association. A p<0.05 was considered statistically significant.
 Results: There was a total of 591 students surveyed. A good level of food safety knowledge was found in 325(55%) and the level of food safety practices was high in 558(94.4%). Only 102(17.3%) of the students always washed their hands before eating in school. There was a significant association (p<0.05) between gender and municipality with the knowledge scores.
 conclusion: The level of food safety practices was high but only half of the middle school students surveyed had a good level of knowledge.

Assessing the effectiveness of an occupational health and safety system in a selected automotive assembly organisation in South Africa

Background: It has been established that high levels of safety performance are achieved by strong and positive safety climates. Good safety, health and environmental practices reduce the cost of overall healthcare delivery while increasing general productivity. These sentiments underpin the concept of an occupational health and safety (OHS) system. Aim: This study assesses the effectiveness of an OHS in a selected automotive assembly organisation in South Africa. Settings: The automotive organisation that participated in the study has adopted an OHS system. Prior to its implementation, the company experienced an increase in the rate of occupational diseases and injuries. Methods: The study objectives were achieved by examining Health and Safety (H&S) related experiences in the company. The collection of data was carried out in two phases, namely the collection of pre-OHS and post-OHS results from company records for H&S compliance, occupational diseases, as well as workplace injury rates. The pre-OHS results were quarterly data reflecting the company’s H&S performance over the 3-year period prior to the implementation of the OHS system. This company operates in the eThekwini District Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal. Results: The OHS system has no influence on occupational diseases, or on the workplace injury frequency rates. However, H&S compliance plays a role in the maintenance of the OHS system. Conclusion: In order to maximise performance, a comprehensive OHS policy must be developed that aligns management commitment to the OHS system. Thus, the study uncovered the strengths and weaknesses of OHS in this automotive assembly organisation in South Africa.

Safety practices in the Chemistry Laboratories of higher secondary schools of Samtse District: A case Study in Bhutan

Teaching and learning of chemistry involves scientific tests and experiments that take place in laboratories. It involves using hazardous chemicals and equipment posing risks and health hazards to the users. Hence, the users should be thoroughly versed with laboratory safety practices. Therefore, an attempt to understand the safety practices in chemistry laboratories in schools have been examined in this study. The data were collected administering a mixed method. Both descriptive and inferential statistical tools were used to analyse quantitative data while qualitative data were analysed thematically. Congruency of the eight predetermined themes was established by triangulating the quantitative and qualitative data using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 21. The results indicated that the schools had good safety practices with adequate laboratory facilities and safety skills. The schools were also aware of emergency planning and chemical storage and labeling. However, schools lacked properly trained safety practitioners. It was also observed that chemicals and waste materials were disposed of without treatment. Further, it was also observed that there were shortages of safety gloves and goggles fume hood and pipette fillers. The study recommends school administrators, chemistry teachers, and laboratory assistants to procure unavailable items required for the safe conduct of chemistry laboratory activities. The study further recommends the Ministry of Education (MoE) to provide training to chemistry teachers and laboratory assistants on the safe handling of hazardous materials and on first aid techniques to address accidents

Stakeholders’ Compliance with Existing Construction Health and Safety Related Laws and Regulations in Ghana

This paper explored stakeholders’ compliance with existing laws and regulations related to construction health and safety (CHS) in the Ghanaian construction industry (GCI). Qualitative research approach was adopted for the data collection, using semi-structured interview guide. An in-depth face-to-face interview based on the grounded theory approach was conducted with actors who play important roles in ensuring health and safety at the construction site as well as key officers and professionals who are the major stakeholders in the GCI. Content analysis was adopted for the analysis of the qualitative data. The findings of the study show customary laws, bye laws, Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651), Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936) and the contract document as the key existing CHS related laws and regulations that the stakeholders comply with. The stakeholders also identified the following construction health and safety related regulations in the GCI which have low compliance rate: Factories, Shops and Offices Act, 1974 (Act 323), Environmental Protection Act, 1994 (Act 490), among others. The findings of the research contribute to knowledge of stakeholders’ compliance with existing laws and regulations related to CHS, and underscore the need to ensure monitoring and enforce compliance in the GCI. The findings further identify areas for stakeholders to focus attention on ensuring good health and safety practices, and also expose critical training and education needs for stakeholders in the GCI. The findings provide valuable insights on stakeholders’ compliance with laws and regulations related to CHS in Ghana, which may be applicable to other developing countries with similar construction industry.

Safety Practice and Associated Factors Among Waste Handlers in Governmental Hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Health facilities generate different types of wastes characterized as hazardous wastes and most of them are infectious, toxic, harmful and carcinogenic. Medical Waste handlers faced massive exposure to hazardous wastes and occupational accidents as a result of manual handling of waste and working under unfavorable conditions. This indicates that waste handlers are often at high risk of occupational injuries. In Ethiopia there are limited studies and updated information concerning this issues. To fill the gap this study was intended to assess safety practices and associated factors among selected public hospital waste handler in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2019. An institutional based cross- sectional study design was used to conduct the study. All waste handlers of selected public hospitals in Addis Ababa were included in the study. The data was collected via interview using structured questionnaire. Bivariate and multi variable logistic regressions were employed to identify the predictor variables. Statistical significance was considered at P <0.05 with adjusted odds ratio calculated at 95%CI. The prevalence of current safety practice among public hospital waste handlers was found to be 44.1% (95%CI; 37.3-51.0). Respondents with good knowledge (AOR=4.7; 95%CI: 1.9, 11.5), having good supplies (AOR=6.78; 95%CI: 2.2, 20.7) had higher odds of adherence to safety practices compared to their counterparts. The study shows that the prevalence of safety practice is low. Knowledge of waste handles on safety measures and availability & accessibility of safety materials is the determinant factors for safety practice while handling waste. To sustain good safety practice adequate per-service and in-service training should be in place to increase their knowledge and practice about safety precautions and similarly providing enough safety materials is recommended to strength adherence to safety practice among hospital waste handlers.

Perfil do biomédico esteta e a segurança do paciente em procedimentos estéticos: uma revisão integrativa

Objetivo: Descrever por meio de uma revisão integrativa o perfil do Biomédico Esteta e a segurança do paciente em procedimentos estéticos. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo de revisão integrativa sobre o papel do Biomédico Esteta e a segurança do paciente em procedimentos estéticos. O estudo foi realizado a partir da busca por artigos disponibilizados pelas plataformas: Pubmed, SCIELO e Portal Capes, a pesquisa priorizou textos em português e inglês e documentos das resoluções do Conselho Regional e Federal de Biomedicina. Após a seleção dos critérios de inclusão e exclusão, 7 artigos foram selecionados para análise íntegra. Resultados: Foi possível observar que relação entre os procedimentos aderidos às boas práticas de segurança do paciente e o conhecimento das técnicas pelos biomédicos, proporcionam um resultado seguro nos tratamentos estéticos e, embora ainda não existam protocolos específicos segundo a OMS para os procedimentos estéticos, nota-se que o risco de complicações e intercorrências durante ou após os procedimentos são baixos desde que haja o acompanhamento correto. Considerações finais: Diante disso, foi possível estabelecer anotável a necessidade pela contribuição com a segurança do paciente e os cuidados paliativos acercados procedimentos estéticos de modo a possibilitar uma boa resposta terapêutica.

Microbiological safety and physicochemical composition of Bongo, a traditional fermented milk product from Lyantonde district, Uganda

Traditional fermented dairy products, including Bongo, are an important emerging market owing to their nutritional benefits and probiotic potential. Production of Bongo is unstandardized, unregulated and may raise public safety concerns. Microbial counts and physicochemical parameters (n = 30 Bongo samples), production protocol, and hygiene practices of processors (n = 15) were evaluated. Over 93.3% of the products were contaminated with potentially pathogenic microbes including Enterobacteriaceae, coliforms, Sulphur reducing clostridia, Enterococcus spp. and Staphylococcus spp. About 40% of the samples had pH ≥ 4.0. Most processors had inadequate hygiene practices which compromised product safety. These results indicate the need for developing product specifications, training processors in good food safety practices and enforcing relevant regulations.

Food safety knowledge, attitudes and self-reported practices among food handlers in Sohag Governorate, Egypt.

Foodborne diseases are of public health importance worldwide. Most of the factors related to their occurrence are the responsibility of food handlers. This study aimed to determine the knowledge, attitudes and self-reported practices of food handlers in Sohag Governorate about food safety and the factors affecting their knowledge, attitudes and practices. A cross-sectional study was done from May 2016 to March 2017 with food handlers working in cafeterias, restaurants, food establishments and roadside food stands from four randomly selected districts in Sohag Governorate. A questionnaire was used to collect data on their sociodemographic characteristics - age, sex, residence (urban, rural), education (illiterate, primary, preparatory, secondary, university) and job (cook, assistant) - and food safety knowledge, attitudes and practices. Of the 994 food handlers included in the study, 39.2% had good knowledge of food safety, 61.2% had positive attitudes and 56.3% reported good food safety practices. In univariate logistic regression, most of the variables were significantly associated with participants' knowledge. Only residence and education were significantly associated with positive attitudes. None of the variables was significantly associated with participants' practices. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, age, male sex, urban residence, higher education and working as a cook were strongly associated with good knowledge. Residence and education significantly influenced positive attitudes. Food handlers in our sample had poor knowledge of food safety and inadequate compliance with food safety practices. Educational and training programmes should be implemented to improve their knowledge, attitudes and practices.

Evidence of Households' Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Performance Improvement Following a WASH Education Program in Rural Dembiya, Northwest Ethiopia.

Background:Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) promotion is a viable solution to prevent enteric infections. It focuses on hygiene education, where a number of theoretical models have emerged which attempt to guide behavior change interventions. This study was, therefore, conducted to evaluate the effectiveness WASH education program on households’ WASH performance in rural Dembiya, northwest Ethiopia.Method:An uncontrolled before-and-after intervention study was conducted. Baseline and endline surveys were done among 225 and 302 randomly selected households with under-5 children, respectively, using a structured questionnaire and observational checklists. Percent point change was used to see the effect of the intervention. Pearson χ2 and Fisher exact tests were used to test for statistically significant percentage point changes on the basis of P < .05.Result:Access to adequate sanitation was significantly improved from 43.1% at the baseline to 50.7% at the endline (P < .05). Access to protected water sources was high at the baseline (73.8%) and remained high (81.1%) at the endline (P < .05). Significant proportion of households (58.3%) practiced good drinking water handling at the endline compared with the baseline (6.7%) (P < .001). Practice of home-based water treatment was improved at the endline (47%) compared with the baseline (7.6%) (P < .001). The general hygienic condition of children was significantly improved at the end of the intervention compared with the conditions before the intervention (P < .05). At the end of the intervention, mothers’ hand washing practice was improved to 68.2% from 24.4% at the baseline (P < .001). Moreover, 52.4% and 69.5% of the households at the baseline and endline, respectively, had good food safety practice (P < .05).Conclusion:The proportion of households who practiced water safety, basic sanitation, good personal hygiene, and basic food safety measures significantly increased at the endline. This significant increment clearly showed that our WASH interventions were effective to improve households’ WASH performance in rural Dembiya. The local health office need, therefore, strengthens the WASH education program.

The potential role of sensors in equine melanoma prevention

SummaryIt is common knowledge that avoiding excessive ultraviolet light exposure is key to good sun safety practices in humans and horses. Photoprotection and avoiding excessive ultraviolet light exposure can reduce the risk of actinic damage, skin cancers and premature ageing. Accurate, cheap and self‐contained ultraviolet light sensor devices can measure parameters such as light intensity that in turn can be used to quantify the potential of light to cause harm. Knowledge of local light intensity is important because it can actively guide good sun safety practices. Other devices, called melanometers, can measure an individual’s skin sensitivity to ultraviolet light, quantify their tendency to sunburn and determine the degree of photoprotection required by that individual whilst outdoors. This article highlights the potential of the aforementioned devices and good sun safety practices to reduce the incidence and burden of skin cancers caused by excessive sunlight exposure in horses and other companion animals.

Ergonomics in Mining: Participatory Approach in Indonesian Tin Mining

This paper presents the investigation of the acceptability and suitability of Participatory Ergonomics (PE) interventions within tin mining companies. The study was conducted by scenario-based-design (SBD) method and questionnaire with participants from small medium enterprises (SMEs) tin companies. Five companies and fifteen participants were involved in this study. The acceptance of participatory ergonomics through SBD study revealed positive in Indonesian tin mining companies The study shows that support from occupational safety and health (OSH) authorities are needed in order to strengthen workers’ knowledge in ergonomics and good safety practices and to allow them to implement ergonomics through training and the participatory approach. The results of this study may contribute towards the implementation of PE. As a consequence of improved implementation, tin mining accidents may be reduced.

The Influence of Safety Practices on Construction Labour Productivity

The objective of this study was to identify the most influencing safety practices on construction labour productivity. One hundred and forty four peoples from contractor, client and consultant companies in the construction industry are the respondents of the questionnaire survey. Thirty one safety practices have been selected from various sources as the questionnaire item. The average index method, Kruskal Wallis test, and factor analysis technique were used to make an analysis and get a result. The result showed that the using of basic personal protective equipment (PPE) and the existence of safe guard device are the most influencing safety practices on labour productivity. The contractor result is the highest score compare with the client and consultant. From factor analysis technique, it is obtain five safety practices groups base on their similarities. This study revealed that the implementation of good and appropriate safety practices can give a positive influence to the labour productivity base on middle management staff opinions.

Influence of Burnout on Patient Safety: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background and Objectives: Several factors can compromise patient safety, such as ineffective teamwork, failed organizational processes, and the physical and psychological overload of health professionals. Studies about associations between burn out and patient safety have shown different outcomes. Objective: To analyze the relationship between burnout and patient safety. Materials and Methods: A systematic review with a meta-analysis performed using PubMed and Web of Science databases during January 2018. Two searches were conducted with the following descriptors: (i) patient safety AND burnout professional safety AND organizational culture, and (ii) patient safety AND burnout professional safety AND safety management. Results: Twenty-one studies were analyzed, most of them demonstrating an association between the existence of burnout and the worsening of patient safety. High levels of burnout is more common among physicians and nurses, and it is associated with external factors such as: high workload, long journeys, and ineffective interpersonal relationships. Good patient safety practices are influenced by organized workflows that generate autonomy for health professionals. Through meta-analysis, we found a relationship between the development of burnout and patient safety actions with a probability of superiority of 66.4%. Conclusion: There is a relationship between high levels of burnout and worsening patient safety.

Report Recounts the Missed Signals Leading to a Blowout That Killed Five

The missed signals leading up to a blowout with the most fatalities since Macondo resembles that offshore disaster. The investigations by the US Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) of the blowout on the Pryor Trust 1-H 9 well and Macondo concluded that both were the result of a failure to maintain the barriers needed to prevent an influx of gas into a well. In both cases, the board found a series of missed signals, misleading tests, and miscalculations that allowed gas to build up in a well unnoticed, leading to a blow-out that could not be stopped by a blowout preventer (BOP). Workers died in both cases—11 at Macondo and five at Pryor Trust. An obvious difference is in the level of notoriety. Macondo is still remembered for the destruction of the Deepwater Horizon and an offshore oil spill that lasted for months. The Pryor Trust well was an onshore gas well in rural Oklahoma where a blowout destroyed a rig in the morning and the fire was put out that afternoon. There was little media coverage. The environmental impact was minimal, and the companies involved, Patterson-UTI Drilling and Red Mountain Energy, are not well known. Still, it provided a stark warning of the risks associated with some widely use drilling practices. “Our investigation found significant lapses in good safety practices at this site. For over 14 hours, there was a dangerous condition building at this well,” said Kristen Kulinowski, interim executive at the CSB, a federal agency that investigates major accidents, in a statement on the report. “When the blowout mud and gas ignited, it created a massive fire on the rig floor. All five of the workers inside the driller’s cabin were effectively trapped because fire blocked the driller’s cabin’s two exit doors,” said Lauren Grim, a CSB investigator who noted there is no guidance to ensure that an emergency evacuation option is present. “The investigation revealed that there are no regulations specifically developed for onshore oil and gas well drilling,” the statement said. It explained that while the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) does monitor oil and gas operations under a clause that “protects workers from serious and recognized work-place hazards,” onshore exploration and production (E&amp;P) is exempt from the OSHA process safety management standard. Offshore oil and gas process safety is regulated by the US Bureau of Safety, Environment, and Enforcement. The report said onshore E&amp;P operations should be subject to OSHA’s process safety standard to “addresses the hazards unique to the onshore drilling industry.” The CSB asked the American Petroleum Institute (API) to provide recommendations to fill these gaps.

Addressing county lines: praxis for community safety practitioners

PurposeCounty lines involving the exploitation of vulnerable children and young people by gangs have been described as a bigger threat than the exploitation exposed by the Rotherham scandal (The Times, 27 November 2017). The purpose of this paper is to explain the contingencies and drivers informing gang identities in the irregular economy of drugs and make some suggestions to address these.Design/methodology/approachThe paper discusses the social reality (ontology) of UK gangs in the UK and the different theories of knowledge about gangs (epistemologies) that can both help and hamper gangs’ policy and practices. The paper is based on recent research and sets out strategic ideas for good community safety practice in order to develop multi-modal partnership interventions in gang-affected neighbourhoods. Recent policies are located within the broader political economy of crime, which raises questions of current policy direction to achieve safer neighbourhoods.FindingsA critical realist approach to gangs (Pitts, 2016) assumes that unobservable structures (patterns of relations and roles) cause observable events (gang behaviour). This suggests a reality of gangs independent of theories about them. In this paradigm, the author’s theories about the world are historically, socially and culturally situated and always partial. Not only do gangs change in space and time, but also so do the author’s representations of them.Research limitations/implicationsArguably, at this moment, the authors’ best ideas about the underlying causal forces which precipitate gangs involve social structures which have push and pull factors acting in conjunction with culturally enmeshed individuals with limited choices. The pushes of social exclusionary factors such as institutional racism and unemployment act in consort with pull factors of excessive consumerism. However, the author’s ideas about gangs are partial and fallible, and this demands a methodological pluralism that involves a range of stakeholders when researching and formulating appropriate interventions.Practical implicationsTo address the impact of gang violence at the micro or neighbourhood level, Andell and Pitts (2009, 2013, 2017) developed an interactive model of action research which is inclusive of the experiences and knowledge of stakeholders. This knowledge can be valuable not only to build multi-modal strategies in gang-affected neighbourhoods, but can also be useful as a reflexive spur to provide feedback and direction on what works to reduce community harms. Earlier research experience (Andell and Pitts 2009, 2013, 2017) informs ideas that that single agency or “siloed” approaches to problems associated with gangs and drug markets can cause confusion and mistrust for other stakeholders and that more integrated approaches are needed.Social implicationsIn order to assist young people to attain their potential with the assistance of institutions, both micro and macro changes need to take place. The social capital of community networks needs to be enhanced and the redistributive potential of economic policy needs to be enacted. Therefore, policy is needed which is founded on the belief that research is capable of understanding the mechanisms that produce material and cultural domination, and this analysis, in conjunction with stakeholder knowledge, could lead to a realistic program for collective actions in both the micro and macro spheres that reduce relative deprivation and curb the cultural mores for excess.Originality/valueThe paper suggests a critical realist approach to gangs (Pitts, 2016) and assumes that unobservable structures (patterns of relations and roles) cause observable events (gang behaviour). This imputes a reality of gangs independent of theories about them. In this paradigm, the author’s theories about the world are historical, socially and culturally situated and always partial. Not only do gangs change in space and time, but also so do the author’s representations of them.

Practice of safety measures among inter-city commercial vehicle drivers in Kwara State, Nigeria.

SummaryIntroductionThe incidence of Road Traffic Crashes (RTC) is rising world-wide, with 1.24 million people killed on the world’s roads in 2010 due to non-compliance with safety measures. The objectives of the study was to determine the practice of safety measures and prevalence of road crashes among inter-city commercial vehicle drivers in Kwara State, Nigeria.MethodsA descriptive cross-sectional study done by interviewer-administered questionnaire and blood alcohol concentration of respondents was determined using Breathalyzers. A total of 410 respondents were involved by multi-stage sampling technique; data analysis was done using EPI INFO version 3.5.1 software package. Level of significance was < 0.05 at 95% confidence level.ResultsMore than eighty per cent of the respondents practiced safety measures and checked their vehicles before embarking on a journey. More respondents who practiced safety measures carried out driving test before issuance of license compared with those who did not (p = 0.001). Some respondents tested positive for alcohol with mean blood alcohol concentration of 23.28 ± 23.32 µg/dl. About a third of the respondents had road traffic crashes in the past.ConclusionsThe drivers demonstrated good safety measures and practices before embarking on a journey. Safety practices were influenced by driving test before issuance of license. Sensitization and orientation of drivers on relevance of driving test before issuance of driving license should be promoted by all stakeholders in road safety. The enforcement of laws by government is critical to addressing challenges of road safety and security by ensuring appropriate driving test before licensing.

Food Safety Practice and Its Associated Factors among Mothers in Debarq Town, Northwest Ethiopia: Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

Background Food safety practice is an important Public Health issue to prevent or control food-borne illnesses. Evidence shows that 10 to 20% of food-borne diseases outbreaks are because of contamination by food handlers in restaurants, butcher shops, markets, etc. However, the food safety practice and associated factors among mothers who are the food handlers at their homes are not well studied and understood. This study aimed to assess food safety practice and associated factors among mothers in Debarq town. Methods A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted during March and April, 2018. Four hundred and twenty-three study participants were included using simple random sampling techniques. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Multivariable binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with food safety practice based on AOR with 95% CI and p < 0.05. Results About 210 (49.6%) of study participants had good food safety practice. Food safety practice of mothers was significantly associated with their educational status; secondary educational status adjusted odds ratio, AOR 3.09, 95% confidence interval, CI: 1.54, 6.20; College and University education AOR 2.95, 95% CI: 1.22, 7.12; food safety knowledge AOR 2.49, 95% CI: 1.41, 4.40; and attitude towards food safety AOR 3.67, 95% CI: 2.27, 5.94. Conclusion Half of the study subjects had a good level of self-reported food safety practice and the other half had a poor level. Educational status, food safety knowledge, and attitude towards food safety were the identified factors associated with food safety practice. Improving the knowledge and educational status of the mothers is important to enhance their food safety practices.

Barriers and Strategies for Better Safety Practices: The Case of Construction SMEs in Malaysia

Despite the various efforts that have been made by the government and construction authorities to strengthen safety practices among SMEs in Malaysia, the construction SMEs are still unable to demonstrate good safety practices. As part of a wider intervention study to improve the safety practices of the SMEs, this study has taken the first step in identifying the barriers and strategies to improve the safety practices at construction sites in Malaysia. The study has been conducted using various approaches (workshops, site observation and questionnaire survey) that have enabled the triangulation of information. The findings highlighted that the main barriers to good safety practices are the implementation costs, poor safety culture and lack of safety commitment from the client. The proposed solutions include introducing safety as one of the construction KPIs, creating more safety-conscious culture and establishing a funding mechanism to support the cost of safety training. Subsequently, several recommendations have been provided by collating inputs based on the barriers, strategies and drivers through three-party collaboration (authorities, industry and academia) in creating a collaborative movement towards enhancing safety practices among the SMEs. The fresh insights from this study would enable authorities and SMEs to be more proactive, rather than reactive in improving safety practices in the construction industry.

Food safety knowledge, attitudes and practices of food handlers in restaurants in Kuwait

This study was conducted to evaluate the level of food safety knowledge, attitudes and practices among 402 food handlers in Kuwait restaurants. The information was collected through face to face interviews and questionnaires comprising four sections: demographic characteristics, knowledge, attitudes and practices. The results show that the majority of food handlers had sufficient knowledge 53.59 ± 16.68 (70%) showing very good knowledge particularly about personal hygiene (93%). Areas of concern were lack of knowledge about cross-contamination and sanitation (68%), time and temperature control for food (63%), and food pathogens (51%). For attitudes, results show that respondents had excellent positive attitudes with a mean score of 69.12 ± 9.97 (94%). Food handlers generally show very good practices 27.6 ± 7.03 (82%) particularly in personal hygiene. However, a few areas of poor practice include cross-contamination as well as time and temperature control. A significant positive correlation was observed between knowledge with practices (rs = 0.536, P < 0.05), knowledge with attitudes (rs = 0.407, P < 0.05), practices with attitudes (rs = 0.317, P < 0.05) and knowledge with training (rs = 0.59, P < 0.05), attitudes with training (rs = 0.314, P < 0.05) and practices with training (rs = 0.30 , P < 0.05 ). The study suggest that even though the knowledge, attitude and practice level of food handlers was satisfactory, some aspects related to crosscontamination, food pathogens and time and temperature control need to be stressed. Continuous food safety training for food handlers in Kuwait should become mandatory to strengthen food handlers in the areas which seem to be lacking. Training should not only focus on theoretical aspects of knowledge, but also be practical and foster positive attitudes towards food safety and promote good food safety practices.