Safe Working Environment Research Articles

Trajectory analysis of the work and life experience of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal qualitative study

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has posed a global health threat and has had a profoundly negative impact on the work and lives of healthcare workers. However, few people know how their experiences have evolved over time.AimsTo describe healthcare workers’ experiences during clinical responses to COVID-19 and how they changed over time.DesignA longitudinal qualitative study.MethodsWe undertook a series of four semi-structured qualitative interviews of 14 healthcare workers called as 1st responders to the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants were recruited through purposive snowball sampling. Interviews were undertaken between May 2020 and May 2022 and trajectory approach was used to reveal individual experiences over time. This paper follows the COREQ (Consolidated criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research) guidance.ResultsData analysis yielded the following four themes: (1) Changes in emotions; (2) Changes in organization and management of care; (3) Changes in knowledge and capabilities; and (4) Changes in outlook on life and career.ConclusionHealthcare workers have become stronger in the pandemic and have demonstrated a high degree of professional loyalty and responsibility. However, there is a need to focus on the issue of jealousy and create a harmonious and safe work environment to reduce harm to healthcare workers. Additionally, human resource management strategies must support well-being of healthcare workers and maximize the efficiency of human resource utilization to enable them to respond to current and future needs and emergencies.

Teachers' Lived Experiences of Workplace Violence and Harassment Committed by Learners from Selected High Schools in Limpopo Province, South Africa.

Despite several studies on learner-to-teacher workplace violence and harassment, the problem persists in some South African schools. Learner-to-teacher violence and harassment is a form of workplace violence and harassment, as schools are workplaces for teachers. Learner-to-teacher violence and harassment is therefore an important occupational health and safety issue for teachers. Employers are obliged to provide a safe working environment for teachers to enable quality teaching and learning in schools. The purpose of this interpretative phenomenological study was to explore and describe the lived experiences of high school teachers who have been targets of workplace violence and harassment perpetrated by learners at selected schools in Limpopo Province of South Africa. Many teachers were willing to share their lived experiences but, due to data saturation, only eleven participated after being selected through purposive sampling from seven high schools under a chosen sub-district. The research ethics of voluntary participation, informed consent, ethical clearance, and gatekeeper permission were observed. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews using an interview guide. The interviews were audio-taped, and field notes were also taken. Voice recordings were transcribed verbatim and analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis into themes and sub-themes. The findings were confirmed by an independent coder to achieve trustworthiness. Teachers experienced physical workplace violence and harassment, verbal workplace violence and harassment, and nonverbal workplace violence and harassment from learners. Learner-to-teacher workplace violence and harassment affects teachers emotionally, and in turn, affects the quality of teaching and learning in schools. Some teachers propose the involvement of a community policing forum, the strengthening of schools' governing bodies, and reducing overcrowding in classrooms as possible solutions to deal with learner-to-teacher workplace violence and harassment.

Infection Control in Dentistry: An Evaluation

The dental environment is associated with significant amount of risk for exposure to various micro- organisms. Infection control is one of the prime elements of a successful dental practice. There are many infectious diseases that can be transmitted in a dental environment. New diseases with serious consequences and a high rate of transmission have evolved in the recent past. Infection control is directed at prevention to exposure of such infections and also to prevent it being transferred from person to person. Purpose: The goal of an infection control program is to provide a safe working environment for dental health care personnel and their patients. Practitioners can achieve this by adopting measures that reduce health care-associated infections among patients and occupational exposures among dental health care personnel. It is crucial for all dental practitioners to be up to date on current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, equipment, and techniques for proper infection control. Continuous evaluation of infection control practices is important. Patients and dental providers should be confident that oral health care can be delivered and received in a safe manner. Summary: Most steps in infection control routine are directed at prevention of contact with infectious agent. Personal protection barriers are of great significance in this process. Various methods like sterilization, decontamination and disinfection are indispensable. The WHO and CDC have issued certain guidelines regarding prevention and dealing with certain infective conditions. Dentists need to update themselves about these guidelines, to be able to administer these policies effectively. Use of disposable items may be expensive but is an effective and simple means of infection control. More and more disposable items are being inducted into dental practices especially critical items like needles, syringe etc. With careful evaluation and analysis, infection control routine can be employed in daily practice with the resources available. Constant monitoring and evaluation of infection control routines is required for good effectiveness.

Working environment of health care professionals - focus on occupational stress.

Healthcare professionals most often encounter occupational stress. The aim of the study was to investigate the working environment of health care professionals with the focus on expression of occupational stress, and oversee the possibilities of stress management and prevention. 326 representatives from five different healthcare institutions were surveyed in Siauliai city, Lithuania. The validated questionnaires HSE Management Standards Indicator Tool and the SF-36 questionnaire were used. The study revealed that the most important organizational factors were lack of communication, inappropriate relations with authorities and colleagues, big workload and long working hours, quick decision-making, and manifestations of mobbing. Financial support was reported as one of the main motivators in stress management. The most frequent individual factors were emotional relations with patients and their relatives. The healthcare professionals who experienced stress at work more often felt aches that disturbed their work routine, and their health interfered more their ordinary social activities. The main stress prevention measures are involvement of employees in decision-making, annual interviews with authorities, education, assurance of a safe work environment, and elimination of manifestations of mobbing. More attention must be paid to occupational stress management. It appeared that there is a lack of knowledge by institutions about the models of occupational stress management and internal stress management policy of organization. Therefore, this stimulates the search for measures that could help to change the situation.

Diffusion Characteristics of Airflow and CO in the Dead-End Tunnel with Different Ventilation Parameters after Tunneling Blasting.

After tunnel blasting, a large amount of CO will be produced and accumulated in the dead-end tunnel. If the ventilation discharge is not proper and the entry time into the dead-end tunnel is not appropriate, then it can cause workers to suffer from poisoning, hypoxia, and suffocation. Therefore, to understand the airflow and diffusion characteristics of CO in the dead-end tunnel after excavation and improve the working environment quality of the heading excavation tunnel, this paper uses numerical simulation and on-site verification to study the influence of different ventilation parameters on the airflow and CO diffusion characteristics in the dead-end tunnel after excavation and blasting. The research results show that the higher the air velocity of the duct, the smaller the distance between the duct and the working face, and the higher the hanging height of the duct, the easier it is for CO to be discharged from the dead-end tunnel. The larger the distance between the duct and the side wall, the more vortices there are in the dead-end tunnel and the more difficult it is to discharge CO from the tunnel. This study provides theoretical guidance for the research of the migration law of CO after tunnel blasting and has important value for ensuring a safe working environment and clean production in tunnel excavation.

Usulan Perbaikan Manajemen Risiko Untuk Penerapan Program K3

Risk management in the Occupational Health and Safety (K3) program provides a safe working environment essential to protecting employees. To improve the effectiveness of K3 risk management, the study proposes improvements using Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment methods. (HIRA). The study aims to identify potential hazards and evaluate the risks associated with hot work in the work environment. Using the Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (HIRA) approach, risks can be identified more effectively and enable companies to take appropriate action to improve the effectiveness of risk management in occupational health and safety programs. (K3). The research methods used include document analysis, field observations, interviews, and surveys. The collected data will be analyzed using HIRA methods that include identifying hazards, assessing risks, and making recommendations for appropriate risk control. The results of this research are expected to enhance our understanding of the potential hazards and risks associated with the workplace. The resulting improvement recommendations will help the company implement appropriate precautions and improve K3 risk management.

Proposals of guidance values for surface contamination by antineoplastic drugs based on long term monitoring in Czech and Slovak hospitals and pharmacies.

The exposures to hazardous antineoplastic drugs (AD) represent serious risks for health care personnel but the exposure limits are not commonly established because of the no-threshold effects (genotoxic action, carcinogenicity) of many ADs. In this study, we discussed and derived practically applicable technical guidance values (TGV) suitable for management of AD risks. The long-term monitoring of surface contamination by eight ADs was performed in pharmacies and hospitals in the Czech Republic and Slovak Republic in 2008-2021; in total 2,223 unique samples were collected repeatedly in 48 facilities. AD contamination was studied by LC-MS/MS for cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide, methotrexate, irinotecan, paclitaxel, 5-fluorouracil and gemcitabine and by ICP-MS for total Pt as a marker of platinum-based ADs. The study highlighted importance of exposure biomarkers like 5-fluorouracil and especially carcinogenic and persistent cyclophosphamide, which should be by default included in monitoring along with other ADs. Highly contaminated spots like interiors of laminar biological safety cabinets represent a specific issue, where monitoring of contamination does not bring much added value, and prevention of staff and separated cleaning procedures should be priority. Rooms and surfaces in health care facilities that should be virtually free of ADs (e.g., offices, kitchenettes, daily rooms) were contaminated with lower frequency and concentrations but any contamination in these areas should be carefully examined. For all other working places, i.e., majority of areas in pharmacies and hospitals, where ADs are being prepared, packaged, stored, transported, or administered to patients, the study proposes a generic TGV of 100 pg/cm2. The analysis of long-term monitoring data of multiple ADs showed that the exceedance of one TGV can serve as an indicator and trigger for improvement of working practices contributing thus to minimizing of unintended exposures and creating a safe work environment.

Management of Non-Physical Violence against Registered Nurses in Hospital Acute Care Setting

BACKGROUND: The issue of non-physical violence against registered nurses in acute care hospital settings is a pressing concern. As per 2021 CDC figures, there is a prevalence of 38.8 incidents of non-physical violence per 100 nurses annually. Such incidents can lead to serious consequences, including behavioral changes and decreased job effectiveness. Addressing this challenge is essential for ensuring a safe and efficient working environment for healthcare professionals.  
 
 AIM: The study aims to explore management practices related to non-physical violence against registered nurses (RNs) in hospital acute care (AC) settings. It aims to answer the following main question: What are the effective management practices that can identify the reasons for, and evaluate measures to prevent, non-physical violence against registered nurses in hospital acute care settings?
 
 METHODOLOGY: The study employed a systematic examination of electronic databases, utilizing sources from ProQuest, PsycINFO, and the Medline library for the period between 2016 and 2022. Six paramount studies that scrutinized non-physical violence against healthcare professionals were included, with relevant articles meticulously analyzed to yield valid conclusions. Thematic analysis was employed to decipher the patterns emerging from the selected studies. 
 
 RESULTS: Notable themes encompassed the causative factors behind non-physical violence against registered nurses in hospitals and the strategies employed to alleviate such incidents. These factors include high work pressure and stress, inadequate training and professionalism, absence of person-centered care, and unawareness and issues with patient family members.
 
 CONCLUSION: This study affirms that targeted training programs could significantly augment nurses’ capabilities to handle non-physical violence effectively. A heightened level of synergy between healthcare personnel and hospital management is crucial to enable immediate reporting of incidents and pave the way for safer working conditions.

Thematic Analysis of Mental Health Nurses' Views of Contributing Factors Fueling Workplace Violence in Psychiatric Hospitals: Insights From Unsung Soldiers.

Workplace violence against mental health nurses is an international phenomenon that sparks concerns for nurses' safety and mental health. This phenomenon has recently arisen as a crucial concern in the Middle East as it has become pervasive and has negative implications, causing nurses to accumulate psychological and emotional distress. However, no research has yet investigated the contributing factors of this phenomenon in Jordanian psychiatric hospitals from the nurses' perspectives. This study aimed to explore the factors contributing to workplace violence in Jordanian psychiatric hospitals from the perspective of mental health nurses. An exploratory, qualitative design was utilized. Using audio-recorded, semi-structured, face-to-face interviews, a purposive sample of 24 mental health nurses were interviewed to collect data. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. Four overarching themes were identified: Peak Time of Violence, Unavoidable Part of the Job, Poor Organization and Lack of Policy, and Bite the Bullet. From nurses' perspectives, an in-depth understanding of factors contributing to workplace violence provides a foundation for developing preventive interventions, improving work environment safety, and promoting nurses' mental health. Prevention strategies and further studies are warranted to limit this phenomenon.

APA calls for safe work environments for adolescents

This summer the American Psychological Association (APA) issued a resolution highlighting the need for safe work environments for adolescents

Organisational culture and construction employee safety

Organisational culture plays a critical role in the functioning and identity of an organisation. The study examined Schein’s model based on artifacts, espoused values, and basic assumptions to determine the level of influence on construction employees’ safety. Online questionnaire administration among medium-sized construction firms in the Central Region of Ghana was employed for the data collection. The designed questionnaire was used to gather the opinions of supervisors, foremen, and workers in the construction industry. Descriptive statistics and the Relative Importance Index (RII) were utilised to analyse the findings. The results reveal that work environment design and workplace cleanliness were the most influential artifacts impacting employee safety. Regarding espoused values, the organisation’s strategies and employee safety played a significant role in ensuring a safe workplace. Additionally, variables related to self-awareness and freedom of expression had substantial importance in the realm of basic underlying assumptions. Understanding the relationship between organisational culture and employee safety is crucial for creating safe work environments and fostering a safety culture. Construction firms can enhance employee safety and achieve corporate goals by addressing artifacts, espoused values, and assumptions. The results of this study are beneficial to construction project managers, contractors, and construction management researchers, as they offer insights into creating safer work environments and improving employee well-being through organisational culture.

The influence of osh culture and osh climate on the performance of employees in construction projects at PT. X

Efforts to prevent work accidents are needed to avoid losses that arise and to improve work safety performance in the workplace, therefore K3 is an effort to get a comfortable workplace and working atmosphere to support the achievement of the highest productivity. This study uses interviews and observations to understand the effect of OSH on employee performance with a saturated sample of 180 respondents and quantifies the survey results in the processing of modified regression analysis. The results of the study show that there is a positive relationship between K3 climate and the performance of Construction Project Employees at PT. X. That is, the better the OSH climate in the work environment, the higher the performance of construction project employees. Furthermore, researchers also found that OSH culture plays a role as a mediator in this relationship. In this context, a positive OHS Culture can have a profound effect on creating a safe, disciplined and safety-oriented work environment.

Implementasi Program Keselamatan dan Kesehatan Kerja Pada Pegawai PT PLN UP3 Semarang

This study aims to analyze and describe the Occupational Safety and Health (K3) program implemented by PDKB PT. PLN (Persero) UP3 Semarang. The program is an effort to create a healthy and safe work environment, so as to reduce the number of work accidents or negligence which result in demotivation and work productivity deficiencies.This research is descriptive qualitative research. By taking respondents from several sources who are considered worthy of being research sources. The results of the research are that the program for implementing work safety and occupational health (K3) is carried out optimally so as to minimize the occurrence of occupational hazard risks including the availability of health clinics, medical examinations, K3 training and the use of Personal Protective Equipment. This OSH program still addresses some of the obstacles encountered which may affect the implementation of Occupational Safety and Health, namely they are still being discovered, so there is a need for a more intense understanding in applying the training program.

Phân tích hiệu quả kinh tế chăn nuôi bò sữa của nông hộ huyện Đơn Dương, tỉnh Lâm Đồng

Based on the content of the previous two projects, the objective of this project is to collect quantitative data through a survey questionnaire and qualitative data through in-depth interviews. The author uses both methods simultaneously to collect data in both breadth and depth, to gain an overall understand of the topic. After collecting quantitative and qualitative data from 301 valid survey questionnaires, the author uses statistical software such as SPSS and AMOS to analyze the data. Both qualitative and quantitative analyses produced consistent results. Specifically, (1) Factors such as welfare policies, training activities, recruitment and selection, information sharing, job challenges, delegation of authority in the enterprise, and safe working environment have a positive impact on employee commitment to the organization; (2) Employee commitment has a positive impact on the quality of human resources; (3) The quality of human resources has a positive impact on the development of human resources. The findings of this topic provide us with an objective and overall view of the field of human resource development in organizations. From this, we can develop practical policies to apply in management practices to continuously improve the quality and performance of human resources.

Phát triển nguồn nhân lực ngành công nghiệp Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh trước bối cảnh Cách mạng Công nghiệp 4.0

Based on the content of the previous two projects, the objective of this project is to collect quantitative data through a survey questionnaire and qualitative data through in-depth interviews. The author uses both methods simultaneously to collect data in both breadth and depth, to gain an overall understand of the topic. After collecting quantitative and qualitative data from 301 valid survey questionnaires, the author uses statistical software such as SPSS and AMOS to analyze the data. Both qualitative and quantitative analyses produced consistent results. Specifically, (1) Factors such as welfare policies, training activities, recruitment and selection, information sharing, job challenges, delegation of authority in the enterprise, and safe working environment have a positive impact on employee commitment to the organization; (2) Employee commitment has a positive impact on the quality of human resources; (3) The quality of human resources has a positive impact on the development of human resources. The findings of this topic provide us with an objective and overall view of the field of human resource development in organizations. From this, we can develop practical policies to apply in management practices to continuously improve the quality and performance of human resources.

Using wearable technological devices to improve workplace health and safety: An assessment on a sector base with multi-criteria decision-making methods

In occupational health and safety, it is important to use personal protective equipment that reduces or prevents injury to employees during an accident. Advanced sensors and computing technologies that can be worn on the body to create, store and transmit data during daily activities are wearable technology products. These products also make significant contributions to employee health and safety. The use of wearable technologies, which are very important in creating a safe work environment, is seen as a promising solution in contributing to the reduction of accidents and increasing industrial efficiency by increasing employee safety, reducing hazards and risks in sectors where occupational accidents are common.The study, it is aimed to prioritize the use of wearable technology devices in sectors that have potential risks that may cause fatigue, injury, error, and accident of employees due to labor-intensive and challenging tasks. Within the scope of this target, five alternatives and eight criteria were determined in line with the literature research and expert opinions. The criteria weights were determined by the AHP method, and the ranking of the alternatives was made by the AHP and PROMETHEE methods. Alternatives are listed as construction, mining, agriculture, textile, and chemistry. The increase in the use of wearable technology devices in the leading sectors in terms of work accidents and occupational diseases will open a new door to occupational safety and health management in the sectors and will significantly reduce health and safety problems.

Edukasi Bahaya Kebisingan Pada Pekerja Sektor Informal Kota Surabaya

One of the risks that can occur in the workplace is the risk of physical factors, namely noise. The physical environment is one of the important factors to play a role in the occurrence of work accidents. The role of factors in the work environment is very large with the occurrence of Occupational Safety and Health problems. To create a safe and comfortable work environment, it is necessary for workers and companies to apply Occupational Safety and Health when doing work. Noise is an unwanted sound in the work area due to production equipment or production machinery. The results of the initial survey through observation and hazard assessment using JSA and calculation using the CARL method. It was found that the highest risk assessment was the physical factor of noise. Therefore, the purpose of community service is carried out to prevent the existence of physical factor hazards, namely noise. Taking measurements using a Sound Level Meter, from the results of noise measurements that have been taken, there are work areas that exceed the Threshold Value (NAB), which gets a value of 87.92dB. It can be concluded that there is a high value of noise intensity, it should receive attention by controlling hazards that can be applied to the informal sector of PT.X, namely reducing production machine tools on the floor and moving them to the next floor, it can also be controlled by using Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), namely ear plugs when all production machine tools are operating.

Exploring healthcare system adaptive techniques and challenges in caring for people living with HIV and AIDS during the COVID-19 lockdown period in Harare, Zimbabwe

The COVID-19 pandemic caused unprecedented challenges for healthcare systems worldwide, affecting the provision of ongoing care for people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA). This study aimed to explore the adaptive techniques employed by healthcare systems in providing care for PLWHA during the pandemic and the challenges encountered. An exploratory qualitative study (EQS) methodology was employed, underpinned by the resourcefulness framework. The Silences Framework Analysis Phases were used during data analysis. Fifteen participants were interviewed, and the data were thematically analyzed. The healthcare system employed several adaptive techniques to cater to PLWHA during the pandemic, including developing new standard service protocols, implementing preventative measures to limit COVID- 19 infections during hospital visits, and improving communication. The study identified two significant challenges: a lack of health insurance and a shortage of personal protective equipment (PPEs). The findings highlight the need for adapting to changing circumstances and provide ongoing care for PLWHA during the pandemic. The results show that developing new protocols and preventative measures can effectively ensure the continuity of care in pandemic situations. Moreover, the provision of PPEs and health insurance for healthcare staff should be prioritized to create a safe working environment. In conclusion, this study underlined the importance of resourcefulness in developing healthcare resilience to sustain care and support for PLWHA during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A comparative analysis of construction and oil and gas industry’s health and safety practises in Nigeria

PurposeDespite the contributions of both the oil and gas and construction industries to the gross domestic product (GDP) of the country, both industries are still marred by incessant accidents. Therefore, the aim of this study is to compare the health and safety practises of the construction and oil and gas industries in Nigeria in order to suggest the best approach to health and safety practices.Design/methodology/approachA survey questionnaire was developed and administered to professionals working in the construction and oil and gas industries. Data were analysed using the relative importance index (RII). An independent sample t-test was also conducted to determine whether there was a significant difference in the construction and oil and gas industries.FindingsThe study revealed that the rate at which health and safety are practised in the oil and gas industry is comparatively high compared to how they are practised in the construction industry. Proper site layout and planning, provision of a safe working environment, proper health and safety risk assessment were more predominantly practised in the oil and gas industry, while proper site layout and planning, disallowing unauthorised entry into site and the provision of a safe working environment were predominantly practised in the construction industry.Originality/valueThis study is the first to compare the health and safety practises of the construction and oil and gas industries in Nigeria. This study was significant because it would provide insight into construction and oil and gas managers, as well as other decision-makers in both industries, on how to improve health and safety practices.

Industrial Safety and Occupational Health Strategies: The Case of a Water Treatment Plant in Ecuador

This research aims to establish strategies in Industrial Safety and Occupational Health (SISO) using the case study of a water treatment plant in Ecuador; preventive activities in this area are poorly developed, being relegated to the background for not being considered important for production processes, this reality is worrying because despite the efforts made to implement a series of public policies; the figures of accidents and incidents indicate that it is still required to improve the SISO systems, to ensure the life, health and integrity of workers. The methodology used is descriptive and correlational, applying the inductive, deductive and analytical method, in addition to the integration of elements and sub-elements of an Occupational Safety and Health Management System proposed by the Andean Instruction Regulations, Resolution 957: 2008, and the ISO 45001:2018 standard; the population of interest was considered to be the 59 people working at the Water Treatment Plant in Santa Elena-Ecuador, of which 24 were selected to collect data through a survey. As a result, the proposed strategies are on par with the ISO 45001:2018 standard, which includes all the necessary requirements that an organization must have to ensure the safe provision of its services, minimizing risks or accidents, and providing a safe working environment for people.