Safe Working Environment Research Articles

______________________________________________________________________________ 68 Multi-Gender Perspectives about POSH – Is The Policy Gender Inclusive?© 2023 by Ms. Jaya Yaduwanshi & Mr. Vinish Shaji is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0 Multi-Gender Perspectives about POSH – Is The Policy Gender Inclusive?

The paper delves into the multi-gender perspectives surrounding the POSH policy's effectiveness and inclusivity. The research incorporates case studies and qualitative data to analyze the impact of the POSH policy on both men and women. The research also addresses the rising concerns of false or malicious complaints and the negative consequences they have on innocent individuals. The study employs exploratory and qualitative research, with case studies from professionals working in various corporate sectors. The respondents' views reveal a prevalent bias towards women, leading to the neglect of men's experiences of sexual harassment. The major findings of the study underline the urgent need for gender-neutral laws and increased awareness of sexual violence against men. Also suggestions are made for crucial amendments to the POSH Act to safeguard men's rights and protect them from exploitation. The paper advocates for a collective effort to recognize and support all victims of sexual violence, regardless of gender, to ensure a safe and inclusive work environment for all individuals.

EDUKASI K3 UNTUK KESUKSESAN KERJA: MENINGKATKAN PERFORMA DAN EFESIENSI KERJA

K3 assistance focuses on optimizing work performance through the implementation of effective K3 practices. This involves training college and female students on relevant safety measures, understanding risks, and adhering to safe work procedures. Through intensive assistance, students can acquire the knowledge and skills needed to carry out their duties safely. In addition to improving performance, K3 assistance also improves employee work efficiency. By ensuring a safe and healthy work environment, OSH assistance encourages a sense of comfort and trust in the workplace. This has a positive impact on productivity, motivation, and job satisfaction. This approach also pays attention to aspects of psychological wellbeing, such as managing stress, increasing resilience, and creating a positive work climate. K3 assistance for work success also involves effective communication between management and employees. Through open and transparent dialogue, challenges and problems related to OSH can be identified and overcome together. This assistance also includes monitoring and evaluating the implementation of K3 practices, so that necessary improvements and adjustments can be made.

Intersectional characterization of emergency department (ED) staff experiences of racism: a survey of ED healthcare workers for the Disrupting Racism in Emergency Medicine (DRiEM) Investigators.

The impact of racism on patient outcomes in Emergency Medicine has been examined but there have been few studies exploring the experiences of racism in health care workers. This survey aims to explore the experience of racism by interdisciplinary staff in a tertiary ED. By characterizing the staff experience of racism in the ED, we hope to inform the design of strategies to disrupt racism and ultimately improve the health and wellness of both staff and patients. We conducted a self-administered, cross-sectional survey to explore the reported experience of racism by healthcare workers in a single urban ED in an academic trauma centre. We employed classification and regression tree analyses to evaluate predictors of racism through an intersectional lens. A majority (n = 200, 75%) of all ED staff reported experiencing interpersonal racism (including physical violence, direct verbal violence, mistreatment and/or microaggressions) in the workplace. Respondents who identified as racialized self-reported significantly more racism at work than white respondents (86% vs. 63%, p < 0.001). Occupation, race, migrant status and age were identified through intersectional machine-learning models to be significantly predictive of the experience of racism. Nearly all respondents felt that the disruption of racism in Emergency medicine is important to them (90%, n = 207) and (93%, n = 214) were willing to participate in further training in anti-racism. Racism against interdisciplinary staff working in EDs is common and the burden on healthcare workers is high. Intersections of occupation, race, age and migrant status are uniquely predictive of the experience of racism for EM staff. Interventions to disrupt racism should be informed by intersectional considerations to create a safe working environment and target populations most at risk. ED healthcare workers are willing to take steps to disrupt racism in their workplace and need institutional support to do so.

Assessment of the healthcare workers’ physical, educational and operational needs during the COVID-19 pandemic in Bahrain

PurposeThis study sought to understand the physical, educational and operational needs faced by healthcare workers (HCWs) (including physicians, nurses and allied health workers) during the COVID-19 pandemic.Design/methodology/approachA descriptive cross-sectional design was undertaken. HCWs working in hospitals, health centers, testing and quarantine areas in the Kingdom of Bahrain were invited to complete the online survey questionnaire developed by authors containing three domains: physical, educational, and perceived knowledge, and operational needs.FindingsA convenient sample (N = 627) of volunteered participants responded to the online survey. The biggest challenges that HCWs were exposed to are physical needs (experiencing dry hands, difficulty breathing while on a mask, feeling hot and sweaty, and less fluid and food intake) which were reported as the higher level, followed by operational needs (limited communication due to Personal Protective Equipment - PPE - use, longer working hours, and preparation time to get ready for duty). Other challenges pertained to education and knowledge (the presence of multiple sources of information confused them during the care practices). Females faced more challenges than males, and Bahraini HCWs handled challenges more than non-Bahrainis. A negative relationship was found between age and years of experience with the challenges of the HCWs.Originality/valueDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, health systems face rapidly increasing demands. HCWs face several challenges while providing patient care, particularly physical needs. This study provides adequate data for healthcare administrators to maintain a safe working environment during pandemics.

Unsafe actions and unsafe conditions in cement production workers: A Cross Sectional Study

Occupational accidents are all unplanned events that cause or have the potential to cause injury, illness, damage or other losses, both for workers and for the company. This study aims to determine the factors associated with work accidents in Cement Production workers at PT. Cement Bosowa Maros. The type of research used is quantitative with an analytic observational approach using a cross sectional design. The population in this study are cement production workers at PT. Semen Bosowa Maros with a total sampling technique of 86 people. The results showed that the variables related to work accidents were unsafe action (p-value=0.032), unsafe condition (p-value=0.002). While the unrelated variables are age (p-value = 0.244), and length of work (p-value = 1000). It is recommended to the company PT. Semen Bosowa Maros is advised to ensure that workers use proper and correct personal protective equipment while working, and conduct OHS training so that workers understand more about safe behavior and conditions so that work accidents do not occur due to unsafe behavior and conditions. And ensure a safe and comfortable work environment for workers.

Analysis of Occupational Safety and Health Implementation in National Strategic Projects Case Study of Kulon Progo Airport Infrastructure Development Project

One of the provinces that has received the government's attention and is recorded as having a national strategic project as stated in Presidential Decree No. 3 of 2016 concerning the acceleration of the implementation of national strategic projects is the Province of the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY), namely Kulon Progo Airport Infrastructure Development. The project which is carried out by a joint operation between PT PP (Persero) Tbk and PT Geotekindo (PP KSO) stands on 587 Ha of land with the target that the airport must operate partially in just nine months from the start of construction. This project has challenges in the form of work complexity, the use of a large number of various types of heavy equipment, thousands of workers with various skills, and a very short time to complete the work. The purpose of this study is to analyze the factors that influence the Construction Safety Management System (CSMS), analyze the risk level of project implementation, and evaluate the effectiveness of CSMS performance implementation in the Kulon Progo Airport Infrastructure Development Project which is expected to be able to provide lessons learned from other similar projects. The research method used is a qualitative method using HSE activity reports during the construction period and interviews with seven informants who were involved during the construction period. The results of the study show that there are ten top ranking keys to the success of the Construction Safety Management System (CSMS) in the Kulon Progo Airport Infrastructure Development Project, including Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment, Control and Opportunity, Job Safety Analysis (JSA), Communication, Concern with training programs, Occupational Health Management, Work Environment Safety Management, Equipment, Construction Safety Unit Duties and Responsibilities, Standards and Legislation as well as Inspections and Audits. Whereas the implementation of the risk level can be mitigated properly because it is planned in great detail and communicated very intensively from the top management level to the level of workers in the field and for the implementation of CSMS performance in the case study this research has proven to be effective.

‘I don’t know how we can stop ragging’: a qualitative study on the perceptions of staff and work-affiliated individuals at a Sri Lankan University, on the phenomena of ragging

ABSTRACT Ragging in Sri Lanka is a longstanding initiation ritual, similar to hazing and bullying. The severe harassment of new students by seniors has led to adverse consequences including depression, university dropouts and suicide. Although, a significant problem, research on ragging is scarce. This research aimed to explore how staff and work-affiliated individuals at Jaffna University resonate around the phenomenon of ragging. Seven focus group discussions and eleven semi-structured interviews were conducted. Foucauldian Discourse Analysis and Bandura’s Moral Disengagement theory were used to interpret the data. Three main discourses reflected the context: ragging as normal and necessary, insecurity and fear of reprisal, and voices of resistance. Participants often felt unsupported and therefore adapted their moral compasses to survive in this insecure environment. These findings demonstrate a fragmented approach to ragging that not only diminished any efforts towards elimination but affected how staff were forced to adjust their behavior to work in this environment. To address ragging, there is a need to adhere to a consistent strategy focusing on increasing awareness and supporting staff by holding accountable those at all levels of the administrative hierarchy in promoting a safe working environment for all.

Assessing safety of journalism practice in Ghana: Key stakeholders’ perspectives

This study sought to use the self-reporting method of survey as well as key informant interviews to investigate the depth and spread of the problem. A total of 115 respondents took part in the survey. Additionally, eight interviews were conducted with key stakeholders. The study found that the most common infraction was verbal abuse. Colleagues, police, political fanatics, politicians, security operatives and government officials, were among the top perpetrators of safety violations against journalists. A sizeable portion (albeit fewer) were dissatisfied with their workplace safety provisions and minimal confidence in the concern of their employers for their well-being. About half of respondents indicated their media organisations did not make provisions for safety gear for covering potentially dangerous beats. Many of the respondents thought that the posture, attitude and actions of key state actors, law enforcement agencies as well as their own association (GJA) concerning their safety were unsatisfactory. The study recommends that the government ensures the security and safety of journalists and media organizations. Media organizations must ensure a safe and toxic-free work environment through codes of practice, policies, and enforcement; and journalists become familiar with the various types of safety breaches and corrective measures that can be taken.

REVIEW THE ASSESSMENT OF EFFECTS OF LOST TIME INJURIES IN AN INDUSTRIAL SYSTEM BY USING AN EXPLANATORY PROGRAM

Health and safety problem can be described by statistics it can only be understood by knowing and feeling the pain, suffering, and depression. Health and safety has a legal responsibility to protect it for everyone who can affect in the workplace. This includes manufacturers, suppliers, designers and controllers of work places and employees. Work injury is one of the major problems in manufacturing and production systems industries; it is reduced production efficiency and affects the cost. To gain flexibility from a traditional manufacturing system and production efficiency, this paper is about the application of estimating technology to preview and synthesis of Lost Time of Work Injuries in industry systems aims to provide a safe working environment for all employees to achieve safe workplaces, safe systems of work, and safety understanding within our workforce. Our industry oftenhas a poor record in dealing with modern and development techniques. Thus, as one of the targets, this leads to perform a helpful program plane to provide guidelines of management, employees to eliminate hazards, given the enormous cost of occupational personal damage in industry and to develop safe work methods work site. This work proposed a general methodology for constructing an explanatory software system to review and analysis workers injuries in a work site. The program language used is Axes, which suitable to shows categories of incidences and estimates costs to workers, employers and society of workplace injuries and work-related ill health. Data of the system was collected in the State Company for Woolen Industries in Al-Kadhumiaa in Iraq.The resulting is to provide a simple obvious outline system to evaluate lost time injury and the net-costs on safety interfering at the company level to reduce occupational morbidity and generating a helpful system to estimate of the total costs to employers and workers of workplace accidents and work-related ill health.

Job insecurity as a mediator between fearing COVID-19 and turnover intention: empirical evidence during the COVID-19 pandemic

PurposeThe fear of COVID-19 has been identified as a significant predictor of adverse work-related outcomes. Grounded on conservation of resource theory, this study examines the impact of fear of COVID-19 on faculty members' job turnover intention (TI) and job insecurity, as well as the relationship between job insecurity and TI. Additionally, the authors investigate job insecurity as a potential mediating variable between the fear of COVID-19 and TI.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from faculty members (n = 226) working in Pakistan's public sector universities and analysed through PLS-SEM using SmartPLS software.FindingsThe results indicated that fear of COVID-19 was positively and significantly associated with both TI and job insecurity. Furthermore, the results demonstrate that job insecurity has a positive correlation with TI. In addition, the study's findings endorsed the mediating role of job insecurity between fear of COVID-19 and TI.Practical implicationsThe study highlights the importance of addressing the fear of COVID-19 and job insecurity among faculty members, as they are significant predictors of TI. The findings suggest employers should prioritise providing a safe work environment and reducing uncertainty to retain their workforce during the pandemic.Originality/value This study adds to the literature as it conceptualises the indirect mechanism that links fear of COVID-19 to TI and job insecurity and provides practical implications that may reduce faculty members' TI.

Bibliometric study on Ergonomics and Sustainability

Reflections on ergonomics in the context of the sustainability of organizations are an important strategy for the improvement of safe working environments. In the literature, the discussion that encompasses the relationship between ergonomics and business sustainability is a topic little explored. The objective of the present research is to map and explore the scientific production in the field of ergonomics and sustainability in the period from 2010 to 2020, in order to show the temporal evolution of research and the existing articulation between the themes. The research method is exploratory. To carry out the research, the bibliometric technique was chosen. To this end, articles were searched in the SciELO and Scopus databases, and theses and dissertations in the Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (BDTD) of CAPES on the theme of ergonomics and sustainability. The bibliometric research allows to identify limits, contributions and potentialities that highlight the need for the production of research and new knowledge that associate the theme of ergonomics with sustainability. The development of an ergonomics program associated with the principles of sustainability seems to be a way to manage occupational risks with preventive measures in occupational safety and health.

Optimization of construction site layout using BIM generative design

Construction site layout planning (CSLP) is the process of allocating temporary facilities needed on construction site. It is a complex process that aims at minimizing travel distances while improving productivity and safety. Although previous studies have enhanced the CSLP, there is a lack of studies that benefit from the potential of Building Information Modelling (BIM)-Generative Design (GD) integration in the field of site layout planning. This study aims to understand the CSLP problem from new aspects to facilitate its use for construction practitioners and site planners. The research presents a new modelling and optimization concept that utilizes BIM-GD tool to target optimum construction site layout plans to ensure a safe and productive work environment. The developed model applies the parametric visual programming basics (VP) to build the layout problem for optimization. The research includes a case study from the literature to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed model. The results show a high validity for the model compared with previous models in terms of defining the problem from new aspects and applying all the calculations within the BIM environment software. The presented study shows great potential from the GD tool for more practical and complex applications in future research.

It's All About the Employee

When discussion turns to union prevention strategies, there is a seemingly endless list of boxes that may be checked. Market wages. Fairness in decisions. Safe work environments. Education on unionization. Every month, Management Report delves into different strategies that can help assist in maintaining union‐free status. As any employer can attest, however, some strategies work in certain situations and not in others. An approach that worked five years ago may fall on deaf ears today. These varying results are due to one factor: the employee.

Can a UV-C box help the cinema industry by disinfecting video cameras?

UV-C has proven to be an effective virucide and microbicide, and its cost-effectiveness allowed it to spread as a disinfecting procedure in different environments. The study aims to determine the microbicide activity on Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and SARS-CoV-2 of the UV-C Boxer by Cartoni S.p.A. Three separate experiments were performed to assess the effectiveness of the UV-C disinfection device on different materials, directly on surfaces of a video camera and on a specific carrier for SARS-CoV-2. In all three experiments, a significant abatement of bacterial and viral contamination was reached after 60 seconds on carriers and after 3 minutes on all examined surfaces of the video camera, with a higher reduction on glass carriers. UV-C devices may be a valuable tool to implement in the working routine to achieve a higher level of safety in work environments.

Influence of increase in hospital costs on mortality for pleural mesothelioma in teaching hospitals: A nationwide analysis.

e20533 Background: Rural and non-teaching hospitals are known to have a lower budget compared to urban-teaching hospitals. Pleural mesothelioma is an aggressive and rare malignancy, and it remains unknown whether treatment in institutions with higher revenue or reimbursement rates impacts outcomes. This study sought to elucidate if such a difference in outcomes exists. Methods: A retrospective cohort analysis of adults admitted from 2016 to 2020 with the primary diagnosis of pleural mesothelioma was conducted. Data was extracted from the National Inpatient Sample Database. We compared outcomes such as mortality, length of stay (LoS), and total charges in teaching versus non-teaching hospitals. Results: We identified 7,320 patients that met inclusion criteria; 84% were admitted to teaching hospitals, and the remaining 16% to non-teaching facilities ( p &lt; 0.001). Elderly patients were the most afflicted group, with a mean age of 72 to 74 years ( p 0.009). No differences in sex, race, or primary insurance distribution were noted ( p 0.067; p 0.731; p 0.801, respectively). The mean hospital LoS was 6.4 days in non-teaching hospitals compared to 7.7 days in teaching hospitals ( p 0.0061). In addition, Asians ( p 0.016), those with a median household income of 65,000 to 85,999 ( p 0.021), higher Charlson index ( p &lt; 0.001), and those admitted to large to medium size hospitals ( p 0.011; p 0.001, respectively) had a positive linear relation to LoS. Moreover, total hospital charges were greater in teaching hospitals (120,100 USD) in comparison to non-teaching hospitals (73,883 USD) ( p &lt; 0.001). Mortality did not differ based on teaching status ( p 0.643). However, Native Americans and those with higher Charlson comorbidity index were more likely to die ( aOR 21, p 0.004; aOR 1.32, p &lt; 0.001, respectively). Conclusions: Hospital teaching status does not impact mortality in patients admitted with malignant pleural mesothelioma, even though teaching hospitals incur higher expenses on average. It does not come as a surprise due to this condition's known high mortality rate, late presentation in advanced stages, and resistance to current therapies. Prevention is key in a deadly disease, and more research is needed to offer a better prognosis; even though current regimens have shown improvement in survival, curative therapies are still unavailable. Even though asbestos is subject to strict regulations in the United States, it is not banned. We should revisit the idea of a complete ban; those most affected tend to have the least access to healthcare and need a safer work environment. Decreasing exposure to known carcinogens should also be a priority, as there is no better medicine than preventive medicine. Interestingly, mortality was greater in Native Americans compared to other races; the underlying causes are broad and need more research and better characterization of MM.

Psychometric Properties of the Nurse Manager Competency Instrument for Research.

Background and Purpose: Competent nurse managers (NM) are essential to create safe and healthy work environments and support frontline nurses. Measuring NM competence with a valid and reliable instrument is critical in research. We assessed the psychometric properties of the Nurse Manager Competency Instrument for Research (NMCIR). Methods: Item analysis, internal consistency analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis were performed with a sample of 594 NMs. Results: The NMCIR showed high internal consistency. The 26 items were loaded on ten factors with a good overall fit, supporting the hypothesized factor structure. However, the findings showed poor discriminant validity. Conclusion: The NMCIR demonstrates sound psychometric properties for use in studies of NM competence. Further evaluation of the NMCIR is recommended to improve discriminant validity.

Smart Alerting System Mine Workers

Abstract: The mining industry is known worldwide for its highly risky and hazardous working environment. Technological advancement in any metal and coal extraction techniques for proliferation of production levels has caused further concern for safety in this industry for mines workers. This paper presents Mines workers face numerous hazards while working in mines, and it is essential to provide them with a safe working environment. In this paper, we propose a smart alerting system for mines workers that utilizes sensors and sensing technique to detect potential hazards and alert workers in real-time. The proposed system is working smartly - it monitors, controls and alerting by itself and feedback Button is provided for workers from which they can with the help this system send alert signal to control room. The system proposed here consists of devices sensor &amp; Button equipped with sensors that monitor various parameters such as temperature, gas concentration. The data transmitted to a central server, by Wi-Fi and using ESP NOW technique using for transfer deep mine data to central server and data collected by these sensors are used to analyze the data and detect potential hazards.

A Critical Analysis of a Law on the Prevention of Sexual Harassment at the Workplace in India

In a developing country like India, with more and more entry of women into the workforce, which was conventionally and comparatively monopolized by men, the sexual harassment at workplace is steadily growing and women have started experiencing the intensity of it. Sexual harassment is considered as a violation of a woman’s fundamental right to equality, which is guaranteed by Articles 14 and 15 of the Constitution. The problem of sexual harassment relates not so much to the actual biological differences between men and women, but to the gender or social roles which are attributed to men and women in social and economic life, and perceptions about male and female sexuality in a society. Gender inequality is both the cause of sexual harassment and the consequence of it. Sexual harassment is not an epidemic, it is a pandemic that is occurring every day and everywhere. Sexual Harassment is pervasive, there is no institution or industry which is immune to it. Women will not be fully equal with men as long as this behaviour continues. To curb this menace the Government of India has enacted ‘the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013’ with the objective of providing a safe and secure work environment for women. However, nine years since its enactment, the government has still not published any information on how effectively this law and its committees are functioning. But the surveys conducted by private agencies highlight the poor implementation of the Act in the country. The present paper critically analyses the provisions of the Act and its implementation while discussing its evolution, objectives, and important provisions of the Act.

여성 소방공무원의 감정노동 경험과 대처에 대한 질적연구

This is a phenomenological study in which seven female firefighters, who experienced emotional labor while performing public services like accident investigation and rescue, were interviewed about their difficulties, psychology and coping, and desires for institutional improvement due to emotional labor and violence during work. This study derived two categories, four theme clusters, and the following ten themes: “An emotional trash can that is required to be unconditionally kind,” “Violence and profanity from citizens flying out of nowhere,” “Female firefighters are seen as weak and unworthy,” “Female firefighters face discrimination even within the organization,” “Doubt and frustration about my job,” “Repeated anxiety and fear,” “My way of shaking off emotional labor” “Emotional labor coping system established within the organization,” “Slowly but surely changing atmosphere within the organization,” and “The beginning of a step toward a better environment.” This study’s findings provide several clinical, policy, and practical implications for creating safe working environments for women firefighters.

학교 내 교육복지전문가 안전 위협 경험에 대한 조직적 차원의 대처 연구

This study is aimed to establish a safe working environment for educational welfare specialists who play a crucial role in building a secure educational welfare safety network through the connection of homes, schools, and the local community. Within each school, there is one educational welfare specialist assigned, reflecting the unique nature of the school as a secondary field rather than a social welfare site. Therefore, it is necessary to consider different characteristics in terms of employment status and deployment personnel compared to school administrators or teachers. To overcome conflicts and marginalization that may arise from such structural differences, this study comprehensively explored the safety threats experienced by educational welfare specialists within schools and examined the post-incident response processes within the organization. Based on this, structural causes of the safety threats during incidents were identified, and organizational coping strategies were developed to address them. For the purpose of this study, in-depth interviews were carried out with eight educational welfare specialists (community educational specialists) with more than five years of experience working in schools located in Seoul, South Korea, who have experienced safety threats. Qualitative case research methodology was utilized to achieve a profound understanding of their experiences. The interview data were analyzed through within-case analysis and cross-case analysis methods. According to the within-case analysis, the educational welfare specialists experienced various safety threats from students, parents, as well as the school‘s management system and relevant personnel. However, they had experience with proactive organizational-level post-incident measures. Through the cross-case analysis, 17 sub-categories and 4 categories were identified. The 4 categories include “Experiencing various safety threats within the educational welfare system,” “Challenging reality where organizational coping mechanism for safety cannot be expected,” “Facing obstacles despite personal efforts to find solutions,” and “Reality of persistently striving since giving up is not an option.” Based on the findings, practical and political alternatives at the organizational level were suggested for future development of safety measures for educational welfare specialists within schools.