Safety Culture Research Articles

Let's Talk Safety - Data from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Safety and Bed Capacity Huddles.

Huddles are brief team meetings designed to communicate essential information. Safety huddles provide a forum to identify and review patient safety events. In a just culture, everyone is accountable for patient safety. The purpose of this project is to discuss safety issues/events at the twice daily bed capacity huddles in a Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) utilizing a just culture model. Having daily discussions of patient safety and the escalation process for follow-up promotes a just culture. The aims are to improve the unit's culture of safety and learn from patient safety issues. A just culture model was adopted to promote discussion of safety events during the huddles. A structured checklist of safety events was utilized along with a script of ground rules. Twice a day, a multidisciplinary group gathers to huddle. Nurse leaders facilitate the discussion, track the results, and provide follow-up. The structured safety huddle began in May of 2020 and continues twice daily. All required staff attend. The escalation process is defined and has prevented recurrence of some safety issues. The NICU experienced a 14% increase in favorable results on the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) culture of safety survey since the inception of the structured safety huddles. Safety huddle discussions have impacted the culture of safety on this unit. Tracking of discussions can help to identify trends, improve processes, and impact patient safety.

Patient Safety Culture in Pre-Post Partum and Perinatology Units

Introduction: Effective patient safety practices in pre-post partum and perinatology units are crucial for ensuring high-quality care for mothers and children. These practices are expected to reduce maternal and child mortality rates, which remain significant. Patient safety implementation in hospitals depends largely on the patient safety culture within each institution. Objective: This study aimed to assess the application of patient safety culture in pre-post partum and perinatology wards. Methods: The research employed a mixed-methods approach with a sequential explanatory design. Quantitative data were gathered using the AHRQ (Agency for Health Research and Quality) questionnaire. Meanwhile, the qualitative research used an instrumental case study approach insights were derived from in-depth interviews with 52 nurses working in these units. Results: Results show an overall positive response rate of 67.8% across the 12 dimensions of patient safety culture, indicating satisfactory levels. The dimension with the highest positive response rate is teamwork at 38%, while openness had the lowest at 6%. Challenges in patient safety program implementation include lack of safety culture surveys, inadequate incident reporting systems, high blaming culture, lack of support, delayed case reporting, and financial constraints. Reporting, analysis, and evaluation are predominantly limited to internal hospital processes. Conclusion: The obstacles encountered in implementing a patient safety culture are the behavior of healthcare workers and the lack of optimal support from management. The recommendations given are the formation of a Patient Safety Committee, education about safety culture for healthcare workers, Monitoring and evaluation of the patient safety program that has been implemented.

1E4-1 Implementation of safety-focused Organizational Culture （Culture for Safety) assessment

1E4-1 Implementation of safety-focused Organizational Culture （Culture for Safety) assessment

Perioperative capacity and contextual challenges in teaching hospitals of southern Ethiopia: explanatory sequential mixed-methods research

BackgroundPrevious Ethiopian literature on surgical capacity and challenges has focused on quantitative investigations, lacking contextual understanding. This explanatory sequential mixed-methods research (MMR) aimed to assess perioperative capacity and contextual challenges at three teaching hospitals in southern Ethiopia.MethodsA quantitative survey assessed workforce, infrastructure, service delivery, financing, and information systems. The survey findings were explained by qualitative semi-structured interviews of twenty perioperative providers. Descriptive statistics were integrated with qualitative thematic analysis findings using the narrative waving approach. Key findings from both datasets were linked using a joint display table.ResultsThe survey revealed shortages in the specialist workforce (with a ratio of 0.58 per 100,000 population), surgical volume (at 115 surgeries per 100,000 population), equipment, supplies, financing, and perioperative data tracking. Hospitals’ radiology services and blood products were only available 25–50% of the time, while anesthetic agents and essential laboratory services were often available 51–75% of the time. Perioperative management protocols were used rarely (1–25% of the time). Over 90% of patients lack health insurance coverage. Qualitative data also revealed scarcity of perioperative resources and equipment; unaffordable perioperative costs, lack of health insurance coverage, and unforeseen expenses; poor patient safety culture and communication barriers across the perioperative continuum of care; workforce shortages, job dissatisfaction, and concerns of competence; and weak national governance, and sociopolitical turmoil, and global market volatility exacerbating local challenges. These challenges are linked to risks in quality of care and patient safety, according to clinicians.ConclusionThe study identifies deficiencies in the health system and sociopolitical landscape affecting safe surgery conduct. It highlights the need for comprehensive health system strengthening to expand workforce, upgrade facilities, improve safety culture, resilience, and leadership to ensure timely access to essential surgery. Exploring external factors, such as the impact of national governance and sociopolitical stability on reform efforts is also essential.

EVALUASI IKLIM KESELAMATAN KERJA DIVISI PRODUKSI BERBASIS INSTRUMEN KUESIONER NOSACQ-50 DI PT MNM

One way to improve occupational safety and health is to establish a culture of safety within the workplace. PT MNM is an international company that has established a safety culture through management and employee commitment. This research aims to evaluate the work safety climate in the bagging division using a multiple linear regression based on a statistical approach. NOSACQ-50 was used as a questionnaire instrument, accompanied by seven independent and one dependent variable. The population involved in this research was 36 Bagging workers in the Production Department. Once the validity, reliability, and normality tests were conducted, the data was calculated using multiple linear statistical hypothesis tests. The research results show that four independent variables significantly influence work safety climate. Namely management empowerment (X1), safety management empowerment (X2), safety management justice (X3), communication and work safety training, and trust in competition for work safety from colleagues (X6). In addition, the three remaining dimensions whose results do not significantly influence the work safety climate. Namely variables of worker commitment to safety (X4), worker safety priorities and not tolerating danger risks (X5), and trust in the effectiveness of the safety system (X7). The final results show that three insignificant variables can improve safety culture.

SAFETY GOOD CATCH A LEADING INDICATOR PROMOTES PROACTIVE SAFETY CULTURE AT ASSEMBLY TEST MANUFACTURING

In this project, the studies are carried out at a chipset tester assembly manufacturing with objectives of establishing a safety good catch reporting process for employee to report out any hazard, unsafety condition or unsafe act. In addition, all good catch submissions are analyzed in this study to improve the process or condition at the workplace. Throughout analyzing of all good catch submissions, pareto of hazard is identified to measure effectiveness of existing safety programs and controls. Safety good catch reporting will be served as a safety leading indicator to promote safety culture and awareness for the organization. A proposed safety good catch reporting process is benchmarked with existing quality good catch report program of the organization and DOSH JKKP 6 and JKKP 7 injury report. The proposed process is reviewed thru safety and health committee prior deployment. Later, safety good catch web tool is developed and deployed for employee to submit any safety concern and able to track and record thru the web tool in order to sustain the safety good catch program. Success of safety good catch program deployment across production is verified by safety and health committee and management. The effectiveness of program will be monitored and analyzed thru employee participation, commitment of middle level of management and engineering process owner. A series of program such as safety good catch campaign, communication have been held to promote safety good catch program to boost the employee’s participation. Moreover, safety good catch submission is further analysis and identify hazard pareto to improve the process or condition at the workplace. Then measure the effectiveness of existing safety and health programs such as ergonomic risk assessment, job hazard analysis especially when there is new product or process changed, workplace setup, preventive and maintenance task and others. Total 648 safety good catch submissions by 279 employees in this project. There are 3 main hazards identified which is physical, mechanical and ergonomics hazard. Employees who are supporting manual tasks found actively participating the program. In conclusion, safety good catch has been successfully deployed and participated by employee however two main challenges observed throughout the studies, management commitment of timely validation and engineering leadership for continuous improvement. Recommendations such as reporting of good catch submission indicator, enhancement of web tool is needed to further enhance the safety good catch program.

Nurses’ experiences of reporting the medical errors of their colleagues: a qualitative study

BackgroundMedical error is a leading cause of disability and death in healthcare settings and reporting colleagues’ medical errors is one of the main strategies for medical error management and an ethical responsibility of all healthcare providers, including nurses. Most studies into reporting colleagues’ medical errors used quantitative designs while it seems that using qualitative designs can provide better insight in this area.PurposeThis study explored nurses’ experiences of reporting the medical errors of their colleagues.MethodsThis qualitative study was conducted using the conventional content analysis approach. Participants were 22 hospital nurses purposively selected in 2021–2022 from different cities in Iran. Twenty-two in-depth semi-structured interviews were held for data collection. The data were analyzed via Graneheim and Lundman’s conventional content analysis and trustworthiness was maintained using the criteria proposed by Guba and Lincoln.FindingsThe main categories of the study were burnout and intention to leave the profession and growth and development. The two subcategories of the first category were the experience of injury and the experience of violence and the two subcategories of the second category were sense of worthiness and sense of motivation. Moral distress was the most important experience of almost all participants.ConclusionNurses mostly have negative experiences in terms of reporting their colleagues’ medical errors. Negative experiences can act as the barriers to report colleagues’ errors while positive experiences can act as its facilitators. Improvement of the patient safety culture in healthcare settings and interpersonal relationships among healthcare providers can reduce the negative experiences and promote the positive experiences of reporting colleagues’ medical errors.

Exploring the perception of safety culture among nurses in Saudi Arabia

BackgroundMedical errors and adverse events pose a serious challenge to the global healthcare industry. Nurses are at the frontline in implementing safety measures and protecting patients. This study aimed to investigate nurses’ perceptions of the patient safety culture in Saudi Arabia.MethodsThis cross-sectional descriptive study used convenience sampling to survey 402 nurses from various hospitals in Jazan, Saudi Arabia. The Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture was used for the data collection.ResultsNurses reported a moderate perception of safety culture, with 60% positive responses. Teamwork had the highest safety culture rating at 77.8%, while responses to error and staffing were the lowest at 39.75% and 46.17%, respectively. Qualifications significantly predicts nurses’ safety culture rating (B = -0442, t = -4.279, p < 0.01). Positive correlations were found between event reporting frequency and communication openness (r = 0.142, p < 0.01), and patient safety grades with communication about errors (r = 0.424, p < 0.01) and hospital management support (r = 0.231, p < 0.01).ConclusionsNurses in Saudi Arabia demonstrated a strong sense of teamwork and commitment to organizational learning. However, critical areas such as staffing and error response require attention to improve patient safety.

Impact of second victim distress on healthcare professionals' intent to leave, absenteeism and resilience: A mediation model of organizational support.

To examine the relationship between the second victim distress and outcome variables, specifically: 'turnover intentions, absenteeism and resilience'. Furthermore, this study also assessed how organizational support mediates the relationship between second victim distress and outcome variables. Cross-sectional survey. A cross-sectional survey study using regression and mediation analysis with bootstrapping was conducted among (n = 149) healthcare professionals in two university hospitals in Finland from September 2022 to April 2023 during different time periods. The Finnish version of the revised Second Victim Experience and Support Tool (FI-SVEST-R) was used to assess second victim distress, level of organizational support and related outcomes. Psychological distress was the most frequently experienced form of reported second victim distress, and institutional support was the lowest perceived form of support by healthcare professionals. The study found second victim distress to have a significant association with work-related outcomes: turnover intention and absenteeism. However, no significant relationship was found with resilience. Mediation models with organizational support revealed a partially mediated relationship between second victim distress and work-related outcomes. The findings from this study indicate that second victim experiences if not adequately addressed can lead to negative work-related outcomes such as increased job turnover and absenteeism. Such outcomes not only affect healthcare professionals but can also have a cascading effect on the quality of care. However, the mediating effect of organizational support suggests that if comprehensive support is provided, it is possible to mitigate the negative impact of the second victim phenomenon. Raising awareness regarding the second victim phenomenon, promoting a culture of safety and shifting the paradigm from a blame to just culture helps in identifying the system flaws thus improving both patient and provider safety. The study adheres to the STROBE reporting guidelines. No patient or public contribution.

Psychotherapeutische Sprechstunde am Arbeitsplatz: Zusammenhänge zwischen Unternehmensgröße und psychosomatischer Gesundheit

ZusammenfassungHintergrundDie Inanspruchnahme der psychotherapeutischen Sprechstunde am Arbeitsplatz (PT-A) wurde bislang in Großunternehmen (GU) untersucht. Diese unterscheiden sich strukturell von mittleren und Klein(st)unternehmen (KMU). Unterschiede der Nutzerprofile einer PT‑A hinsichtlich psychosomatischer Gesundheit, arbeitsbezogener Selbstwirksamkeit und Arbeitsfähigkeit sowie des psychosozialen Sicherheitsklimas (PSC) abhängig von der Unternehmensgröße wurden bisher kaum betrachtet.MethodenIn der Interventionsstudie „Frühe Intervention am Arbeitsplatz“ (friaa) wurden zwischen 09/2021 und 01/2023 an einer PT‑A interessierte Beschäftigte aus GU und KMU deutschlandweit befragt. Mittels t‑ und χ2-Tests wurden Unterschiede zwischen Beschäftigten in GU (n = 439) und KMU (n = 109) hinsichtlich F‑Diagnosen nach ICD-10 („International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems“; psychische und Verhaltensstörungen), Depressivität (PHQ-9), Ängstlichkeit (GAD-2), allgemeinen Funktionsniveaus (GAF), somatischer Symptombelastung (SSS-8), Gesundheit (VR-12), Arbeitsfähigkeit (WAI), Selbstwirksamkeit (SOSES) und psychosozialen Sicherheitsklimas (PSC-4) geprüft und mittels Korrelationsanalyse explorativ deren Zusammenhänge untersucht.ErgebnisseBeide Gruppen zeigten sich ähnlich stark beansprucht. In GU wurden aus Sicht der Beschäftigten psychosoziale Themen signifikant häufiger thematisiert als in KMU mit einer mittleren Effektgröße. Die Studie lieferte erste Hinweise, dass in GU positive Zusammenhänge des PSC‑4 mit SOSES und WAI sowie negative mit PHQ‑9 und SSS‑8 vorliegen.DiskussionDie vergleichbare psychische Beanspruchung der Beschäftigten in GU und KMU weist auf den Bedarf von verhältnis- und verhaltenspräventiven Maßnahmen unabhängig von der Unternehmensgröße hin. Vor allem in KMU sollte die Thematisierung psychosozialer Gesundheit einen größeren Stellenwert einnehmen.

Systematic review of types of safety incidents and the processes and systems used for safety incident reporting in care homes.

To identify the safety incident reporting systems and processes used within care homes to capture staff reports of safety incidents, and the types and characteristics of safety incidents captured by safety incident reporting systems. Systematic review following PRISMA reporting guidelines. Databases were searched January 2023 for studies published after year 2000, written in English, focus on care homes and incident reporting systems. Data were extracted using a bespoke data extraction tool, and quality was assessed. Data were analysed descriptively and using narrative synthesis, with types and characteristics of incidents analysed using the International Classification for Patient Safety. Databases were CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, EMBASE, HMIC, ASSISA, Nursing and Allied Health Database, MedNar and OpenGrey. We identified 8150 papers with 106 studies eligible for inclusion, all conducted in high-income countries. Numerous incident reporting processes and systems were identified. Using modalities, typical incident reporting systems captured all types of incidents via electronic computerized reporting, with reports made by nursing staff and captured information about patient demographics, the incident and post-incident actions, whilst some reporting systems included medication- and falls-specific information. Reports were most often used to summarize data and identify trends. Incidents categories most often were patient behaviour, clinical process/procedure, documentation, medication/intravenous fluids and falls. Various contributing and mitigating factors and actions to reduce risk were identified. The most reported action to reduce risk was to improve safety culture. Individual outcomes were often reported, but social/economic impact of incidents and organizational outcomes were rarely reported. This review has demonstrated a complex picture of incident reporting in care homes with evidence limited to high-income countries, highlighting a significant knowledge gap. The findings emphasize the central role of nursing staff in reporting safety incidents and the lack of standardized reporting systems and processes. The findings from this study can inform the development or adaptation of safety incident reporting systems in care home settings, which is of relevance for nurses, care home managers, commissioners and regulators. This can help to improve patient care by identifying common safety issues across various types of care home and inform learning responses, which require further research. This study addresses a gap in the literature on the systems and processes used to report safety incidents in care homes across many countries, and provides a comprehensive overview of safety issues identified via incident reporting. PRISMA. A member of the research team is a patient and public representative, involved from study conception.

Nurses' safety climate, quality of care, and standard precautions adherence and compliance: A cross-sectional study.

Nurses' safety climate, quality of care, and standard precautions adherence and compliance: A cross-sectional study.

Factors Associated With Reporting Attitudes of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Direct Care Workers in South Korea.

Workers' reporting of work-related injuries or illnesses is important for treatment and prevention, yet research often focuses on reporting barriers. This study aimed to identify factors related to work-related musculoskeletal disorder (WRMSD) reporting attitudes and their connection to reporting intention and behavior. We analyzed data from 377 direct care workers employed in 19 long-term care facilities in South Korea. A self-administered questionnaire collected demographics, job characteristics, physical and psychosocial factors, musculoskeletal symptoms, reporting attitudes, and WRMSD reporting intentions and behavior between May and August 2022. We used a generalized linear mixed model with a random intercept by employers to identify factors influencing reporting attitudes. To explore the relationship between reporting attitude and reporting intention and behavior, simple logistic regression was also conducted. We achieved an 86% response rate. The majority of the study participants were female (87.2%), married (95.9%), and non-immigrant (72.8%). Of the study participants, 48.9% had no intention to report WRMSDs, and 44.3% held negative reporting attitudes. Among 200 workers with WRMSDs, 86.5% did not report them. Attitudes were associated with work duration, safety training, management safety priority, WRMSD experience, and symptom severity and frequency. Management safety priority did not moderate this relationship. Significant links existed between attitudes and reporting intention and behavior. This study highlights the vital influence of workers' attitudes on reporting work-related injuries and illnesses. Occupational health providers should employ strategies, such as tailored safety training and management commitment, with a focus on addressing the unique needs of long-tenured and musculoskeletal-exposed workers. Fostering a safety culture that promotes open and timely reporting is crucial, and implementing these strategies can significantly enhance workplace safety and health.

RETRACTED: Critical safety climate dimensions for improved safety behavior: perspectives of construction workers

Although extensive research has been conducted to explain the high accident rates in the Indian construction industry, studies focusing on the contributions of the prevailing safety climate as an enabler of such incidences remain sparse. Safety climate plays a crucial role in shaping workers’ safety behaviors. Therefore, eliciting the perspectives of construction workers concerning safety climate dimensions that are critical for engendering improved safety behavior will provide valuable insights into the dimensions required to sustain the desired safety performance levels on construction sites. This study adopted a sequential mixed-methods research design. Purposively selected respondents and interviewees were surveyed and interviewed at various intervals. The study established that safety climate dimensions, such as effective leadership, effective communication, consultation, training, resources, incentives, and recognition, are critical in improving safety behavior among construction workers. The results of this study have significant implications for practice and knowledge, as they provide an approach for assessing the impact of different safety climate dimensions on the safety behavior of construction workers in India. Understanding these dimensions will lead to a framework for managing these challenges and improving construction safety performance. The study reported in this paper remains one of the few studies seeking to explore the impact of safety-climate dimensions on worker safety behavior in the construction industry.

Awareness and preparedness level of medical workers for radiation and nuclear emergency response.

Radiological science and nuclear technology have made great strides in the twenty-first century, with wide-ranging applications in various fields, including energy, medicine, and industry. However, those developments have been accompanied by the inherent risks of exposure to nuclear radiation, which is a source of concern owing to its potentially adverse effects on human health and safety and which is of particular relevance to medical personnel who may be exposed to certain cancers associated with low-dose radiation in their working environment. While medical radiation workers have seen a decrease in their occupational exposure since the 1950s thanks to improved measures for radiation protection, a concerning lack of understanding and awareness persists among medical professionals regarding these potential hazards and the required safety precautions. This issue is further compounded by insufficient capabilities in emergency response. This highlights the urgent need to strengthen radiation safety education and training to ensure the well-being of medical staff who play a critical role in radiological and nuclear emergencies. This review examines the health hazards of nuclear radiation to healthcare workers and the awareness and willingness and education of healthcare workers on radiation protection, calling for improved training programs and emergency response skills to mitigate the risks of radiation exposure in the occupational environment, providing a catalyst for future enhancement of radiation safety protocols and fostering of a culture of safety in the medical community.

Web-based occupational stress prevention in German micro- and small-sized enterprises – process evaluation results of an implementation study

BackgroundStructural and behavioral interventions to manage work-related stress are effective in employees. Nonetheless, they have been implemented insufficiently, particularly in micro- and small-sized enterprises (MSE). Main barriers include a lack of knowledge and limited resources, which could potentially be overcome with simplified web-based alternatives for occupational stress prevention. However, there is a lack of implementation research about web-based prevention in realistic settings of MSE.ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to evaluate the implementation process and success of an integrated web-based platform for occupational stress prevention (“System P”) and to identify potential barriers for its uptake and use in MSE in Germany.MethodsThis study with a mixed-methods approach investigates eight process-related outcomes in a quantitative part I (adoption, reach, penetration, fidelity/dose, costs, acceptability) and a qualitative part II (acceptability, appropriateness and feasibility). Part I has a pre-post design with two measurements (6 months apart) with 98 individual participants and part II consists of 12 semi-structured interviews with managers and intercorporate stakeholders.ResultsPart I revealed shortcomings in the implementation process. Adoption/Reach: Despite extensive marketing efforts, less than 1% of the contacted MSE responded to the offer of System P. A total of 40 MSE registered, 24 of which, characterized by good psychosocial safety climate, adopted System P. Penetration: Within these 24 MSE, 15% of the employees used the system. Fidelity/Dose: 11 MSE started a psychosocial risk-assessment (PRA), and no MSE finished it. The stress-management training (SMT) was started by 25 users and completed by 8. Costs: The use of System P was free of charge, but the time required to engage with was an indirect cost. Part II added insights on the perception of the web-based intervention: Acceptance of System P by users and stakeholders was good and it was assessed as appropriate for MSE. Results for feasibility were mixed.ConclusionsAlthough System P was generally perceived as useful and appropriate, only a small number of contacted MSE implemented it as intended. Prior experience and sensitivity for occupational (stress) prevention were mentioned as key facilitators, while (perceived) indirect costs were a key barrier. Enabling MSE to independently manage stress prevention online did not result in successful implementation. Increasing external support could be a solution.⁺ Full project name“PragmatiKK – Pragmatische Lösungen für die Implementation von Maßnahmen zur Stressprävention in Kleinst- und Kleinbetrieben” (= Pragmatic solutions for the implementation of stress prevention interventions in micro and small-sized enterprises).Trial registrationGerman Register of Clinical Studies (DRKS) DRKS00026154, date of registration 2021-09-16.

Critical Factors Contributing to Under-Reporting of Occupational Accidents in The Construction Industry in Ghana

Purpose: Governments around the world have a shared responsibility for the management of occupational health and safety (OHS). The study aims to explore the under-reporting of OHS accidents by employees and employers in the construction industry in Ghana. Design/ Methodology/ Approach: The study used a cross-sectional survey design and quantitative and qualitative research techniques. Data was gathered via a questionnaire. The survey involved 250 site managers and operatives from Upper West and Upper East Regions. Significant factors that contribute to the under-reporting of construction-related accidents were identified and prioritized using descriptive statistics. The Linear Structural Relationships (LISREL) factor analysis was used to confirm the important factors. Findings: It was deduced from the findings that job security, workers’ attitudes, education and training, blame culture, interpersonal relationships, poor safety culture, lack of management commitment, poor communication, and company’s goal contribute significantly to the under-reporting of OHS accidents within construction firms in Ghana. In the study, factors contributing to the under-reporting of construction site accidents to statutory authorities included education and training, the environment, politics/government, legal/regulations, and socio-cultural practices. Practical Implications: The findings will enable construction companies to make investments to develop accident reporting systems that are easier to use and more accessible. This may include developing mobile reporting apps, and training employees how to use the reporting apps and tools efficiently. Social Implications: Employee safety and well-being is one of the main societal ramifications. Policymakers can use the findings to develop more robust policies aimed at improving accident reporting and prevention measures in the construction industry. Originality and Value: This research offers valuable insights into the factors influencing the underreporting of occupational health and safety (OHS) accidents on construction sites.

Evaluation of the appropriateness of control measures related to nosocomial transmission of multidrug-resistant microorganisms within the SS Multipurpose Intensive Care Unit: observational study

Background: Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), by definition, occur 48 hours or more after admission or within 30 days after discharge or surgical procedure; they represent a significant challenge for the healthcare system due to their prevalence in Italy and the involvement of multi-drug resistance. Intensive Care Units (ICU) exhibit the highest prevalence of such infections due to lapses in adherence to safety protocols. The primary cause of hospital-acquired infections is poor adherence to guidelines for the prevention and control of these infections. This study aims to evaluate infection control measures in a mixed ICU. Materials and Methods: a cross-sectional observational single-center study was conducted in the Mixed ICU at the University Hospital of Alessandria. The study used an assessment tool based on the DVA 91 rev 03 issued on 07/22/22. This tool provides guidance on isolation type (airborne, contact, droplet), patient accommodation, care measures, cleaning and disinfection protocols, patient transportation, and visitor management. Results: overall, 220 observations were included, primarily involving nurses (75.4%) and female personnel (65.9%), with a mean age of 35.8 years and a median length of service of 36 months in the Mixed ICU. Notably, all observations were made on patients in contact isolation. In 199 observations (92.6%), healthcare providers performed hand hygiene immediately after glove removal. Conclusions: the findings highlight a strong adherence to infection control protocols at Alessandria Hospital-University. These efforts promote a safety culture among healthcare providers, ensuring the effective implementation of preventive measures.

Enhancing Sustainable Safety Practices in Construction: Insights from Cultural and Socio-Economic Analysis

Exploring cultural diversity and socio-economic factors offers a holistic approach to fostering sustainable safety practices within the construction industry. This study investigates the relationship between cultural and socio-economic factors and their influence on safety practices within the construction industry, focusing specifically on Saudi Arabian construction. Employing a comparative research design, data were gathered through a questionnaire distributed among various stakeholders, including construction workers, safety officers, project managers, supervisors, and other professionals involved in construction projects. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was utilized to analyze the relationships between cultural, socio-economic, and safety practices. The findings showed significant associations of cultural and socio-economic factors with safety practices and attitudes. Specifically, positive workplace norms and values, effective communication styles, higher income levels, and better education and literacy levels were found to positively influence adherence to safety guidelines and the effectiveness of training programs. Conversely, job insecurity exhibited a negative impact on safety-related outcomes and training effectiveness. This study demonstrates the importance of fostering a positive safety culture within organizations, emphasizing leadership commitment, effective communication, and employee engagement. It also highlights the significance of addressing socio-economic factors, such as job security, income levels, and education, to promote a safer work environment and enhance safety practices. Practical implications derived from the research findings offer actionable insights for organizations to develop targeted interventions aimed at improving sustainable safety practices and training effectiveness within the construction industry in Saudi Arabia.

Safety Leadership: A Catalyst for Positive Safety Climate on Construction Sites

Limited research exists on safety leadership and safety climate in developing countries, despite their established importance in the construction industry. This study addresses this gap by investigating how immediate superiors’ safety leadership behaviours influence safety climate perceptions among construction professionals in southern India. Using a quantitative approach, the study collected valid questionnaire surveys among 279 construction professionals by convenience sampling across various construction sites. The survey revealed that safety leadership significantly and positively predicts five key safety climate factors: management’s commitment to safety, safety equipment and procedures, safety training, communication and openness, and group dynamics and safety culture. These findings highlight the critical role immediate superiors play in shaping safety climate perceptions through their commitment, communication, and employee involvement. This research underscores the importance of investing in safety leadership development to improve safety outcomes, reduce accidents and injuries, and enhance regulatory compliance within the Indian construction industry.