Safety Team Research Articles

Briefings in surgical teams: a pilot study of experiences and attitudes

While healthcare should not be compared to other high reliability organisations (HROs), many lessons, attitudes, and transferable practices can be applied and adapted from them to improve patient safety and team morale. Despite briefings improving both patient safety and effective team working, some in healthcare have not valued or actively engaged with them, deeming them to be irrelevant. In this pilot study we explored the experiences of, and attitudes to, briefings using a 10-question Survey Monkey. This was promoted during a human factors session at the 2023 Association of Surgeons in Training Conference (ASiT) and at a large NHS trust. Questions were asked about the number of briefings per day, attitudes, engagement, and respondents’ attitudes to them. In total, 109 responses were received. A total of 85% reported at least one briefing on a normal operating day, 65% felt them to be interactive, 67% reported that briefings were led by the most senior surgical team member, and 58% lasted four minutes or more. Eighteen per cent of respondents felt they were of little benefit, and 56% did not routinely de-brief at the end of the day. This study has highlighted variable attitudes to team briefings, with some colleagues still seeing them as a ‘tick box’ exercise. While culture has changed following the introduction of the WHO checklist, the importance of active engagement and education to improve the delivery and value of effective briefings cannot be overestimated. It is also an opportunity to create a ‘safe space’ for team members and to confirm zero tolerance for any inappropriate behaviour, including sexual misconduct.

Development, Feasibility, and Knowledge Impact of a Massive Open Online Course on Radiation Safety: A Multicentre Prospective Cohort Study

This study reports the development of an innovative, interactive Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) teaching radiation safety principles in the vascular workplace, using stepwise e-learning with multiple choice question tests (MCQs), educational videos, and a serious game. The aim was to study the MOOC impact on radiation safety knowledge and assess its feasibility and acceptability. An international multicentre prospective study included team members active in the hybrid operating room. The MOOC was offered voluntarily via a secure online learning platform. A standardised MCQ test (15 questions) assessed radiation safety knowledge pre- and post-course (range 0 - 100%). Acceptability and feasibility were tested via the previously validated, Evaluating e-learning system success (EESS) model, using five point Likert scales. In eight centres across four countries, 150 of 203 invited endovascular team members consented. Over a seven week study period, surgeons (28%, including vascular surgery trainees and consultants), nurses (27%, including scrub, circulating and anaesthetic nurses), anaesthetists (43%, including trainees and consultants), and radiographers (3%) participated. Of those, 67% completed the course. The average radiation knowledge improved by 22.8% (95% CI 19.5 - 26.0%; p < .001) after MOOC completion, from 48% to 71% (standard deviation [SD] 14 and 15% respectively), requiring a mean time investment of 169 minutes (SD 89 minutes). In centres with a radiographer, mean knowledge gain after MOOC completion was significantly smaller (14%, SD 19% vs. 24%, SD 16%, p= .036). The course was deemed feasible and acceptable according to the EESS model with a total mean score of 3.68/5. This newly developed, multimodal MOOC was deemed feasible and effective across multiple international centres. The MOOC significantly contributes to radiation safety education of the entire endovascular team, improving radiation safety knowledge. The course may optimise workplace radiation safety behaviour and therefore enhance team and patient safety.

Development and outcomes of a pilot risk assessment process and expert panel for medicines procured in an NHS Acute Trust

Abstract Introduction The risk assessment process for new medicines procured into NHS Acute Trusts varies between organisations. National guidance identifying categories of medicines requiring risk assessment is lacking. A UK Medicines Information (UKMi) developed risk assessment tool1 was fully completed for all new medicines procured at the Trust without exception, consuming significant clinical pharmacist resource. Completed risk assessments received review and approval by the specialty Principal Pharmacist only. Wider input from the Medication Safety team was sought if identified as required by the pharmacist completing or reviewing the tool. Aim To pilot a rationalised risk assessment process for newly procured medicines and measure the effect of implementation on clinical pharmacist workload and satisfaction, identification of risks and mitigations. Methods The rationalised risk assessment process was informed by a working group encompassing formulary, governance, medication safety and clinical service leads. The UKMi risk assessment tool was adapted and National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) parenteral medicine risk assessment2 incorporated. A flowsheet triaging medicines requiring risk assessment was agreed. This included; unlicensed medicines, off-label use, parenteral medicines with an NPSA score over 2, controlled drugs, changes to concentration/excipients, known safety concerns e.g. due to national alerts, and any other medicine deemed high risk such as anticoagulants, cytotoxics, insulins and intrathecals. A New Drug Panel (NDP) was established, comprising a broad range of senior pharmacy leaders including the chief pharmacist. The NDP convened 6 weekly to agree the process, review risk assessments and propose additional mitigations. The process was piloted for 6 months (November 2021-May 2022). During the pilot, the number of new medicines procured and number of completed risk assessments were measured, alongside outcomes of NDP review. At the end of the pilot, users were invited to provide feedback directly via email and this was collated. Ethical approval was not required for this service evaluation. Results During the pilot, 248 requests to add medicines to the pharmacy dispensing system were made; 124 (50%) were new medicines to the Trust. 55/124 (44%) were triaged requiring risk assessment. The NDP met 4 times; 45/55 completed risk assessments were reviewed, 4 of which were considered via email due to urgency. The remaining 10 were scheduled for review at the next meeting. A total of 14 additional mitigations were advised and actioned for 12/41 (29%) new drugs reviewed, the remaining risk assessments were approved without further mitigations. Four pharmacists provided feedback and 100% was positive. The modified risk assessment was preferred due to ease of completion and improved clarity. Discussion/Conclusion A modified risk assessment process was piloted successfully; the number of required risk assessments halved releasing clinical pharmacist time and improving satisfaction with the process. Risk of patient harm was reduced through establishment of an expert NDP who identified a number of additional risk mitigations. No issues were identified from the medicines which were triaged out of the risk assessment process, though these would only be identified retrospectively. Limitations included that user feedback could have been collated more robustly, e.g., to provide more specific responses.

Transforming Team Performance Through Reimplementation of the Surgical Safety Checklist

Patient safety interventions, like the World Health Organization Surgical Safety Checklist, require effective implementation strategies to achieve meaningful results. Institutions with underperforming checklists require evidence-based guidance for reimplementing these practices to maximize their impact on patient safety. To assess the ability of a comprehensive system of safety checklist reimplementation to change behavior, enhance safety culture, and improve outcomes for surgical patients. This prospective type 2 hybrid implementation-effectiveness study took place at 2 large academic referral centers in Singapore. All operations performed at either hospital were eligible for observation. Surveys were distributed to all operating room staff. The study team developed a comprehensive surgical safety checklist reimplementation package based on the Exploration, Preparation, Implementation, Sustainment framework. Best practices from implementation science and human factors engineering were combined to redesign the checklist. The revised instrument was reimplemented in November 2021. Implementation outcomes included penetration and fidelity. The primary effectiveness outcome was team performance, assessed by trained observers using the Oxford Non-Technical Skills (NOTECH) system before and after reimplementation. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture was used to assess safety culture and observers tracked device-related interruptions (DRIs). Patient safety events, near-miss events, 30-day mortality, and serious complications were tracked for exploratory analyses. Observers captured 252 cases (161 baseline and 91 end point). Penetration of the checklist was excellent at both time points, but there were significant improvements in all measures of fidelity after reimplementation. Mean NOTECHS scores increased from 37.1 to 42.4 points (4.3 point adjusted increase; 95% CI, 2.9-5.7; P < .001). DRIs decreased by 86.5% (95% CI, -22.1% to -97.8%; P = .03). Significant improvements were noted in 9 of 12 composite areas on culture of safety surveys. Exploratory analyses suggested reductions in patient safety events, mortality, and serious complications. Comprehensive reimplementation of an established checklist intervention can meaningfully improve team behavior, safety culture, patient safety, and patient outcomes. Future efforts will expand the reach of this system by testing a structured guidebook coupled with light-touch implementation guidance in a variety of settings.

Iron sucrose hypersensitivity reactions in patients within the cancer care setting.

397 Background: As a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center, we manage a wide variety of patient care, from treatment to supportive measures. In the first three months of 2023, our safety event reporting software recorded 30 iron sucrose reactions, more than the three reactions reported from July to November 2022. This increase triggered our medication safety team to focus on identifying the cause of these reactions to improve patient safety. Methods: A multicenter retrospective chart review was conducted of patients who received IV iron sucrose and experienced a hypersensitivity reaction between July 2021 and March 2023 at the University of Kansas Cancer Center. The goal of the review was to identify potential risk factors for these adverse events. The chart review first investigated reaction type and symptoms, then the manufacturer, and finally the dose. Results: We identified 40 patients who experienced 44 reactions to iron sucrose from July 2021 to March 2023. Delayed reactions were observed in 68% of patients (n = 30), and 52% of patients (n = 23) had received premedication before their infusion. 25% of patients (n = 11) required an emergency department visit, and three were admitted to inpatient care. 80% of reactions (n = 35) followed a dose of iron sucrose greater than 300 mg. 60% of patients (n = 24) had previously tolerated iron infusions, with 23% (n = 9) previously receiving iron sucrose at a lower dose and 45% (n = 18) previously receiving a different iron infusion. Conclusions: We found that higher doses of iron sucrose were associated with an increased risk of reaction. Based on this finding, we proposed to our Cancer Center Medication Safety Subcommittee that a maximum dose of 300 mg should be considered for patients who receive iron sucrose infusions to improve patient safety. A rapid iterative change in dosing was implemented and has resulted in a reduction in iron sucrose reactions to previously observed numbers. This reduction in reactions further supports our initial findings and has improved patient safety across our patient care sites.

A93Addressing patient-safety themes and fostering cohesive teamwork through weekly multidisciplinary in-situ simulation in an Acute Care Unit

The Acute Care Unit (ACU) is the busy admissions ward at the trust. Many junior doctors rotate through the ACU for their acute medicine training and the department frequently welcomes newly-qualified nurses or nurses new to the NHS. All staff are involved in managing acutely unwell admissions with a range of presentations. In this dynamic environment, ensuring time is dedicated to teaching is an important part of staff development. In addition, it is important to create opportunities for team-building between disciplines, and evidence shows that this improves outcomes for patients [1]. Teaching for different professional disciplines is often delivered separately. Whilst sometimes preferable, we recognized the department could benefit from simulation sessions involving all members of the clinical team to represent realistic clinical practice. The aims were to: Address recent clinical incidents Practice managing common medical emergencies as a multidisciplinary team Build a greater sense of team between the ACU staff. We designed and implemented a programme of weekly multidisciplinary in-situ simulation on ACU. Sessions involve a range of nursing and medical staff and students and are delivered in an empty bed space on the ACU. Simulations focus on clinical scenarios that might reasonably arise in the department. We use iSimulate technology and re-use the simulation suite’s equipment to reduce resource burden and maintain sustainability. Feedback is collected after each session to quality assure and improve the sessions, and 2 further quality improvement reviews completed to explore how to maximize engagement and learning. This has led to coordination of scenarios with the established weekly seminar-based departmental teaching, to consolidate learning across settings and this is reinforced with a ‘learning point of the week’. Sessions have been successfully delivered on a near-weekly basis throughout the year, despite significant clinical pressures. This has been achieved through coordinated efforts from the simulation team, ACU fellows and registrars, charge nurses and Practice Development Nurse. We estimate to have reached more than 50 colleagues, with typically 4-8 attendees per session. We have rotated through 15 different scenarios and counting, covering key topics including various medical emergencies, violence and aggression, and ‘soft signs’ of deterioration. The programme has been well received, and feedback has specifically commented on the benefit of simulation in a multidisciplinary and in-situ setting. We demonstrate it is possible to maintain an effective regular simulation programme in the department to support patient safety initiatives and team working. Authors confirm that all relevant ethical standards for research conduct and dissemination have been met. The submitting author confirms that relevant ethical approval was granted, if applicable.

Validation results on future flight safety methods to be instituted at the Guiana Space Center -New Generation

In the very short term, the European Spaceport in French Guiana (CSG) will welcome new kinds of missions and launchers, such as Ariane 6, micro-launchers or reusable vehicles, and must prepare to operate them. At the same time, the launch safety process must be improved in order to maintain flight safety standards and to respect the requirements of the French Space Operation Act (FSOA [1]) regarding the new risks induced. The Flight Safety Department at CSG has been working on the development of new methods to fit these upcoming challenges while enabling the best possible protection to people, the environment and infrastructures. These concepts will be implemented with the arrival of the new Operations Centre (CDO).Although the flight termination decision remains on a human authority, the process to evaluate the dangerousness of a mission is optimized in order to gain reactivity and effectiveness. As presented at the 73rd IAC [2], this optimization of methods relies on both decreasing the number of operators within the flight safety team during launch operations and on implementing decision-aiding algorithms to better characterize the launcher condition status at any time. This implies a new distribution of the responsibilities between the safety operators and a redesign of the systems in the future organization at CSG.A large test campaign has already been conducted with the participation of all flight safety officers in order to collect data covering different fields [2]: personal and collective impressions, level of comfort, trust in the new concepts and comparison to the current process, amongst others. In follow-up of this study, to consolidate and validate the operability of the presented concepts and methods, the impacts of this new organization on the flight safety officers have been evaluated in order to apprehend the main changes compared to the current organization. In addition, a specific evaluation was performed in order to study the operator behaviour during various simulations of dangerous-case scenarios in which the launcher trajectory or on-board parameters deteriorated. The most critical cases were analysed in order to measure the reaction times before terminating the flight, with respect to different configurations of launcher abnormality. When comparing the behaviour and the reaction time of operators between the current and the future organization, we obtained conclusive results that are presented in this paper. These results will help to determine and demonstrate the efficiency of the new suggested method for the future flight safety organization at the CSG New Generation. The test campaign presented in this paper was possible following significant ergonomics choices regarding both the flight safety room configuration and the operator HMI layout. Indeed, the enhancement of flight safety operations has been enabled by a careful selection of decision-aiding algorithms and logical equations, however the study determining the most adequate position of HMI elements has also played a major role in the safety officers’ ability to operate the new concepts.This paper will present the results of the test campaign based on initial ergonomic studies enabling this major change in the organization of the flight safety team within the future CSG.

Antecedents of psychological safety in agile software development teams

Antecedents of psychological safety in agile software development teams

Increasing staff time for patient facing care on an inpatient geriatric unit through modification of multidisciplinary board rounds: a quality improvement project

BackgroundNHS staff recruitment and retention have failed to keep pace with service demands and workforce burn-out is of significant concern. This quality improvement project (QIP) aimed to increase staff time...

Iatrogenic Injury During Intraoperative Transesophageal Echocardiography: Implications for Medical Equipment Storage.

Medical equipment failure is an underappreciated source of iatrogenesis. The authors report a successful root cause analysis and action (RCA2) to improve compliance and decrease risks to patients during cardiac anesthesia care. A quality and safety team of five content experts performed an RCA2 after an iatrogenic injury with transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) probe insertion. The team used a fishbone diagram to identify causes and performed a Gemba walk to discuss probability of the different causes with key stakeholders. The team reviewed hospital policies and procedures as well as manufacturer manuals regarding best practices for maintenance and storage of TEE probes. The team created a corrective action plan centered on purchasing larger TEE storage cabinets, education of those who handle TEE probes, and implementing standard operating procedures. Effectiveness of the intervention was evaluated by analyzing frequency of TEE probe maintenance. The study period ranged from July 2016 to June 2021. TEE probes required maintenance 51 times, of which 40 (78.4%) occurred prior to the larger storage cabinet purchase, and 11 (21.6%) afterward. The number of TEE probes requiring maintenance per quarter was 4.4 (standard deviation [SD] 2.5) during the preintervention period and 1.0 (SD 1.0) during the postintervention period (mean difference 3.4, 95% confidence interval 1.0-5.9, p = 0.0006). An extensive RCA2 resulting in a corrective action plan centered on compliance with manufacturer recommendations for storage of TEE probes resulted in fewer maintenance requests, which decreased the risk of iatrogenic patient injury from TEE probe failure during cardiac anesthesia care.

Impact of Workflow and Educational Interventions on MR Safety in Radiation Oncology.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is becoming increasingly integrated into radiation oncology (RO) departments with the use of MRI-Linacs and MRI simulation. Due to the number of implants in patients with cancer, adoption of comprehensive patient screening and MR safety workflows in RO is critical. Identifying MR unsafe implants only at the time of MRI simulation leads to same-day cancellations, potentially delaying treatment, and can risk MR safety events (SEs). This quality improvement study evaluated the impact of workflow and educational interventions on MR safety in RO at a single institution. In an effort to decrease same-day cancellations and improve safety surrounding use of a 3 Tesla MRI simulator at an academic center, three plan-see-do-act (PDSA) cycles were implemented from 4/18/22 - 1/19/23. MR safety oversight for the simulator was provided by a multidisciplinary team, with input from both radiology and RO. PDSA cycle 1 implemented a two-screen functional workflow, adapted from radiology at the same institution. The first screen is completed by the practice coordinator (PC) at the time of scheduling to triage high-risk patients into a work queue (WQ) for further evaluation by the MR safety team. The second screen is performed by the MR technologist (MRT) at the point of care. PDSA cycle 2 involved education for PCs. PDSA cycle 3 was a second PC educational intervention including a visual aide to assist with WQ use. Efficacy was determined by the number of same-day cancellations, patients in the WQ (a measure of the number of patients identified at the initial screen as having an implant), and SEs in each PDSA cycle. PDSA cycle 1 spanned 56 workdays during which 91 MR simulations were scheduled with 6 cancellations (6.5%). PDSA cycle 2 spanned 84 days during which 173 MR simulations were scheduled with 18 cancellations (10.4%). PDSA cycle 3 spanned 39 workdays and had 94 MR simulations, with 7 cancellations (7.4%). The cancellation rate during each PDSA cycle was 0.11, 0.21, and 0.17 cancellations/day, respectively. The number of patients in the WQ during each PDSA cycle, representing successfully screened high-risk patients, was 0, 0, and 3, respectively. There were no SEs during the study. In this study, an MR safety workflow from radiology was successfully implemented in RO. There were no SEs during the study, but the number of patients successfully screened as high-risk and placed in the WQ increased after repeat PC education. Further increases in WQ use would decrease the demand for implant assessment at point of care, which could decrease burden on the MRT, same day cancellations, and potentially SEs. This will be especially important if case load increases. Future work could expand educational efforts to additional staff.

The role of empowering leadership, safety culture and safety climate in the prediction of mindful organizing in an air traffic management company

Mindful organizing is the collective capability of teams to anticipate, detect, and contain early signs of emerging problems, act proactively, and recover quickly if unexpected events and errors occur. The present study aimed to add to our currently limited understanding of antecedents of mindful organizing: empowering leadership, safety culture, and team safety climate. To do so, we tested a moderated mediation model using a sample of 73 Air Traffic Management company employees. The model evaluated whether safety climate mediates the relationship between empowering leadership and mindful organizing, and whether safety culture understanding as enacted value of safety moderates the effect of empowering leadership on team safety climate. The results showed that a strong safety climate was a significant predictor of mindful organizing. Moreover, empowering leadership influenced mindful organizing indirectly through its positive effect on the safety climate in a work unit. However, the moderating role of safety culture was not confirmed.

276 Development of inter-professional simulation-based education in geriatric medicine

Abstract Background Understanding human factors involved in patient care is a focus of the Geriatric Medicine Training curriculum including the leadership of and communication required within an interprofessional team. Geriatric Medicine Specialty Trainees (ST4+) need advanced communication skills and confidence in managing complex situations. Simulation-enhanced Interprofessional Education (Sim-IPE) provides insight into other disciplines roles. We hypothesised that the implementation of a Sim-IPE programme dedicated to communication skills could improve confidence. Methods We organised a one-day Sim-IPE programme for our Geriatric Medicine ST4+. Faculty consisted of doctors, advanced nurse practitioner, social worker, occupational therapist, physiotherapist and speech and language therapist. Communication scenarios, with faculty as simulated participants, were undertaken including establishing a ceiling of treatment, management of delirium, breaking bad news, ethical feeding dilemmas, complex discharge planning and capacity assessment. Debrief discussions followed each scenario. Mixed-method evaluation was used with questionnaires collected from learners’ pre and post session in a 10-point Likert scale to compare confidence levels. Qualitative feedback was collected from learners and faculty. Results Ten Geriatric Medicine ST4+ attended plus nine faculty including two facilitators. Positive feedback was received from learners and faculty. There was improvement in confidence across all six scenarios (one being ‘not at all confident’ and ten ‘extremely confident’). Pre-session average confidence was 7.2, post-session 8.7. All trainees would recommend the programme to a colleague. Common learning themes included gaining feedback from debrief discussions and shared learning from our allied-health professionals. Learners and faculty commented on the enjoyment, usefulness and value of learning within a safe team environment. Conclusion Sim-IPE can improve confidence in complex communication scenarios and human factor skills. Feedback highlighted that this programme would be useful for all General Internal Medicine Specialty Trainees.

Places and spaces: exploring interconnections between school environment, resources and social relations

ABSTRACT Background Relational issues at school, including bullying, tend to be interpreted primarily in terms of the behaviour of individual students. Whilst research has broadened this focus, more needs to be understood about how the design and management of the school environment and its resources may influence peer relations. Purpose The study sought to consider interconnections between the physical and organisational environment, resources, and social relations in school settings. Method Ethnographic research was conducted at three schools in Sweden, consisting of 6 to 8 weeks of participant observations at each school, and interviews with school safety or health teams, 21 teachers, and 121 students from preschool class (ages 6–7) to sixth grade (ages 12–13). Field notes and interview data were analysed using an approach based on constructivist grounded theory. Findings In-depth analysis of data identified a complex network of interconnections between the school environment, resources and peer relationships. In particular, it illuminated how competition for limited resources can influence social relations negatively. This may lead to brief minor conflicts, which, in turn, could potentially precipitate or become part of more systematic school bullying situations. Conclusions Our findings highlight the significance of decisions about the uses of space in schools, including choices in design (e.g. of play spaces) and the distribution of resources (e.g. equipment). Deeper understanding of the interconnections between the school environment, resources and peer relations can help inform efforts to support student wellbeing.

Causal Effects of Safety Measure Practices on Safety Performance and Project Performance

Although many improvements in the prevention of fatalities in construction industry, however, the fatality rates in Malaysian Construction Industry continue at an unacceptable rate. Data extracted from Department of Occupational Safety &amp; Health (DOSH) Malaysia, indicated that Safety Measure Practices (SMP) were the main cause of workers’ high fatality. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship of SMP, Safety Performance, and Project Performance at Occupational Health &amp; Safety Management System (OHSMS) certified Malaysia construction projects. This study was conducted using purpose sampling, a self-administrated questionnaire at 31 project sites consisting of 401 respondents within the safety management team members in the state of Selangor, Malaysia. The data analysis in this study was carried out using SPSS Amos (v21) of IBM. The findings show that Safety Rules &amp; Procedures, Safety Acts and Adoption of OHSMS of SMP are positively related to safety performance and project performance. Furthermore, these elements of safety components shall upgrade company image and improve financial gains of the project. Within the scope of the unique nature of the project, implementing SMP in OHSMS environment, with special reference to Safety Rules &amp; Procedures and Safety Acts of the workers results in less workplace accidents. Also, project performance (company competitiveness and financial performance) will be enhanced through better safety performance. The key findings may prompt the top management and project managers to re-think the current conservative approach to run the projects where safety issues are fully responsible by the safety team. Top management need to top-up resources to manage safety as like other functions of the business. Project managers need to manage safety besides the other functions of the organization such as production, maintenance, marketing and finance to achieve business objectives.

Integrating quality improvement into healthcare operations: A system's approach

A palpable pulse on organizational culture is imperative for allowing senior leadership to understand the current state and use this as a starting point to measure the gap between the current state and where the organization should be to meet strategic goals related to quality and safety. Knowledge gleaned from causal analysis and coding of safety events provides the organization with that information. Our organization was unknowingly making decisions on a small quantity of coded and classified events, which led to mistakes on our journey to becoming a high-reliability organization.To remedy this, the Quality and Safety Team improved the user interface of the event reporting system and created standard work for all frontline staff, physicians, area managers and senior leaders. After several interventions, we reduced the time between reported events and documented resolution by 15.28% and increased the quantity of coded and classified safety events tenfold. These changes improved our organization's ability to make better informed decisions and plot a more precise course on the journey to becoming a high-reliability organization.

Leadership Styles and Regulatory Foci: Attaining Psychological Safety in Diverse Teams

Leadership Styles and Regulatory Foci: Attaining Psychological Safety in Diverse Teams

Impact of COVID-19 on Social and Psychological Well-Being of Workers in Construction Projects: A Comparative Analysis of Managers and Laborers

The COVID-19 pandemic brought challenges such as social distancing, health fears, reduced interaction, and increased stress for construction workers. Understanding their changing social and psychological states is crucial for effective management and performance. This study investigated the impact of the pandemic on the managers’ and laborers’ social and psychological well-being states and identified the changes in their social and psychological well-being states affecting project performance before and after the pandemic. Construction professionals, including construction managers, superintendents, and laborers, participated in a survey exploring thirteen social and psychological well-being variables and three performance variables. Data analysis involved paired t-tests and multiple regression. The findings revealed increased levels of anxiety and depression among both managers and laborers after the pandemic, with laborers more severely affected. Managers considered a broader range of variables, while laborers primarily focused on social factors influencing project performance. These disparities suggested that managers should prioritize health and safety measures, fair compensation, team cohesion, and stress management, while laborers’ motivation, work environment, knowledge acquisition, and sense of belonging should receive priority attention. This study contributes to providing managerial implications and guidance for improving the construction workforce, including managers’ and site laborers’ performance in the post-pandemic period.

Decoding Decentralized Autonomous Organizations: A Content Analysis Approach to Understanding Scoring Platforms

This paper evaluates the scoring platforms for decentralized autonomous organization (DAO), examining their methodologies and highlighting their strengths and limitations. Using content analysis, we scrutinize the scoring methodologies of the Prime Rating, DAO Meter, and DeFi Safety platforms, evaluating code, documentation, security, team composition, governance, and regulatory compliance. We analyze the underlying assumptions and data sources relied upon by these platforms, using a content analysis approach. Our investigation furnishes valuable information for stakeholders, aiming to evaluate or enhance DAO scoring methodologies used by scholars and practitioners in the finance and blockchain fields. By contributing to a more rigorous understanding of DAO performance assessment, this paper supports informed decision making and promotes the development of a dependable and efficient scoring system for the decentralized financial ecosystem.

Lessons Learned from the Design, Construction, and Commissioning of a Retrofitted Arthropod Containment Level 3 Insectary.

Arthropods are vectors for many pathogens that significantly harm human and animal health globally, and research into vector-borne diseases is of critical public health importance. Arthropods present unique risks for containment, and therefore insectary facilities are essential to the safe handling of arthropod-borne hazards. In 2018, the School of Life Sciences at Arizona State University (ASU) began the process to build a level 3 arthropod containment (ACL-3) facility. Even with the COVID-19 pandemic, it took more than 4 years for the insectary to be granted a Certificate of Occupancy. At the request of the ASU Environmental Health and Safety team, Gryphon Scientific, an independent team with biosafety and biological research expertise, studied the project lifecycle through the design, construction, and commissioning of the ACL-3 facility with the goal of identifying lessons learned from the delayed timeline. These lessons learned convey insight into best practices for assessing potential facility sites, anticipating challenges with retrofitted construction, preparing for commissioning, equipping the project team with necessary expertise and expectations, and supplementing the gaps in available containment guidance. Several unique mitigations designed by the ASU team to address research risks not specifically addressed in the American Committee of Medical Entomology Arthropod Containment Guidelines are also described. Completion of the ACL-3 insectary at ASU was delayed, but the team thoroughly assessed potential risks and enabled appropriate practices for the safe handling of arthropod vectors. These efforts will enhance future ACL-3 construction by helping to avoid similar setbacks and streamlining progress from concept to operation.