Journal of Safety Research最新文献

Introduction: The use of zero within construction safety continues, despite a lack of supporting empirical evidence of success. Whether used as a target, a vision, or a journey, zero has its supporters and its critics, and remains popular among construction companies across the world. Method: A critical discussion sets out a number of theoretical considerations of zero, supplemented by statistical analysis of the U.S. SIF incident data for the period 2018–2022, evaluating companies that use zero and those that do not. This work mirrors that previously undertaken in the UK. Results: Cross referencing SIF incidents and firms using zero within their safety management revealed that overall, firms using zero had fewer incidents that firms that were not. However, when the data were examined statistically, no difference in the Serious Injuries and Fatalities (SIF) outcomes between the zero and non-zero companies was determined. The data therefore are equivocal: it does not prove that zero does not work, but nor does it evidence that it does. Conclusions: Zero remains problematic for occupational safety management. The empirical data from the United States do not evidence any clear success from the use of zero in practice, as was also the case in the equivalent UK dataset. Various debates remain around the use of zero, yet there are potential alternatives already emerging within safety management that may mean it naturally fades from the safety lexicon in the future. Practical Applications: This work adds to the theoretical debates around zero, providing food for thought for safety practitioners around the use of zero in the field. It also presents empirical correlational data that demonstrates a lack of evidence for the beneficial use of zero within occupational safety.

Introduction

One of the most common and serious types of crashes among all motor-vehicle users involves collisions with fixed objects. This type of crash occurs frequently among utility vehicle workers while driving for work. The overarching objective of this research was to improve the safety of electric utility company vehicle operators by determining the circumstances under which utility vehicles are involved in crashes with fixed objects and to provide recommendations to help drivers and utility fleet company management prevent these types of crashes.

Methods

The study incorporated a mixed methods approach and gathered information from structured interviews with safety managers at electric power companies and an analysis of utility vehicle crashes using data supplied by electric power companies and a statewide database in Michigan.

Results

Many factors were found to contribute to fixed-object crashes including engagement in secondary tasks and job productivity pressure. Information was organized and evaluated to develop 11 recommendations for countermeasure strategies that are directed at various levels within the system in which the drivers operate.

Discussion

This study was the first to explore fixed-object crashes among electric utility fleet vehicles. The findings are unique in that they provide insight into the safety practices in an industry that has received limited academic attention and highlight the need to place greater emphasis on road safety practices in the workplace.

Practical application

Countermeasures generated for this study are applicable to companies in which fleet driver safety is a primary concern.

Introduction: While enrollment in swimming lessons is associated with lower drowning risk in children, many parents do not enroll their children in formal lessons. To understand these decisions, the current research investigated the social cognition factors that drive parents’ intentions to enroll their children for the first time. Methods: Using a mixed methods design, beliefs about enrolling one’s child in swimming lessons were elicited in a sample of 22 Australian parents. A second sample of 323 then rated the extent to which they agree with each of these beliefs and completed measures of an extended theory of planned behavior (TPB) model including autonomous motivation, risk perception, and role construction. Results: Results showed a range of behavioral, normative, and control beliefs to significantly predict intention to enroll. In the model, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, risk perception, and role construction all predicted intention to enroll. Autonomous motivation had an indirect effect on intention via the TPB constructs. Conclusions: Targeting beliefs that non-enrollment places a child at risk, that enrollment is under a parent’s control, that others would want parents to enroll their child, and that it is the responsibility as a parent to enroll their child may be viable messages for intervention. Practical implications: Current results signpost several potential belief-based targets for interventions encouraging enrollment in swimming lessons. However, as qualitative data also indicated structural barriers to enrolment, such strategies should be paired with attempts to ensure swimming lessons are affordable and accessible to the wider population.

Introduction: Novice young adult drivers are at higher risk of being involved in an accident. Many studies have studied young adult drivers’ risk-taking behaviors under manual driving conditions. However, limited studies have examined novice young adult drivers’ fatigue during driving. Such issues could be more prominent in automated driving conditions. Studying novice young adult driver fatigue development under automated driving could provide a better understanding of the young adult driver’s crash factors, and in turn, prevent the accidents. Therefore, this study is designed to understand the novice young adult driver’s fatigue under automated driving. Method: In this study, 16 participants from novice young adult drivers (≤19 years old) and experienced middle-aged adult (≥21 years old) driver groups were recruited for a 1.5-hour automated driving task. The subjectively rated fatigue and discomfort questionnaire and electrocardiogram were used to measure fatigue development. Results: The results showed that novice young adult drivers developed fatigue faster and more severely than experienced middle-aged adult drivers under automated driving. Specifically, novice young adult drivers had a higher heart rate reduction and higher subjective ratings on the factors of over-drained, drowsy, uninterested, stiff joints, tense muscles, and numbness as compared with experienced middle-aged adult drivers. Novice young adult drivers were found to have an earlier onset of mental fatigue than experienced middle-aged adult drivers at 30 min of driving, while their physical fatigue was found to have a later onset at 60 min and 90 min of driving. Conclusions: Novice young adult drivers develop both physical and mental fatigue earlier than experienced middle-aged adult drivers during automated driving. Practical applications: The result suggests that fatigue alarm features should be considered when designing automated vehicles for novice young adult drivers.

Introduction: The recent increase in the use of bicycles and personal mobility devices (PMDs), including mostly E-scooters, is associated with a rapid rise in injuries. Understanding the main crash scenarios leading to these injuries is essential to evaluate and improve preventive and protective measures, especially for PMDs, which are often equated with bicycles. The objective of this study is to identify and compare the most common two-party collision scenarios for bicycles and PMDs, and to identify factors affecting injury severity. Method: Crashes involving at least one PMD or one bicycle and another road user were analyzed from the 2019–2022 French police-reported road crashes database. We investigated the rider, the other vehicle, the road, and the crash scenarios characteristics (pre-crash maneuvers, impact zone on vehicles) and their joint effect on injury severity (hospitalization or fatality: yes/no). Results: We included 16,302 bicycle crashes and 4,118 PMD crashes in the analysis. Most of these collisions (75%) were against a car. The most frequent and the most severe collision scenario was the side-on-head for both bicycles (51%) and PMDs (58%); 67% of both bicycles and PMDs were going straight before the collision. Main factors associated with increased injury severity included colliding with a greater size vehicle, age above 50, and riding on roads with a higher speed limit. Bicycles remained at a higher risk of severe injury than PMDs after accounting for adjustment factors. Conclusions: Although collision scenarios appear similar for bicycles and PMDs, differences in other crash characteristics and injury severity suggest that these two modes of transportation should not be equated in crash investigations. Practical implications: These findings emphasize the need to primarily investigate side-on-head collisions with a moving car for both PMDs and bicycles in order to develop, evaluate, and improve protective devices to reduce the risk of injuries.

Introduction: Several studies have assessed and validated the impact of exoskeletons on back and shoulder muscle activation; however, limited research has explored the role that exoskeletons could play in mitigating lower arm-related disorders. This study assessed the impact of Ironhand, an active hand exoskeleton (H-EXO) designed to reduce grip force exertion, on worker exertion levels using a two-phase experimental design. Method: Ten male participants performed a controlled, simulated drilling activity, while three male participants completed an uncontrolled concrete demolition activity. The impact of the exoskeleton was assessed in terms of muscle activity across three different muscles using electromyography (EMG), perceived exertion, and perceived effectiveness. Results: Results indicate that peak muscle activation decreased across the target muscle group when the H-EXO was used, with the greatest reduction (27%) observed in the Extensor Carpi Radialis (ECR). Using the exoskeleton in controlled conditions did not significantly influence perceived exertion levels. Users indicated that the H-EXO was a valuable technology and expressed willingness to use it for future tasks. Practical Applications: This study showcases how glove-based exoskeletons can potentially reduce wrist-related disorders, thereby improving safety and productivity among workers. Future work should assess the impact of the H-EXO in various tasks, different work environments and configurations, and among diverse user groups.

Introduction: Industrial workers with physically demanding work have increased risk of musculoskeletal pain. The present 12-week Goldilocks Work intervention aimed to organize work among industrial workers to comprise a ‘just right’ ergonomic balance of physical behaviors (i.e., sit, stand and active) intended to promote musculoskeletal health. The paper investigates the effectiveness of the intervention in reducing low back pain after work. Methods: 83 workers across 28 workteams in a biotech organization were recruited. Workteams were randomly allocated to receive the intervention or work as usual (control). Intervention workteams implemented the Goldilocks Work planning tool to organize their work tasks towards a predefined ‘just right’ ergonomic balance (i.e., composition of 60% sitting, 30% standing, 10% active work and hourly task alternation). The primary outcome was low back pain intensity. Secondary outcomes were bodily pain, fatigue, physical exertion, productivity and energy after work measured in the survey, and composition and alternations of physical behaviors measured using wearable sensors. Results: The intervention was delivered almost as planned, with good quality and high adherence among most workteams. However, the intervention did not change physical behaviors towards the intended ‘just right’ ergonomic balance. No significant reduction in low back pain (0.07, CI 95%: −0.68; 0.82), bodily pain (0.10, CI 95%: −0.57; 0.76), tiredness (−0.53, CI 95%: −1.24; 0.19), physical exertion (−0.18, CI 95%: −0.83; 0.48), or improvement in energy (0.39, CI 95%: −1.02; 0.23) or productivity (−0.03, CI 95%: −0.77; 0.72) were found. Conclusion: This Goldilocks Work intervention did not promote musculoskeletal health among industrial workers and did not change physical behaviors as intended. Thus, more research is needed into implementation strategies to change physical behaviors during productive work towards an evidence-based ‘just right’ ergonomic balance.

Introduction: Active back-support exoskeletons are gaining more awareness as a solution to the prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders in the construction industry. This study aims to understand the factors that influence the adoption of active back-support exoskeletons in the construction industry. Method: A literature review was conducted to gather relevant adoption factors related to exoskeleton implementation. Building on the TOE (Technology, Organization, and Environment) framework, two rounds of the survey via the Delphi technique were administered with 13 qualified industry professionals to determine the most important adoption factors using the relative importance index. Through semi-structured interviews, the professionals expressed their perspectives on the impact of active back-support exoskeletons on the construction industry. Results: Important factors included 18 facilitators and 21 barriers. The impact of the exoskeletons in the construction industry was categorized into expected benefits, barriers, solutions, adjustment to technology, implementation, and applicable tasks. Conclusions: This study identified the factors to be considered in the adoption and implementation of active back-support exoskeletons in the construction industry from the perspective of stakeholders. The study also elucidates the impact of active exoskeletons on construction organizations and the broader environment. Practical Applications: This study provides useful guidance to construction companies interested in adopting active back-support exoskeletons. Our results will also help manufacturers of active back-support exoskeletons to understand the functional requirements and adjustments required for utilization in the construction industry. Lastly, the study expands the application of the TOE framework to the adoption of active back-support exoskeletons in the construction industry.

Introduction: Lane departure collisions account for many roadway fatalities across the United States. Many of these crashes occur on horizontal curves or ramps and are due to speeding. This research investigates factors that impact the odds of speeding on Interstate horizontal curves and ramps. Method: We collected and combined two unique sources of data. The first database involves comprehensive curve and ramp characteristics collected by an automatic road analyzer (ARAN) vehicle; the second database includes volume, average speed, and speed distribution gathered from probe data provided by StreetLight Insight®. We evaluated the impacts of level of service (LOS), which reflects traffic density or level of congestion, time of the day (morning, evening, and off-peak hours), time of the week (weekdays and weekends), and month of the year (Jan-Dec), and various information about geometric characteristics, such as curve radius, arc angle, and superelevation, on odds of speeding. Results: The results show that the odds of speeding increases at horizontal curves with improved levels of service, as well as those with larger radii and superelevation. The odds of speeding decreases on curves with larger arc angles and during the winter months of the year. The findings indicate a reduction in odds of speeding at diagonal/loop ramps with larger arc angles and narrower lane widths. Conclusion: The results show the importance of using speed enforcement and other countermeasures to reduce speeding on curves with low traffic volumes, high speed limits, and large radius and superelevation, especially for those in rural areas. Practical application: The results could be used to prioritize locations for the installation of speed countermeasures or dispatch enforcement resources to high-priority locations and times.

Introduction: Patients may not feel responsible for reporting safety events, and social norms may prevent patients from questioning health care providers’ judgment. There is a paucity of research regarding public awareness of reportable safety events/risks. Educating the public about reporting is paramount in error prevention. Because more than 70% of errors (e.g., errors in diagnosis, communication errors, unsafe medication practices, and care fragmentation) occur in primary care settings, the purpose of this study was to explore public perceptions of when to report safety events/risks in these settings. Method: System-level primary and outpatient facility safety incident scenarios conducive to safety events/risk reporting were developed and administered via online survey methodology. Following completion of the scenario questions, participants were asked a single open-text item: “As you were reading the scenarios above, what did you think makes an event/risk ‘reportable’?” Results: At least one-third of participants responded incorrectly in 70% of the scenarios. The percentage of incorrect responses ranged from 5.2% to 62.3% with “unwitnessed falls” and “nursing scope of practice” queries incorrectly reported at 44.5% and 53.9%, respectively. Rationales for inappropriate events/risk reporting included “risk prediction at the management/system level,” “legal repercussions/protection (e.g., negligence, legal responsibility to patient),” “violations of scope of practice/professional expectations,” “degree of potential/actual lethality,” and “personnel errors.” Conclusion: This study revealed a gap between understanding why to report an event/risk and when to correctly report (or not report) an actual healthcare issue. Practical applications: Awareness of reasons for correctly reporting incidents and how correct reporting builds a culture of safety needs to be strengthened.