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1 – 10 of over 1000Jennifer Ford, David B. Isaacks and Timothy Anderson
This study demonstrates how becoming a high-reliability institution in health care is a priority, given the high-risk environment in which an error can result in harm. Literature…
Abstract
Purpose
This study demonstrates how becoming a high-reliability institution in health care is a priority, given the high-risk environment in which an error can result in harm. Literature conceptually supports the need for highly reliable health care facilities but does not show a comprehensive approach to operationalizing the concept into the daily workforce to support patients. The Veterans Health Administration closes the gap by documenting a case study that not only demonstrates specific actions and functions that create a high-reliability organization (HRO) for safety and improvement but also created a learning organization by spreading the knowledge to other facilities.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors instituted a methodology consisting of assessments, training and educational simulations to measure, establish and operationalize activities that identified and prevented harmful events. Visual communication boards were created to facilitate team huddles and discuss improvement ideas. Improvements were then measured and analyzed for purposeful outcomes and return on investment (ROI).
Findings
HRO can be operationalized successfully in health care systems. Measurable outcomes verified that psychological safety was achieved through the identification and participation of 3,184 process improvement projects over a five-year period, which yielded a US$2.8m ROI. Documented processes and activities were used for educational teachings, which were disseminated to other Veteran Affairs Medical Center’s through the Truman HRO Academy.
Practical implications
This case study is limited to one hospital in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) network. As the VHA continues to deploy the methods outlined to other hospitals, the authors will perform incremental data collection and ongoing analysis for further validation of the HRO methods and operations. Hospitalists can adapt the methods in the case study for practical application in a health care setting outside of VHA. Although the model is rooted in health care, the methods may be adapted for use in other industries.
Originality/value
This case study overcomes the limitations within literature regarding operationalizing HRO by providing actual activities and demonstrations that can be implemented by other health care facilities.
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Frederick Owusu Danso, Kofi Agyekum, Patrick Manu, Emmanuel Adinyira, Divine K. Ahadzie and Edward Badu
Although many health and safety (H&S) studies have widely examined safety risk perception in the construction industry, few studies have explored how this perception influences…
Abstract
Purpose
Although many health and safety (H&S) studies have widely examined safety risk perception in the construction industry, few studies have explored how this perception influences site workers' risk-taking behaviours during construction. This study aims to examine how construction site workers perceive and judge safety risks in risk-taking behaviours of site workers for intervention safety policy framework that may encourage safe work.
Design/methodology/approach
The study employed Pictorial-based Q-Methodology, which documented 63 picture scenarios of risk-taking behaviours from building sites and submitted them for validation from H&S inspectors. In total, 33 pictures emerged as having great potential to cause harm. After using these 33 pictures to elicit data from randomised site workers, the study used Frequency Tabulation, Relative Importance Index (RII) and Kruskal–Wallis Test to analyse the collected data. To fully explain the analysed data for deeper understanding, the study conducted Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with these site workers to share the thoughts of site workers on these pictures.
Findings
Two distinctive pictures emerged from these analyses: one showing risk-taking behaviour likely to contract internal and skin disease and the other likely to fall from height. One of the implications is that construction site workers are unfamiliar with the dangerous contaminants in the materials the site workers use to work, which can potentially harm the site workers' skin and internal organs. Hence, site workers continue engaging in risk-taking behaviours. The other is that site workers are aware of and can mention catastrophic physical injuries attached to site workers' jobs. However, site workers continue engaging in risk-taking behaviours because of site workers' safety plights and rely on the favour and mercies of a supreme being as coping strategies to escape from these physical injuries.
Originality/value
This study is original in that the study uses picture scenarios of risk-taking behaviours to amass an empirical-based understanding of how site workers perceive and respond to H&S risks during construction. This piece of evidence is missing in the numerous research studies in this area. Again, the findings contribute to the state-of-the-art literature regarding risk-taking behaviours on construction sites.
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Abraham Ansong, Sharif Shani Amadu and Moses Ahomka Yeboah
This study aims to examine the mediation effect of safety climate (SC) on the relationship between ethical leadership and employee health and safety in the oil and gas downstream…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine the mediation effect of safety climate (SC) on the relationship between ethical leadership and employee health and safety in the oil and gas downstream sector in Ghana.
Design/methodology/approach
This study used a quantitative approach (survey) to collect data from 215 pump attendants at the fuel stations in the Accra Metropolis. The authors used PLS structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) to test the research hypotheses in this study.
Findings
The results show that leaders’ adherence to ethical practices had a significant and positive effect on both their employees’ health and safety and SC in the workplace. Furthermore, the ability of leaders to use ethical practices to achieve a healthy and safe work environment was also contingent on the presence of a safe work climate.
Practical implications
This study highlights the need for leaders to pay specific attention to adhering to ethical rules and regulations and also promoting a safe climate in the workplace to guarantee the health and safety of employees.
Originality/value
This study presents a novel contribution to the literature by empirically demonstrating the contingency importance of SC in the quest of leaders leveraging ethical practices to promote the health and safety of employees in the workplace, which has not been discussed by previous studies.
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Muhammad Shoaib Saleem, Ahmad Shahrul Nizam Isha and Maheen Iqbal Awan
The study investigated the predictive role of supportive leadership and psychological safety for mindful organizing and the subsequent impact of mindful organizing on individual…
Abstract
Purpose
The study investigated the predictive role of supportive leadership and psychological safety for mindful organizing and the subsequent impact of mindful organizing on individual task performance. Mindful organizing, a concept from high-reliability organizations (HROs), can improve performance in various industrial settings. The limited availability of novel predictors for mindful organizing necessitates exploring this concept in the context of adventure tourism.
Design/methodology/approach
Through a cross-sectional research approach, 394 respondents were selected from the adventure tourism industry in Malaysia. The proposed causal research model was evaluated through structural equation modeling (SEM), aggregation and bootstrapping.
Findings
Psychological safety and supportive leadership significantly impacted mindful organizing. Mindful organizing, in turn, was positively associated with individual task performance. The mediating role of mindful organizing between psychological safety and task performance was statistically significant. However, the mediating role of mindful organizing between supportive leadership and task performance was not statistically significant.
Practical implications
Managers in the adventure tourism industry should consider applying mindful organizing to increase employee productivity and develop collective sensemaking. Also, developing a culture of support among managers and coworkers, emphasizing the team's psychological safety, may boost the morale and productivity of the workforce.
Originality/value
This research has identified and empirically tested new antecedents, psychological safety and leadership for mindful organizing in the adventure tourism context and has addressed a significant research gap (Sutcliffe et al., 2016) by broadening the scope of mindful organizing research to encompass contexts beyond those exclusively considered HROs.
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Mark Swallow and Sambo Lyson Zulu
The benefits of integrating immersive technologies (ImTs) within a construction safety context are acknowledged within the literature; however, its practical application on…
Abstract
Purpose
The benefits of integrating immersive technologies (ImTs) within a construction safety context are acknowledged within the literature; however, its practical application on construction sites remains low. Whilst research into the integration of ImTs within the construction industry is underway, most have viewed this from a broader adoption context or within educational settings, and not specifically from a practical on-site safety perspective. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to address the contributing factors to its integration within on-site safety processes, using the experiences of active construction professionals.
Design/methodology/approach
This study adopts a qualitative approach. Data was collected through online focus groups involving UK based construction professionals with experience in using ImTs, recruited using selective sampling. Data sets were subsequently analysed using inductive thematic analysis and are presented within key themes.
Findings
The results showed that among the experienced construction professionals, the use of ImTs specifically for on-site safety applications (including inductions/training/workshops) was rare on projects. The findings identified various contributing factors related to the integration of ImTs, including the potential improvements in on-site safety practices such as enhanced communication of hazards, safety planning, engagement during training and more accurate risk assessment. Critical challenges, concerns and frustrations included a lack of engagement from senior level management, inadequate leadership, limited investment, a need for digital expertise, fear of complacency and the acceptance of ImTs within existing safety processes from the wider project team.
Originality/value
This study provides a fresh perspective to this field by using practical accounts from active and experienced on-site construction professionals. This study supports the integration of ImTs within the construction industry, presenting key contributing factors influencing its integration within on-site safety processes. These factors can be considered by industry adopters, and includes the rationale, challenges and potential on-site benefits of ImTs.
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Xiaobo Shi, Yan Liu, Kunkun Ma, Zixin Gu, Yaning Qiao, Guodong Ni, Chibuzor Ojum, Alex Opoku and Yong Liu
The purpose is to identify and evaluate the safety risk factors in the coal mine construction process.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose is to identify and evaluate the safety risk factors in the coal mine construction process.
Design/methodology/approach
The text mining technique was applied in the stage of safety risk factor identification. The association rules method was used to obtain associations with safety risk factors. Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) and Interpretative Structural Modeling (ISM) were utilized to evaluate safety risk factors.
Findings
The results show that 18 safety risk factors are divided into 6 levels. There are 12 risk transmission paths in total. Meanwhile, unsafe behavior and equipment malfunction failure are the direct causes of accidents, and inadequate management system is the basic factor that determines the safety risk status.
Research limitations/implications
Due to the limitation of the computational matrix workload, this article only categorizes numerous lexical items into 18 factors. Then, the workshop relied on a limited number of experts; thus, the findings may be potentially biased. Next, the accident report lacks a universal standard for compilation, and the use of text mining technique may be further optimized. Finally, since the data are all from China, subsequent cross-country studies should be considered.
Social implications
The results can help China coal mine project managers to have a clear understanding of safety risks, efficiently carry out risk hazard identification work and take timely measures to cut off the path of transmission with risks identified in this study. This helps reduce the economic losses of coal mining enterprises, thus improving the safety standards of the entire coal mining industry and the national standards for coal mine safety policy formulation.
Originality/value
Coal mine construction projects are characterized by complexity and difficulties in construction. Current research on the identification and assessment of safety risk factors in coal mine construction is insufficient. This study combines objective and systematic research approaches. The findings contribute to the safety risk management of China coal mine construction projects by providing a basis for the development of safety measures.
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Wenwei Huang, Deyu Zhong and Yanlin Chen
Construction enterprises are achieving the goal of production safety by increasingly focusing on the critical factor of “human” and the impact of individual characteristics on…
Abstract
Purpose
Construction enterprises are achieving the goal of production safety by increasingly focusing on the critical factor of “human” and the impact of individual characteristics on safety performance. Emotional intelligence is categorized into three models: skill-based, trait-based and emotional learning systems. However, the mechanism of action and the internal relationship between emotional intelligence and safety performance must be further studied. This study intends to examine the internal mechanism of emotional intelligence on safety performance in construction projects, which would contribute to the safety management of construction enterprises.
Design/methodology/approach
A structural equation model exploring the relationship between emotional intelligence and safety performance is developed, with political skill introduced as an independent dimension, situational awareness presented as a mediator, and management safety commitment introduced as a moderator. Data were collected by a random questionnaire and analyzed by SPSS 24.0 and AMOS 26.0. The structural equation model tested the mediation hypothesis, and the PROCESS macro program tested the moderated mediation hypothesis.
Findings
The results showed that construction workers' emotional intelligence directly correlates with safety performance, and situational awareness plays a mediating role in the relationship between emotional intelligence and the safety performance of construction workers. Management safety commitment weakens the positive predictive relationships between emotional intelligence and situational awareness and between emotional intelligence and safety performance.
Originality/value
This research reveals a possible impact of emotional intelligence on safety performance. Adding political skills to the skill-based model of emotional intelligence received a test pass. Political skill measures the sincere and cooperative skills of construction workers. Using people as a critical element plays a role in the benign mechanism of “Emotional Intelligence – Situational Awareness – Safety Performance.” Improving emotional intelligence skills through training, enhancing situational awareness, understanding, anticipation and coordination and activating management environment factors can improve safety performance. Construction enterprises should evaluate and train workers' emotional intelligence to improve workers' situational awareness and safety performance.
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Ayesh Udayanga Nelumdeniya, B.A.K.S. Perera and K.D.M. Gimhani
The purpose of this study is to investigate the usage of digital technologies (DTs) in improving the mental health of workers on construction sites.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to investigate the usage of digital technologies (DTs) in improving the mental health of workers on construction sites.
Design/methodology/approach
A mixed research approach was used in the study, which comprised a questionnaire survey and two phases of semi-structured interviews. Purposive sampling was used to determine the interviewees and respondents of the questionnaire survey. Weighted mean rating (WMR) and manual content analysis were used to rank and evaluate the collected data.
Findings
The findings of this study revealed bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, work-related stress and depression as the six most significant mental disorders (MDs) among the construction workforce and 30 causes for them. Moreover, 27 symptoms were related to the six most significant MDs, and sweating was the most significant symptom among them. Despite that, 16 DTs were found to be suitable in mitigating the causes for the most significant MDs.
Originality/value
There are numerous studies conducted on the application of DTs to construction operations. However, insufficient studies have been conducted focusing on the application of DTs in improving the mental health of workers at construction sites. This study can thus influence the use of DTs for tackling the common causes for MDs by bringing a new paradigm to the construction industry.
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G. Citybabu and S. Yamini
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the research landscape of LSS 4.0 papers published in two well-known repositories, Scopus and Web of Science (WoS), in terms of…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the research landscape of LSS 4.0 papers published in two well-known repositories, Scopus and Web of Science (WoS), in terms of publication trends, article distribution by author, journal, affiliations and country, and article clustering based on keywords, authors and countries. In addition, a literature review was carried out to build a conceptual framework of integrated Lean Six Sigma and Industry 4.0 (LSS 4.0) that encompasses operational, sustainability and human factors or ergonomics aspects.
Design/methodology/approach
The literature review of integrated Lean Six Sigma and I4.0 publications published in Scopus and WoS databases in the current decade was conducted for the present study. This study categorizes LSS, I4.0 and related research articles based on publication patterns, journals, authors and affiliations, country and continental-wise distribution and clustering the articles based on keywords and authors from the Scopus and WoS databases from 2011 to 2022 using the search strings “Lean”, “Six Sigma”, “Lean Six Sigma” and “Industry 4.0” in the Title, Abstract and Keywords using Biblioshiny, VOS viewer and Microsoft Excel.
Findings
In the recent three years, from 2020 to 2022, LSS 4.0 has been substantially increasing and is seen as an emerging and trending area. This research identifies the most influential authors, most relevant affiliations, most prolific countries and most productive journals and clusters based on keywords, authors and countries. Further, a conceptual framework was developed that includes the impact of operational, sustainability and ergonomic or human factors in LSS 4.0.
Research limitations/implications
This article assists in comprehending the trends and patterns of LSS 4.0. Further, the conceptual framework helps professionals and researchers understand the significance and impact of integrating LSS and Industry 4.0 in the aspects of human factors/ergonomic, sustainability and operations. Also, the research induce professionals to incorporate all these factors while designing and implementing LSS 4.0 in their organization.
Originality/value
This conceptual framework and bibliometric analysis would aid in identifying potential areas of research and providing future directions in the domain of LSS 4.0. It will be beneficial for academicians, professionals and researchers who are planning to apply and integrate techniques of LSS and technologies of I4.0 in their organizations and research.
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Yidan Huang, Heyao Yu, Amit Sharma and Ziang Zhang
This study aims to examine the relation between error management culture and restaurant employee promotive and prohibitive voices. Drawing on socially desirable responding theory…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine the relation between error management culture and restaurant employee promotive and prohibitive voices. Drawing on socially desirable responding theory, the authors also propose a dual-mediation mechanism underlying the impact of error management culture on employee voice: psychological empowerment, as the agentic motive, and psychological safety, as the communal motive.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors recruited 223 participants working in 37 restaurants in China for the two-wave surveys with a one-week interval. The authors use a multilevel modeling paradigm to test the study hypotheses.
Findings
This research examines a multilevel model suggesting that error management culture can boost employee promotive voice and prohibitive voice via the mechanisms of psychological safety and empowerment. In addition, the results suggest that psychological empowerment (vs psychological safety) has a strong mediation effect between error management culture and promotive voice, but the authors find no difference in mediating effects between error management culture and prohibitive voice.
Practical implications
Restaurants can encourage employee voice by developing and maintaining an error management culture. Organizations can also consider motivating employees from both agentic and communal perspectives. Moreover, managers should focus more on empowering employees in areas characterized by Confucianism or collectivism.
Originality/value
The current research adds to the voice literature by identifying an organizational cultural antecedent of employee voice–error management culture. Agentic and communal motives are two motivational paths of employee voice. It also extends the social desirability theory by highlighting the role of the agentic motive in the Chinese restaurant context.
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