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1 – 10 of over 35000Victoria Knight and Hannah Goodman
This article presents the findings of a survey into the personal safety provisions, services and training for key public service providers and users in Leicester city. The…
Abstract
This article presents the findings of a survey into the personal safety provisions, services and training for key public service providers and users in Leicester city. The article offers some definitions and approaches to personal safety, which illustrates the breadth and extent to which personal safety is understood. The survey highlights perceptions and experiences of personal safety of workers from a range of agencies in the community in Leicester city. The findings suggest that personal safety is important in terms of debates and decisions about occupational health and safety, delivery of public services, diversity, social inclusion and crime and disorder. The article advocates the need to raise the profile of personal safety especially in service provision, services and training.
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Deborah C. Fowler, Mitzi K. Lauderdale, Ben K. Goh and Jingxue (Jessica) Yuan
This study seeks to assess international tourists' perception of safety while shopping in the USA, using Las Vegas as the study site. Over recent years, Las Vegas became…
Abstract
Purpose
This study seeks to assess international tourists' perception of safety while shopping in the USA, using Las Vegas as the study site. Over recent years, Las Vegas became an international destination for visitors from the Asia‐Pacific region to celebrate Chinese New Year. In February 2007, Las Vegas hosted the NBA All‐Star Game for the first time from February 16 to 18. The two major events occurred over the same weekend. When two cultures shared a single site, however, the combination presented an issue of safety concern.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected using an intercept methodology over the three‐day period in a major shopping venue/casino from February 15 to 17, 2007.
Findings
The study finds that many of the tourists carried a large amount of cash on their person. As the week progressed, Asian visitors were less likely to feel their person and belongings were safe in the three major venues researched of restaurants, shopping centers, and amusement parks.
Originality/value
Few papers have addressed the safety concerns of international tourists in the USA, specifically in Las Vegas. Findings of this study contribute to the safety and security management of various tourist venues.
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Stefanie Hetzner, Helmut Heid and Hans Gruber
This paper aims to contribute to an understanding of how individual characteristics and perceived contextual conditions shape reflection in professional work, particularly…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to contribute to an understanding of how individual characteristics and perceived contextual conditions shape reflection in professional work, particularly in workplaces that provide a variety of work experiences related to changes. The authors examine the effects of personal initiative, self-efficacy and perceived psychological safety in work relations with colleagues and supervisors on individuals’ reflection at work.
Design/methodology/approach
A sample of 84 client advisors who had recently been affected by major changes in retail banking workplaces participated in the study. The participants completed a questionnaire consisting of instruments to map their self-rated personal initiative, self-efficacy beliefs, reflection at work and perception of psychological safety in work relations with colleagues and supervisors. The data were analysed by performing correlation analyses and hierarchical regression analyses.
Findings
The results revealed that both individuals’ personal initiative and self-efficacy significantly positively affect reflection at work. An individual’s perception of psychological safety – particularly among peers – positively predicts reflection.
Originality/value
This paper enriches the research on reflection in professional work, particularly against the backdrop of workplace changes. This is done by emphasising the power of individuals’ proactive role and initiative-taking work behaviour; positive beliefs in their own capabilities, e.g. managing the various opportunities involved in workplace changes; and their perception of a psychologically safe environment within a work group that is characterised by interpersonal trust, mutual respect and supportive cooperation.
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Yongguang Zou and Rob I. Mawby
The purpose of this paper is to address four questions: Firstly, how do tourists perceive safety from crime, specifically from robbery or violence, alongside other safety…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to address four questions: Firstly, how do tourists perceive safety from crime, specifically from robbery or violence, alongside other safety concerns? Secondly, are those who are concerned about crime also concerned about other threats to their well-being? Thirdly, how are their perceptions of safety affected by their perceptions of the local community? Finally, how are their perceptions affected by their personal and touristic characteristics?
Design/methodology/approach
Findings
Firstly, tourists did not generally see crime, specifically robbery or violence, as a problem; secondly, there was only a weak relationship between concern about crime and concern about other threats to their well-being; thirdly, in contrast, their perceptions of safety were strongly affected by their perceptions of the local community; and finally, their perceptions were affected by their personal and touristic characteristics, but not necessarily in the ways suggested by earlier research.
Research limitations/implications
The research sample was small and the questionnaire short. Only English-speaking visitors were included.
Practical implications
The tourism sector needs to appreciate role of local people in engendering feelings of safety.
Social implications
The attitude of the local community and their relationship with tourists is fundamental to helping visitors feel safe.
Originality/value
This is the first criminological paper to compare fear of crime with the other safety issues confronting tourists and to relate these concerns to relationships with host community.
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Christian Brandstätter, Christopher Schlembach, Gerald Furian and Susanne Kaiser
In this chapter we interpret traffic safety culture (TSC) in terms of data on beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors from the fourth wave of the SARTRE study to find out…
Abstract
In this chapter we interpret traffic safety culture (TSC) in terms of data on beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors from the fourth wave of the SARTRE study to find out whether they can be interpreted in a perspective. The SARTRE study is a European-wide survey that started in 1991 and collects information on mobility, risk perceptions, attitudes, behaviors, and experiences on the road (Cauzard, 1998, 2004; Cestac & Delhomme, 2012). The chapter focuses on the group of car drivers.
A principal component factor analysis was conducted to explore the underlying structure of the data set. Results suggest an underlying structure of five components which explain more than 55% of the variance. These dimensions were labeled (1) acceptance of technology and enforcement, (2) risk attitudes, (3) experienced and self-exerted behavioral control, (4) personal concern, (5) perception of other road users’ safety performance.
The influence of these five factors on safety performance (fatality rates) was estimated by regression analysis. Results show that only the second factor (risk attitudes) has a significant effect on fatality rates. As a consequence, expressive and instrumental attitudes about risk-taking should be addressed in driver training as well as information campaigns in order to improve safety culture at the level of individual car drivers.
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Márcio Lopes Pimenta and Éderson Luiz Piato
The purpose of this paper is to present an analysis of the cognitive relationship between personal values of buyers and attributes of automobiles.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present an analysis of the cognitive relationship between personal values of buyers and attributes of automobiles.
Design/methodology/approach
In total, 60 interviews were performed with buyers of sporty and compact cars. The qualitative laddering technique guided data collection and analysis, resulting in two cognitive value maps (HVM). The results were interpreted based on three theoretical approaches: Schwartz (1994), Allen (2000) and Gutman (1982).
Findings
The dominant chains from the two models indicate connection between “design and hedonism,” “internal finishing and hedonism” and “security items and safety as a value.” Therefore, these customers are predominantly characterized by individualistic values: by the pursuit of personal pleasure and concern for personal safety.
Research limitations/implications
Due to qualitative techniques having been used, future research could validate some presented results through surveys based on the connections between the set of attributes and values presented in this research.
Practical implications
Results from this study can help to develop segmentation and advertising strategies, as well as marketing aftermarket actions based on the psychographic profile provided by the HVMs. They may also assist integration between the initial and final phases of new vehicles’ development which have concepts similar to those studied here.
Originality/value
The extant literature provides few studies with the specific objective of identifying connections between vehicle attributes and the personal values of the consumers. This paper presents an interpretation of the cognitive relationships between vehicle attributes and personal values through three theoretical perspectives, providing multidimensional profiles to explain consumers’ values.
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The sawmill shootings in British Columbia, Canada, resulted in fatalities and grievous injuries to workers, which have put a sensational face on workplace violence in the…
Abstract
The sawmill shootings in British Columbia, Canada, resulted in fatalities and grievous injuries to workers, which have put a sensational face on workplace violence in the forestry sector. Yet, for all of the attention devoted after this horrific incident, to the growth and possible consequences of workplace violence, little empirical investigation has been done regarding the extent to which this type of violence may have permeated the sawmill forestry workplace in Canada; employees' experiences of workplace violence; employees' definition of workplace violence; the specific type of violence that occurs in sawmills; and the drivers of workplace violence as experienced and perceived by managers, union, and employees in the forestry sector context in British Columbia, Canada.
This research critically explores these questions to better understand employees' experiences of workplace violence, the problems of violence and its implications for workplace stress, well-being, leadership, and corporate governance. This research contributes to the workplace violence body of knowledge as it relates to employment in the forestry sector in British Columbia, Canada.
A mixed methodological approach was adopted using 367 questionnaire survey, 20 telephone interviews, and 2 focus groups lasting 45–60 minutes (managers and employees) were used to focus on managers, union, and employees' accounts of their own experiences and perceptions of workplace violence.
The analysis of the data in this study lends support to the conclusion that workplace violence waged against workers in the forestry sector is significantly different than the violence being perpetrated in other sectors and work settings. The findings further suggest that forestry workers work environment, communities, and activity contributes meaningfully to the differences in workplace violence experienced by Sawmill employees.
Insights obtained from this research can be used to develop educational tools and resources, and new policies to foster workplace practices conducive to reducing drivers to workplace violence, towards a more respectful workplace and overall employee well-being.
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W.K. Law, A.H.S. Chan and K.F. Pun
The purpose of this paper is to present a hierarchy decision model for assessing the priority of safety management elements in manufacturing enterprises with reference to…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present a hierarchy decision model for assessing the priority of safety management elements in manufacturing enterprises with reference to three major industries (i.e. textile and clothing, electronics, and printing and publishing) in Hong Kong. The identification of core decision criteria and safety management elements were addressed with respect to the effective implementation of safety management systems (SMS) in manufacturing enterprises.
Design/methodology/approach
Empirical data were acquired via a conduct of personal interviews with evaluators (i.e. safety personnel, experts and professionals) in industry. Using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) methodology, a list of seven decision criteria and 13 safety management elements were identified and their relative importance were evaluated.
Findings
It was found that the top three criteria for SMS implementation were “client requirement” “insurance company requirement” and “employee requirement”. Both “safety organisation” and “safety policy” were the most important safe management elements. Besides, evaluators put greater concerns on “safe person” elements than “safe place” elements. Incorporating the AHP findings, a self‐regulatory approach to implementing safety management elements was proposed.
Research limitations/implications
The hierarchy decision model would enable manufacturing enterprises to focus their resources on the critical elements at a time, to improve the effectiveness of SMS implementation. Future study could validate the applicability of the model and the self‐regulatory approach in large enterprises and small to medium‐sized enterprises, separately and collectively.
Practical implications
Using the AHP methodology, safety personnel could evaluate the relative importance of decision criteria and safety management elements with respect to the corporate goals, resources and constraints of their respective organisations.
Originality/value
The hierarchy decision model presented would enable manufacturing enterprises to determine the relative importance of decision criteria and safety management elements and to establish viable strategies for SMS implementation.
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Y.P. Tsang, K.L. Choy, P.S. Koo, G.T.S. Ho, C.H. Wu, H.Y. Lam and Valerie Tang
This paper aims to improve operational efficiency and minimize accident frequency in cold storage facilities through adopting an effective occupational safety and health…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to improve operational efficiency and minimize accident frequency in cold storage facilities through adopting an effective occupational safety and health program. The hidden knowledge can be extracted from the warehousing operations to create the comfortable and safe workplace environment.
Design/methodology/approach
A fuzzy association rule-based knowledge management system is developed by integrating fuzzy association rule mining (FARM) and rule-based expert system (RES). FARM is used to extract hidden knowledge from real operations to establish the relationship between safety measurement, personal constitution and key performance index measurement. The extracted knowledge is then stored and adopted in the RES to establish an effective occupational and safety program. Afterwards, a case study is conducted to validate the performance of the proposed system.
Findings
The results indicate that the aforementioned relationship can be built in the form of IF-THEN rules. An appropriate safety and health program can be developed and applied to all workers, so that they can follow instructions to prevent cold induced injuries and also improve the productivity.
Practical implications
Because of the increasing public consciousness of occupational safety and health, it is important for the workers in cold storage facilities where the ambient temperature is at/below 10°C. The proposed system can address the social problem and promote the importance of occupational safety and health in the society.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the knowledge management system for improving the occupational safety and operational efficiency in the cold storage facilities.
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Vanda N. Veréb, Helena Nobre and Minoo Farhangmehr
The purpose of this paper is to investigate how international tourists’ cosmopolitan values change due to the restraining fear of terrorism, and how this change affects…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate how international tourists’ cosmopolitan values change due to the restraining fear of terrorism, and how this change affects their worldview, destination perception and travel preferences.
Design/methodology/approach
In-depth interviews were conducted with international travellers from all five continents to pinpoint the universal shifts in cosmopolitan values, specifically regarding risk perception in the face of terrorism.
Findings
Tourists’ personal values are changing due to the increased risk of terrorism (or the perception of it), which prompts international travellers to act less on their desire for stimulation and more for their need for security when travelling. Just as any change in values tends to be relatively permanent, this value shift might have long-term consequences for the entire tourism industry.
Research limitations/implications
Terrorism risk perception and its retraining effect regarding willingness to travel were established to be significant and universal. However, this study suggests that the strength of the travellers’ cosmopolitan orientation influences the extent terrorism risk is acted upon. Results indicate that the higher the travellers’ cosmopolitan conviction is, the less significantly they seem to be affected by the fear of terrorism.
Practical implications
The study offers cues on how managers and policy makers can enhance destination image that keeps up with the current realities of global tourism in the face of terrorism, and highlights a promising market segment, strongly cosmopolitan travellers who are less concerned with potential travel risks and react less negatively in troubled times.
Originality/value
Most of the previous studies considered tourists’ cosmopolitanism as a stable orientation rather than a context-specific state. This study addresses this gap by exploring how resilient the tourists’ cosmopolitan desire for openness and freedom is under the risk perception of terrorism, and what effect the fear of terrorism has on their travel habits.
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