Using Dust Assessment Technology to Leverage Mine Site Manager-Worker Communication and Health Behavior: A Longitudinal Case Study
Abstract
Research continues to investigate barriers to managing occupational health and safety behaviors among the workforce. Recent literature argues that (1) there is a lack of consistent, multilevel communication and application of health and safety practices, and (2) social scientific methods are absent when determining how to manage injury prevention in the workplace. In response, the current study developed and tested a multilevel intervention case study at two industrial mineral mines to help managers and workers communicate about and reduce respirable silica dust exposures at their mine sites. A dust assessment technology, the Helmet-CAM, was used to identify and encourage communication about potential problem areas and tasks on site that contributed to elevated exposures. The intervention involved pre- and post-assessment field visits, four weeks apart that included multiple forms of data collection from workers and managers. Results revealed that mine management can utilize dust assessment technology as a risk communication tool to prompt and communicate about healthier behaviors with their workforce. Additionally, when workers were debriefed with the Helmet-CAM data through the device software, the dust exposure data can help improve the knowledge and awareness of workers, empowering them to change subtle behaviors that could reduce future elevated exposures to respirable silica dust. This case study demonstrates that incorporating social scientific methods into the application of health and safety management strategies, such as behavioral modification and technology integration, can leverage managers’ communication practices with workers, subsequently improving health and safety behaviors.Downloads
References
Anisimova, T. & Thomson, S. B. (2012). Enhancing multi-method research methodologies for more informed decision-making. JOAAG, 7(1), 96-104.
ANSI/AIHA/ASSE Z10-2012 (2012). American National Standard for Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems. American Industrial Hygiene Association.
Bettis, R. A., & Prahalad, C. K. (1995). The dominant logic: Retrospective and extension. Strategic Management Journal, 16, 5–14. doi: 10.1002/smj.4250160104
Bowen, D. E., & Ostroff, C. (2004). Understanding HRM-FIRM performance linkages: the role of the “strength” of the HRM system. Academy of Management Review, 29(2), 203-221.
Boyatzis, R. E. (1998). Transforming qualitative information: thematic analysis and code development. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
BS OHSAS 18001 (2007). Occupational Health & Safety Standard. Retrieved from http://www.ohsas-18001-occupational-health-and-safety.com/.
Carmeli, A., Reiter-Palmon, R., & Ziv, E. (2010). Inclusive leadership and employee involvement in creative tasks in the workplace: The mediating role of psychological safety. Creativity Research Journal, 22(3), 250-260. doi:10.1080/10400419.2010.504654
Casey, T. W. & Krauss, A. D. (2013). The role of effective error management in increasing miners’ safety performance. Safety Science, 60, 131-141. doi:10.1016/j.ssci.2013.07.001
Cecala, A. B., & O’Brien, A. D. (2014). Here comes the Helmet-CAM. Rock Products, October Issue, 26-30.
Cecala, A. B, O’Brien, A. D., Schall, J., Colinet, J. F., Fox, W. R., Franta, R. J., Joy J., Reed, W. R., Reeser, P. W., Rounds, J. R., & Schultz, M. J. (2012). Dust control handbook for industrials minerals mining and processing. NIOSH Report of Investigation 9689, January 2012, 284 pp.
Cecala, A. B., Pollock, D. E., Zimmer, J. A., O’Brien, A. D., & Fox, W. F. (2008). Reducing dust exposure from contaminated work clothing with a stand-alone cleaning system. Proceedings of 12th US/North American Mine Ventilation Symposium 2008 – Wallace (ed), Omnipress. ISBN 978-0-615-20009-5, pages 637-643.
Cecala, A. B., Reed, W. R., Joy, G. J., Westmoreland S. C., & O’Brien, A. B. (2013). Helmet-Cam: Tool for assessing miners’ respirable dust exposure. Mining Engineering, 65(9): 78-84.
Charmaz, K. (2006). Constructing grounded theory. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Corbin, J., & Strauss, A. (2008). Basics of qualitative research. 3rd ed. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
CoreSafety (2012). Retrieved from http://handbook.coresafety.org/pdf/coreSafetyHandbook.pdf.
Crant, J. M. (2000). Proactive behavior in organizations. Journal of Management, 26, 435-462. doi:10.1177/014920630002600304
Crant, J. M. (1995). The proactive personality scale and objective job performance among real estate agents. Journal of Applied Psychology, 80, 532-537. doi:10.1037/0021-9010.80.4.532
Cronbach, L. J. (1951). Coefficient alpha and the internal structure of tests. Psychometrika. 16, 297-334. doi:10.1007/BF02310555
DeJoy, D. (2005). Behavior change versus culture change: Divergent approaches to managing workplace safety. Safety Science, 43(2), 105-129. doi:10.1016/j.ssci.2005.02.001
Denison, D. R. (1996). What’s the difference between organizational culture and organizational climate? A native’s point of view on a decade of paradigm wars. The Academy of Management Review, 21(3), 619-654.
Denzin, N. K. & Lincoln, Y.S. (1994). Handbook of qualitative research (Eds.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Evans, W. R., & Davis, W. D. (2005). High-performance work systems and organizational performance: The mediating role of internal social structure. Journal of Management, 31(5), 758-775. doi:10.1177/0149206305279370
George, A. L. & Bennett, A. (2004). Case studies and theory development in the social sciences. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
Gielen, A. C., & Sleet, D. (2003). Application of behavior‐change theories and methods to injury prevention. Epidemiologic Reviews, 25, 65-76. doi:10.1093/epirev/mxg004
Given, L. M. (2016). 100 questions (and answers) about qualitative research. (Vol 4). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Grant, A. M., Parker, S. K., & Collins, C. G. (2009). Getting credit for proactive behavior: Supervisor reactions depend on what you value and how you feel. Personnel Psychology, 62, 31-55.
Haas, E. J. (2014). Multilevel Intervention. Encyclopedia of health communication. (900-902). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. doi:10.4135/9781483346427
Haas, E. J., & Mattson, M. (2015). Metatheory and interviewing: Harm reduction and motorcycle safety in practice. Lanham, MD: Lexington Press.
Hofmann, D. A, & Morgeson, F., 1999. Safety-related behavior as a social exchange: the role of perceived organizational support and leader-member exchange. Journal of Applied Psychology 84 (1), 86-96. doi:10.1037/0021-9010.84.2.286
Hystad, S. W., Mearns, K. J., & Eid, J. (2014). Moral disengagement as a mechanism between perceptions of organisational injustice and deviant work behaviours. Safety Science, 68, 138-145. doi:10.1016/j.ssci.2014.03.012
International Labour Office [ILO] (2001). Guidelines on occupational safety and health management systems: ILO_OSH 2001. Retrieved from
Janz, N. K., & Becker, M. H. (1984). The health belief model: A decade later. Health Education Quarterly, 11(1), 1-47. doi:10.1177/109019818401100101
Joy, J. (2004). Occupational safety risk management in Australian mining. Occupational Medicine, 54(5), 311-315. doi:10.1093/occmed/kqh074
Keyton, J.(2011). Communication and organizational culture: A key to understanding work experiences (2nd eds.), Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Kluger, A. N., & DeNisi, A. (1996). The effects of feedback interventions on performance: Historical review, meta-analysis, and preliminary feedback on intervention theory. Psychological Bulletin, 119, 254-284. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.119.2.254
Kouabenan, D. R., Ngueutsa, R., & Mbaye, S. (2015). Safety climate, perceived risk, and involvement in safety management. Safety Science, 77, 72-79. doi:10.1016/j.ssci.2015.03.009
Krueger, R. A., & Casey, M. A. (2009). Focus groups: A practical guide for applied research (4th Ed.).Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Kuzel, A. J. (1992). Sampling in qualitative inquiry. In: B. F. Crabtree & W. L. Miller (eds.), Doing qualitative research. Research Methods for Primary Care. Vol. 3. (pp. 31-44). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
Laney, A. S., Petsonk, E. L., & Attfield, M. D. (2009). Pneumoconiosis among underground bituminous coal miners in the United States: is silicosis becoming more frequent? Occupational & Environmental Medicine, 67, 652–6. doi:10.1136/oem.2009.047126
McLeroy, K. R., Bibeau, D., Steckler, A., & Glanz, K. (1988). An ecological perspective on health promotion programs. Health Education Quarterly, 15(4), 351-377. doi:10.1177/109019818801500401
Mearns, K., Flin, R., Gordon, R., & Fleming, M. (1998). Measuring safety climate on offshore installations. Work & Stress, 2, 155-167. doi:10.1080/02678379808256864
Mezias, J. M., & Starbuck, W. H. (2003), Studying the Accuracy of Managers' Perceptions: A Research Odyssey. British Journal of Management, 14, 3–17. doi: 10.1111/1467-8551.00259
Michael, J. H., Guo, Z. G., Wiedenbeck, J. K., & Ray, C. D. (2006). Production supervisor impacts on subordinates’ safety outcomes: An investigation of leader-member exchange and safety communication. Journal of Safety Research, 37, 469-477. doi:10.1016/j.jsr.2006.06.004
MSHA (2012). Accident, Illness and Injury and Employment Self-Extracting Files (Part 50 Data). http://www.msha.gov/STATS/PART50/p50y2k/p50y2k.HTM.
NIOSH (2014). Report of Investigations 9696: Guidelines for Performing a Helmet-CAM Respirable Dust Survey and Conducting Subsequent Analysis with the Enhanced Video Analysis of Dust Exposures (EVADE) Software. Pittsburgh, PA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2014-133.
NIOSH (2002). Health effects of occupational exposure to respirable crystalline silica. DHHS (NIOSH) Numbered Publication 2002-129.
Nunnaly, J. (1978). Psychometric theory. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Patton, M. Q. (2002). Qualitative research and evaluation methods, 3rd ed. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Robson, L. S., Clarke, J. A., Cullen, K., Bielecky, A., Severin, C., Bigelow, P. L., ... & Mahood, Q. (2007). The effectiveness of occupational health and safety management system interventions: a systematic review. Safety Science, 45(3), 329-353. doi:10.1016/j.ssci.2006.07.003
Rogers, R. W. (1975). A protection motivation theory of fear appeals and attitude change. Journal of Psychology, 91, 93-114.
Rubin, R. S., Bommer, W. H., & Bachrach, D. G. (2010). Operant leadership and employee citizenship: A question of trust? The Leadership Quarterly, 21, 400-408. doi:10.1016/j.leaqua.2010.03.005
Schneider, B., & Rentsch, J. (1988). Managing climates and cultures: A futures perspective. In J Hage, Futures of organizations (Ed.). Lexington Books: MA.
Smedley, B. D., & Syme S. L. (Eds.). (2000). Promoting health: Intervention strategies from social and behavioral research. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.
Stinglhamber, F., & Vandenberghe, C. (2003). Organizations and supervisors as sources of support and targets of commitment: A longitudinal study. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 24(3), 251-270. doi:10.1002/job.192
Tellis, W. (1997). Introduction to case study [68 paragraphs]. The Qualitative Report [On-line serial], 3(2).
Thompson, J. A. (2005). Personality and information seeking: Understanding how traits influence information-seeking behaviors. Journal of Business Communication, 42, 51-77.
Tong, D. Y. K., Rasiah, D., Tong, X. F., & Lai, K. P. (2015). Leadership empowerment behavior on safety officer and safety teamwork in the manufacturing industry. Safety Science, 72, 190-198.
Trifiletti, L. B., Gielen, A. C., Sleet, D. A., & Hopkins, K. (2005). Behavioral and social sciences theories and models: Are they used in unintentional injury prevention research? Health Education Research, 20(3), 298-307. doi:10.1093/her/cyg126
Wachter, J. K., & Yorio, P. L. (2014). A system of management practices and worker engagement for reducing and preventing accidents: an empirical and theoretical investigation. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 68, 117-130. doi:10.1016/j.aap.2013.07.029
Weinstein, N. (1988). The precaution adoption process. Health Psychology, 7(4), 355-386. doi:10.1037/0278-6133.7.4.355
Weyman, A., Clark, D. D., & Cox, T. (1999). Developing a factor model of coal miners’ attributions on risk-taking at work. Work & Stress, 17(4), 306-320. doi:10.1080/02678370310001646844
Wold, T., & Laumann, K. (2015). Safety management systems as communication in an oil and gas producing company. Safety Science, 72, 23-30. doi:10.1016/j.ssci.2014.08.004
Yin, R. (2011). Case study research: Design and methods. (2nd eds).Beverly Hills, CA: Sage Publishing.
Yorio, P. L. & Willmer, D. R. (2015). Explorations in pursuit of a risk-based health and safety management systems. Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration Annual Meeting. Feb. 15-18, 2015, Denver, CO.
Yorio, P. L, Willmer, D. R., & Moore, S. M. (2015). Management Systems through a Multilevel and Strategic Management Perspective: theoretical and empirical considerations. Safety Science, 72, 221-228. doi:10.1016/j.ssci.2014.09.011
Zacharatos, A., Barling, J., & Iverson, R., 2005. High-performance work systems and occupational safety. Journal of Applied Psychology 90 (1), 77-93
Zohar, D., & Erev, I. (2007). On the difficulty of promoting workers’ safety behavior: overcoming and underweighting of routine risks. International Journal of Risk Assessment and Management, 7(2), 122-136.
Zohar, D., & Polachek, T. (2014). Discourse-based intervention for modifying supervisory communication as leverage for safety climate and performance improvement: A randomized field study. Journal of Applied Psychology, 99(1),113-124. doi:10.1037/a0034096
Copyright (c) 2016 Journal of Progressive Research in Social Sciences
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
TRANSFER OF COPYRIGHT
JPRSS is pleased to undertake the publication of your contribution to Journal of Progressive Research in Social Sciences.
The copyright to this article is transferred to JPRSS(including without limitation, the right to publish the work in whole or in part in any and all forms of media, now or hereafter known) effective if and when the article is accepted for publication thus granting JPRSS all rights for the work so that both parties may be protected from the consequences of unauthorized use.