Bust, P D (2011) Changing occupational health and safety practices in the manual handling of highway kerbs: cultural impediments and obstacles to innovation. PhD thesis, Loughborough University, UK.
Abstract
It is regularly reported that the construction industry has one of the highest levels of incidents of work-related injury in the UK. Research to date involving the management of health and safety in construction has concentrated on safety and in particular fatalities of construction workers. Yet the manual handling of heavy loads leading to occupational health problems is widespread in the industry. The aim of this research was to better understand the continued use of manual handling for the installation of concrete highway kerbs in the construction industry. The initial objectives were to review alternatives to and research on kerb handling; compare kerb handling methods; investigate the design process; and finally produce information for the supply chain. Due to time constraints on the project and the nature of the investigation an exploratory interpretive investigation was used to provide a flexible approach. A literature review led to research questions on training, risk of injury, designing for safety, organisation of the work and culture which narrowed the scope of the enquiry. The research used qualitative methods with observation of the work and a survey of key members of the supply chain through interviews and focus groups which provided rich data for analysis. The observation work, including postural analysis, has added to existing research mainly from other industries confirming the risk of injury of the manual handling operation and the reduced risks through using alternatives. The survey collected a considerable amount of rich data from the supply chain members. This recorded their perceptions of the culture of other members and the change occurring with the introduction of new innovative technology. Results from the data analysis have been used to produce guidance material, including a process model, to support the industry with the management of highway kerb installation. Further research is required, collaborating with members of the supply chain, to validate the process model with practical applications. Data of the supply chain members perceptions can also be used for further examination of communication failings between members.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | health and safety; injury; safety; training; construction worker; design process; UK |
| Index terms: | investigation, fatalities, construction worker, construction industry, concrete highway, interview, data analysis, injury, focus group, health and safety, design process, literature review, occupational health and safety, occupational health, qualitative method, survey |
| Subjects: | data analysis and analytics, practitioner, design methods, data collection methods, research design and methodology, infrastructure and transport systems, industry analysis, occupational health and safety management, health conditions and diseases, health safety and environment, health risk and incident analysis |
| Topics: | Engineering Principles, Health and Safety, Research Practice, Roles and Professions, Design Practice |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here