Last data update: Sep 23, 2024. (Total: 47723 publications since 2009)
Records 1-7 (of 7 Records) |
Query Trace: Willmer D [original query] |
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Imminent danger: Characterizing uncertainty in critically hazardous mining situations
Eiter BM , Hrica J , Willmer DR . Min Eng 2018 70 (9) 47-52 Mineworkers are routinely tasked with making critically important decisions about whether or not a hazard presents an imminent danger. Researchers from the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health collected formative data to investigate mine safety professional perspectives on workplace examinations, which revealed a potential gap in how mineworkers are assessing risk. During interviews, participants revealed not having a systematic methodology for mineworkers to use to determine if a hazard is considered imminent danger. In this paper, we identify and describe three distinct categories of imminent danger complexity and discuss potential steps that could lead to improved identification of imminent danger situations. Finally, we identify potential practices to incorporate into risk management efforts, including feedback, communication and specialized training, to increase awareness of imminent danger situations. |
Exploring the use of situation awareness in behaviors and practices of health and safety leaders
Willmer DR . Trans Soc Min Metall Explor Inc 2017 342 (1) 36-42 An understanding of how health and safety management systems (HSMS) reduce worksite injuries, illnesses and fatalities may be gained in studying the behaviors of health and safety leaders. These leaders bear the accountability for identifying, understanding and managing the risks of a mining operation. More importantly, they have to transfer this knowledge of perception, recognition and response to risks in the mining environment to their workers. The leaders' efforts to build and maintain a mining operation's workforce that consistently executes safe work practices may be captured through more than just lagging indicators of health and safety performance. This exploratory study interviewed six leaders in occupations such as site-level safety supervisors, mine superintendents and/or general managers at surface and underground stone, sand and gravel and metal/nonmetal mine sites throughout the United States, with employee populations ranging from 40 to 175. In exploring leaders' perspectives on how they systematically manage health and safety, examples such as approaches to task training, handling near-miss incidents, identifying future leaders and providing workers with feedback offer insights into how leaders translate their knowledge and management of site-level risks to others. |
Formative research to reduce mine worker respirable silica dust exposure: a feasibility study to integrate technology into behavioral interventions
Haas EJ , Willmer D , Cecala AB . Pilot Feasibility Stud 2016 2 BACKGROUND: The use of formative research as a critical component of intervention planning is highly supported in the literature. However, studies that report such processes in practice are minimal. This paper reports on the formative data collection and analysis that informed the development of a multilevel intervention that utilizes mine assessment technology to bridge health communication between workers and management to reduce mine worker overexposure to respirable silica dust. METHODS: Formative research to assess the feasibility and utility of this intervention design included stakeholder meetings and feedback, mine visits and observations, interviews with mine workers, and a focus group with mine management. Data collection took place at several US industrial mineral mine sites and a southeastern regional safety meeting. Interviews inquired about workers' perceived susceptibility and severity to respirable silica exposure, barriers to preventing overexposure, behaviors that reduce exposure, and perceptions about respirable dust-monitoring technology. A focus group discussed mine stakeholders' uses of various dust assessment technology. RESULTS: The data was qualitatively analyzed and coded using a thematic and theoretical analysis. Researchers found recurring themes for both target audiences that informed the need and subsequent development of a mixed-method multilevel intervention to improve communication quantity and quality around dust-control practices. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate that formative research is critical to: identify and develop an intervention that meets target audience needs; accurately represent the health problem; and develop positive relationships with research partners and stakeholders. |
Managing health and safety risks: Implications for tailoring health and safety management system practices
Willmer DR , Haas EJ . Trans Soc Min Metall Explor Inc 2016 340 (1) 100-103 As national and international health and safety management system (HSMS) standards are voluntarily accepted or regulated into practice, organizations are making an effort to modify and integrate strategic elements of a connected management system into their daily risk management practices. In high-risk industries such as mining, that effort takes on added importance. The mining industry has long recognized the importance of a more integrated approach to recognizing and responding to site-specific risks, encouraging the adoption of a risk-based management framework. Recently, the U.S. National Mining Association led the development of an industry-specific HSMS built on the strategic frameworks of ANSI: Z10, OHSAS 18001, The American Chemistry Council's Responsible Care, and ILO-OSH 2001. All of these standards provide strategic guidance and focus on how to incorporate a plan-do-check-act cycle into the identification, management and evaluation of worksite risks. This paper details an exploratory study into whether practices associated with executing a risk-based management framework are visible through the actions of an organization's site-level management of health and safety risks. The results of this study show ways that site-level leaders manage day-to-day risk at their operations that can be characterized according to practices associated with a risk-based management framework. Having tangible operational examples of day-to-day risk management can serve as a starting point for evaluating field-level risk assessment efforts and their alignment to overall company efforts at effective risk mitigation through a HSMS or other processes. |
Using CPDM dust data
Haas E , Willmer D , Meadows JJ . Coal Age 2016 121 (2) 40-41 With the CPDM providing miners with near real-time feedback about their level of respirable coal dust exposure on the job, a new opportunity is arising for management, in collaboration with their employees, to use this information to determine methods for reduced exposure. Some researchers have effectively argued that the use of information technology can enhance organizational communication around health and safety.1 In line with that argument, taking a nonjudgmental yet proactive approach to discuss the dust data produced by the CPDM may help to identify and support actions to limit future exposure during reoccurring work tasks. | In light of the new regulation, it is highly important for mine operators and miners to not only understand how they can use the technology to monitor personal exposure to respirable dust, but exactly what and how they can engage in actions to reduce exposure. Researchers from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recently met with several coal miners who were learning how to use the technology during their shifts. During the discussions with these miners, they learned key points about how the CPDM can be introduced and used to encourage positive health communication efforts among miners. |
Health and safety management systems through a multilevel and strategic management perspective: theoretical and empirical considerations
Yorio Patrick L , Willmer Dana R , Moore Susan M . Saf Sci 2014 72 221-228 Multilevel and strategic management theory and research methods are presented and applied to current issues in occupational health and safety (HS), the primary goal being to better understand health and safety management systems (HSMS) from a theoretical and empirical perspective. Through these perspectives, a strategic HSMS may be understood as a construct that exists objectively at the strategic level of the organization-its objective content often distinct from the implemented practices and procedures within a workgroup and from worker perceptions and interpretations of its content. These nuances highlight the types of biases that can arise when choosing a level of measurement to assess the HSMS and techniques that can be used to minimize measurement error and increase the validity of inferences made. These nuances also illuminate the contingencies important for the success of a strategic organizational HSMS. The contingencies are discussed from a theoretical perspective and presented in a conceptual HSMS model. |
Interpreting MSHA citations through the lens of occupational health and safety management systems: investigating their impact on mine injuries and illnesses 2003-2010
Yorio PL , Willmer DR , Haight JM . Risk Anal 2014 34 (8) 1538-53 Since the late 1980s, the U.S. Department of Labor has considered regulating a systems approach to occupational health and safety management. Recently, a health and safety management systems (HSMS) standard has returned to the regulatory agenda of both the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). Because a mandated standard has implications for both industry and regulating bodies alike, it is imperative to gain a greater understanding of the potential effects that an HSMS regulatory approach can have on establishment-level injuries and illnesses. Through the lens of MSHA's regulatory framework, we first explore how current enforcement activities align with HSMS elements. Using MSHA data for the years 2003-2010, we then analyze the relationship between various types of enforcement activities (e.g., total number of citations, total penalty amount, and HSMS-aligned citations) and mine reportable injuries. Our findings show that the reduction in mine reportable injuries predicted by increases in MSHA enforcement ranges from negligible to 18%. The results suggest that the type and focus of the enforcement activity may be more important for accident reduction than the total number of citations issued and the associated penalty amount. |
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