A Neural Network Classifier Model for Forecasting Safety Behavior at Workplaces

The construction industry is notorious for having an unacceptable rate of fatal accidents. Unsafe behavior has been recognized as the main cause of most accidents occurring at workplaces, particularly construction sites. Having a predictive model of safety behavior can be helpful in preventing construction accidents. The aim of the present study was to build a predictive model of unsafe behavior using the Artificial Neural Network approach. A brief literature review was conducted on factors affecting safe behavior at workplaces and nine factors were selected to be included in the study. Data were gathered using a validated questionnaire from several construction sites. Multilayer perceptron approach was utilized for constructing the desired neural network. Several models with various architectures were tested to find the best one. Sensitivity analysis was conducted to find the most influential factors. The model with one hidden layer containing fourteen hidden neurons demonstrated the best performance (Sum of Squared Errors=6.73). The error rate of the model was approximately 21 percent. The results of sensitivity analysis showed that safety attitude, safety knowledge, supportive environment, and management commitment had the highest effects on safety behavior, while the effects from resource allocation and perceived work pressure were identified to be lower than those of others. The complex nature of human behavior at workplaces and the presence of many influential factors make it difficult to achieve a model with perfect performance

Molecular identification of Pseudomonas aeruginosa recovered from cystic fibrosis patients

Objective. Precise identification of various morphotypes of Pseduomonas aeruginosa which developed during cystic fibrosis (CF) is of prime importance. We aimed to identify the isolates of P. aeruginosa recovered from CF patients at the genus and species level through primers targeting oprI and oprL genes via PCR. Methods. Sputum samples or throat swabs were taken from 100 CF patients and plated on cetrimide agar. All suspected colonies were primarily screened for P. aeruginosa by a combination of phenotypic tests. Molecular identification of colonies was per- formed using specific primers for oprI and oprL genes.Results. Based on phenotypic tests, P. aeruginosa isolates were recovered from 40% of CF patients. Forty isolates yielded ampli- con of oprI gene using genus-specific primers confirming the identity of fluorescent pseudomonads. However, 37 of 40 isolates yielded amplicon of oprL gene using species-specific primers, verifying the identity of P. aeruginosa. Conclusion. This study showed that the species-specific PCR tar- geting oprL gene can be used as accurate test for identification of highly adaptable P. aeruginosa in CF patients. This procedure may provide a simple and reliable method for identification of various morphotypes

Predicting needlestick and sharps injuries and determining preventive strategies using a Bayesian network approach in Tehran, Iran

OBJECTIVES Recent studies have shown that the rate of needlestick and sharps injuries (NSIs) is unacceptably high in Iranian hospitals. The aim of the present study was to use a systematic approach to predict and reduce these injuries. METHODS This cross-sectional study was conducted in 5 hospitals in Tehran, Iran. Eleven variables thought to affect NSIs were categorized based on the Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS) framework and modeled using a Bayesian network. A self-administered validated questionnaire was used to collect the required data. In total, 343 cases were used to train the model and 50 cases were used to test the model. Model performance was assessed using various indices. Finally, using predictive reasoning, several intervention strategies for reducing NSIs were recommended. RESULTS The Bayesian network HFACS model was able to predict 86% of new cases correctly. The analyses showed that safety motivation and fatigue were the most important contributors to NSIs. Supervisors’ attitude toward safety and working hours per week were the most important factors in the unsafe supervision category. Management commitment and staffing were the most important organizational-level factors affecting NSIs. Finally, promising intervention strategies for reducing NSIs were identified and discussed. CONCLUSIONS To reduce NSIs, both management commitment and sufficient staffing are necessary. Supervisors should encourage nurses to engage in safe behavior. Excessive working hours result in fatigue and increase the risk of NSIs

Problematic internet use and safety behavior: The moderating role of safety climate.

Problematic internet use (PIU) can cause mental and physical harm to individuals and may be an emerging factor contributing to unsafe work behavior. In this study, the relationship between PIU and safety behavior was investigated. Moreover, it was hypothesized that safety climate can moderate the relationship between PIU and safety behavior. Participants were employees from a mining industry in Iran. Three validated questionnaires were distributed to gather the required data regarding PIU, safety climate, and safety behavior. Hierarchical regression analysis was used to assess the moderating effect of safety climate on the relationship between PIU and safety behavior. The size of moderation effect was assessed using f2 index. Four hundred eighty-five employees participated in this study. The results demonstrated a negative relationship between PIU and safety behavior. The moderating effect of safety climate on the relationship between PIU and safety behavior was supported. The f2 index was 0.027 which demonstrates a small moderation effect. In conclusion, PIU has a significant negative effect on the safety behavior of employees. Providing a strong safety climate can be a long-term solution for reducing the negative effect of PIU on safety behavior

Quality of work life among surgeons and its association with musculoskeletal complaints

Quality of Work Life (QWL) can affect health and safety of individuals. The aim of the present study was to evaluate QWL among surgeons and investigate its association with musculoskeletal complaints. This cross-sectional study was conducted among surgeons working in hospitals located in Zahedan, Iran. QWL was assessed using the Walton’s 35-item questionnaire and the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) was used for assessing musculoskeletal complaints. The effects of age, gender, BMI, working hours, and working posture were adjusted. Univariate and multivariate binary logistic regressions and independent T-test were employed for analyzing data. Seventy-four surgeons participated in this study. They were mostly male (60.8%) and married (73.00%) with the mean age of 37.9 years (±5.3) and the mean experience of 7 years (±4.23). Most of them (87.8%) had a moderate level of QWL and 90.6% of them had musculoskeletal complaints in at least one part of their body. “Development of human capacities” and “the total life space” had the highest and lowest scores, respectively. QWL was a significant predictor of pain and discomfort complaints in the neck, shoulders, upper back, elbows and legs. Alongside improving workstations and tools used by surgeons, interventions aimed at promoting QWL may be necessary to reduce musculoskeletal complaints among them

Framework for Continuous Assessment and Improvement of Occupational Health and Safety Issues in Construction Companies

Background: Construction industry is among the most hazardous industries, and needs a comprehensive and simple-to-administer tool to continuously assess and promote its health and safety performance. Methods: Through the study of various standard systems (mainly Health, Safety, and Environment Management System; Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series 180001; and British Standard, occupational health and safety management systems-Guide 8800), seven main elements were determined for the desired framework, and then, by reviewing literature, factors affecting these main elements were determined. The relative importance of each element and its related factors was calculated at organizational and project levels. The provided framework was then implemented in three construction companies, and results were compared together. Results: The results of the study show that the relative importance of the main elements and their related factors differ between organizational and project levels: leadership and commitment are the most important elements at the organization level, whereas risk assessment and management are most important at the project level. Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that the framework is easy to administer, and by interpreting the results, the main factors leading to the present condition of companies can be determined

Surprising Incentive: An Instrument for Promoting Safety Performance of Construction Employees

Background: In comparison with other industries, the construction industry still has a higher rate of fatal injuries, and thus, there is a need to apply new and innovative approaches for preventing accidents and promoting safe conditions at construction sites. Methods: In this study, the effectiveness of a new incentive system—the surprising incentive system—was assessed. One year after the implementation of this new incentive system, behavioral changes of employees with respect to seven types of activities were observed. Results: The results of this study showed that there is a significant relationship between the new incentive system and the safety performance of frontline employees. The new incentive system had a greater positive impact in the first 6 months since its implementation. In the long term, however, safety performance experienced a gradual reduction. Based on previous studies, all activities selected in this study are important indicators of the safety conditions at workplaces. However, there is a need for a comprehensive and simple-to-apply tool for assessing frontline employees' safety performance. Shortening the intervals between incentives is more effective in promoting safety performance. Conclusion: The results of this study proved that the surprising incentive would improve the employees' safety performance just in the short term because the surprising value of the incentives dwindle over time. For this reason and to maintain the surprising value of the incentive system, the amount and types of incentives need to be evaluated and modified annually or biannually