384 research outputs found
Work-related Road/Vehicle Safety: An Issue For Safety Professionals
No full textResearch has shown that work-related road/vehicle safety has generally been overlooked by organisations and safety professionals alike, even though the documented consequences of failing to address the issue could be severe. This paper argues that current forms of reporting and recording work-related vehicle crashes/incidents and the strategies aimed at controlling those incidents are ineffective. Organisations looking at improving their work-related road safety performance should adopt a proactive multiple strategy approach to road safety and not the traditional reactive approach
Occupational Fleet Safety Research: A Case Study Approach
No full textOccupational fleet safety is an emerging issue for organisations across Australia and overseas. Research has shown that road crashes are the most common cause of work-related fatalities, injuries and absences from work. Changes in industry/employer accountability, business processes, Occupational Health and Safety, Chain of Responsibility (COR), Workers Compensation legislation, insurance and third party coverage, and a generally more litigious environment require industry to address and subsequently develop more comprehensive programs to improve fleet safety. Historically, organisations opt for a silver bullet or singular reactive strategy towards fleet safety, determined primarily from an asset management approach. Research has revealed that a single reactive approach is ineffective in improving long-term occupational fleet safety. This paper focuses on examples of case study research conducted by the Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety – Queensland (CARRS-Q), involving fleet safety of three large and diverse Queensland and nationwide industry organisations. From analysis and investigation of vehicle crash/incident data, industry focus groups, and organisational safety and work-related driving survey questionnaires, current fleet safety practices and high risk groups and processes are identified. Subsequently, data from research and analysis reveals inadequacies in fleet safety practices current within organisations and enables the identification of future occupational fleet safety intervention strategies
QIPC low speed run-overs of young children research project final report
No full textThis final report outlines the research conducted by the Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety – Queensland (CARRS-Q) for the research project (title above). This report provides an outline of the project methodology, literature review, three stages of research results (including the focus group discussions, review of organisational records, documentation and initiatives, and analysis of previous CARRS-Q occupational road safety self-report surveys), and recommendations for intervention strategy and initiatives development and implementation
"Non-resident Workers: A Comparison of Family Support Services for Resource, Health, and Defence Communities"
No full textNon-resident workforces experience high labour turnover, which has an impact on organisational operations and affects worker satisfaction and, in turn, partners’ ability to cope with work-related absences. Research suggests that partner satisfaction may be increased by providing a range of support services, which include professional, practical, and social support. A search was conducted to identify support available for resources and health-industry non-resident workers. These were compared to the supports available to families of deployed defence personnel. They were used to compare and contrast the spread available for each industry. The resources industry primarily provided social support, and lacked professional and practical supports. Health-professional support services were largely directed towards extended locum support, rather than to Fly-In Fly-Out workers. Improving sources of support which parallel support provided to the Australian Defence Force is suggested as a way to increase partner satisfaction. The implications are to understand the level of uptake, perceived importance, and utilisation of such support services
Implementation of a Driving Diary Intervention to Reduce Aberrant Driving Behaviours
No full textCrash data involving taxis indicates that such drivers are over represented in crashes and are one to two times more likely to be involved in a fatality crash. This study reports on the pre intervention survey to provide a baseline measure of the self-reported attitudes and corresponding driving behaviours of a sample of taxi drivers. Results indicate that some taxi drivers willingly admit to engaging in unsafe driving practices. In addition, preliminary results of a post intervention survey revealed that taxi drivers’ safety perceptions, attitude and behaviours improved after completing a Driving Diary intervention
Road transport sensitivities to weather and climate change in Australia
No full textCompared to the many political, economic and technological factors affecting the evolution of transportation systems and road safety, the role of climate change may be relatively minor. Nevertheless its implications are still likely to be significant, given the anticipated changes in thermal and moisture regimes. Although Australia is gripped in drought, climate factors including increases in temperature ranges and intensity of adverse weather conditions are expected to have a significant effect on not only the road transport system but also on road safety and driver behaviour. \ud
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This paper reviews both international and Australian research and focuses primarily on road safety and driver behaviour. In addition, the paper suggests that research in relation to climate change and road safety is scarce, especially in Australia. Weather is one environmental risk factor that is known to affect road crash rates in Australia and elsewhere. Weather that reduces road friction, impairs visibility and/or makes vehicle handling more difficult creates a serious road safety threat (Andrey et al., 2001). Globally, the World Meteorological Organisation (2003) stated that extreme events are on the rise as a result of anthropogenic perturbation of the climate system, and climate models indicate the potential for increases in both temperature and extreme storms (IPCC, 2001). The incidence of extreme weather (storm intensity) and high temperatures in Australia is expected to increase with global warming (Pittock et al., 1999).\ud
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Research has established that adverse weather increases crash risk, suggesting that drivers’ adjustments to weather are insufficient to completely offset the hazards associated with reduced road friction and poor visibility. However, research also suggests that weather-related increases in risk are not consistent for all collision severities; rather the increase is higher for property damage crashes than for more serious crashes, suggesting that driver compensation does occur. In addition, research is scarce in relation to weather and driving behaviour, however, this paper identified that there is insufficient adaptation of driver behaviour, particularly during wet weather conditions. Also, the phenomenon of dry spells (or spell effect) is of considerable interest, especially in Australia (due to extended periods without rain), as research indicates a significant increase in crash risk as the duration of time between rainfall events increase.\ud
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This paper has provided a sample of possible interactions or impacts between aspects of climate change including specific extreme weather characteristics and road safety. The published research provides a general account of several significant vulnerabilities within the road safety sector to the effects of weather – all are based on the assumption that contemporary sensitivities can be extrapolated in a linear fashion into the future.\ud
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In a changing climate and differing weather events it would be ‘negligent’ for us to do nothing. Future weather-related events may increase and/or change compared to those we observe today – changes have already been noticed. Therefore, changes in road safety policy, road infrastructure and driving behaviours may be required to adapt to the impact of climate change. A number of areas for future weather-related research in Australia have also been identified within the paper
Integration of work-related fleet safety within a Workplace Health and Safety Management System: A case study approach
No full textThis paper reports the findings of a research project initiated to assess work-related fleet safety issues in a state government organisation. In particular, special attention is given to identifying fleet safety factors for integration into a wider Workplace Health and Safety Management System (WHSMS). This exploratory case study was carried out across five regional areas, within the state of Queensland, and involved two major components: i) field based interviews; and ii) an analysis of organisational fleet safety operational procedures. Face-to-face interviews (n=146) were conducted with a wide range of staff, using a semi-structured questionnaire. The analysis of fleet safety procedures focussed on work-related vehicle incident reporting, identification of hazard and risk exposures, effectiveness of training and induction programs, and analysis of current safety management systems including policy and procedures. Results of the study found that fleet safety within the organisation was not considered a priority and as a result, the full extent of organisational crashes and vehicle-related injuries was relatively unknown by senior management. In addition, this study identified a number of operational and procedural deficiencies in relation to fleet safety. This paper will further outline the major findings of the study and propose recommendations directed at improving fleet safety within organisations as well as integration of fleet safety within a WHSMS
Role of thrill and adventure seeking in risky work-related driving behaviours
No full textBackground\ud
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Road trauma had been identified as the leading cause of work-related death in Australia. Research in general driving behaviours has shown that sensation seekers with high levels of thrill and adventure seeking traits are more likely to drive in a risky manner. However, thrill and adventure seeking has not been explicitly examined as a predictor of risky driving behaviour in work-related settings.\ud
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Methodology\ud
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Using a large sample of fleet drivers (N = 892) from three Australian organisations, the current study examined the role of thrill and adventure seeking in predicting risky work-related driving behaviours and involvement in crash and traffic offence. Hardcopies and online version of the questionnaire were sent to the worksite measuring participants' demographic information, work driving exposure, thrill and adventure seeking trait, work-related risky driving behaviours, and self-reported crash and traffic offences in the past 12 months.\ud
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Results\ud
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The results indicated that thrill and adventure seeking was a significant predictor of risky work-related driving behaviours. However, thrill and adventure seeking did not significantly predict self-reported crashes and traffic offences.\ud
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Conclusion\ud
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The current study implies that dispositional characteristics, such as thrill and adventure seeking, should be considered when implementing interventions in fleet safety
The role of, and key considerations for, advertising campaigns and educational awareness workshops within the work-related road safety context
No full textAustralian and international evidence suggests that, in the work-related driving context, road crashes account for a substantial number of occupational incidents. In the attempt to reduce injury and improve safety, organisations may implement an array of strategies and interventions ranging from policy development and implementation, vehicle selection and incident monitoring through to education and awareness-raising. This conceptual paper discusses aspects relating to the latter collection of interventions and, in particular, the role, and some key considerations with respect to the content and dissemination, of advertising campaigns and educational awareness workshops. \ud
In relation to advertising campaigns, this paper discusses how some of the overarching principles associated with advertising in the broader general community road safety strategy also apply within the work-related road safety context. Specifically, advertising campaigns/materials should be viewed as a key component within a dedicated organisational approach to road (driver) safety. This dedicated approach would need to comprise of a number, and varied array, of strategies. In addition, the content of, and medium/s (e.g., posters) by which to deliver such advertising campaigns, cannot be addressed by a one-size-fits all approach but, rather, requires careful consideration of the needs as well as characteristics of specific organisations and their driver fleet. The paper provides a summary of some key considerations when devising an advertising campaign, including the nature of campaign/message content as well as the processes by which to devise and refine such content. \ud
In relation to driver education awareness workshops, this paper outlines the key considerations for delivering a series of workshops specifically aimed at occupational driving within the organisational context. A case study approach will be utilised to demonstrate the manner in which educational awareness workshops can compliment successful advertising campaigns promoting safer work related driving through better risk management practice. Research underpinning the development of driver behaviour modification tools incorporated within the workshops will also be discussed along with the mechanisms utilised to encourage improvements in driver monitoring and behaviour. \ud
In an effort to assist organisations with their continual search for cost-effective approaches which may, ultimately, contribute to improvements in driver behaviour and safety, the current paper offers some clear and practical suggestions in relation to the development and dissemination of two types of interventions, advertising campaigns and education awareness workshops
Organisational driving safety systems analysis: Fleet safety situational issues and system gaps
No full textThe identification of safety hazards and risks and their associated control measures provides the foundation for any safety program and essentially determines the scope, content and complexity of an effective occupational health and safety management system. In the case of work-related road safety (WRRS), there is a gap within current knowledge, research and practice regarding the holistic assessment of WRRS safety systems and practice. In order to mitigate this gap, a multi-level process tool for assessing WRRS safety systems was developed from extensive consultation, practice and informed by theoretical models and frameworks. Data collection for the Organisational Driving Safety Systems Analysis (ODSSA) tool utilised a case study methodology and included multiple information sources: such as documents, archival records, interviews, direct observations, participant observations, and physical artefacts. Previous trials and application of the ODSSA has indicated that the tool is applicable to a wide range of organisational fleet environments and settings. This paper reports on the research results and effectiveness of the ODSSA tool to assess WRRS systems across a large organisation that recently underwent considerable organisational change, including amalgamation of multiple organisations. The outcomes of this project identified considerable differences in the degree by which the organisation addressed WRRS across their vehicle fleet operations and provided guidelines for improving organisations’ WRRS systems. The ODSSA tool was pivotal in determining WRRS system deficiencies and provided a platform to inform mitigation and improvement strategies
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