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• The number of serious injuries and fatalities (SIFs) have remained static (r2 = 0.002) for 32 years. • Temporary Disabilities in Industry reduced by 66 percent in the same period (r2 = 0.90). • Safety culture & CSR) exerted a clear impact on the UKs Industrial injuries. • The science under-pinning safety culture & CSR to apply lessons learned is explored. • A concerted effort from safety scientists is required to reduce the number of SIFs. Neither a formal scientific literature review or research study this opinion piece examines safety science constructs applied to industrial safety in the UK over the past three decades to learn what may be useful to reduce serious injuries & fatalities (SIFs) and address other safety challenges arising from the 4th Industrial revolution. The key questions asked were: [1] what impact has safety science had on industrial injury statistics; [2] what is the quality of the science behind those with a demonstrably positive effect, and [3] where does safety science go next as we head deeper into the 21st century? Data driven results show the rate of decline in the UKs serious injuries & fatalities (SIFs) in the past 32 years has been negligible (r2 = 0.002), whereas temporary disabilities (r2 = 0.90) declined by around 66 percent. This result suggests safety science has not, and is not (in its current form), impacting the numbers killed or maimed at work in the UK at least, with other countries showing similar patterns in their injury experience. Examining the influence of a range of safety science constructs, legislative changes, and voluntary initiatives on injury reduction during this period, it is notable that only the safety culture and corporate social responsibility (CSR) constructs exerted clear impacts. An exploration of the science underpinning the safety culture and CSR constructs possibly provides insight that safety scientists and practitioners may find useful as safety science faces the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many large construction organisations use safety observation reporting (SOR) as part of their safety management system on sites, although research around their effectiveness in practice is limited. During an ethnographically-informed research project, the lead author spent three years working with the health and safety team on a large (+£500 m) construction project in the United Kingdom with such a system in place. The SOR system encouraged everyone on site to report unsafe acts or conditions, either via computer or handwritten cards, for subsequent action by the health and safety team. Despite good intentions, problems with the SOR system emerged. These included: significantly increased administration to deliver predictable data; poor data quality; an unwelcome focus on the number rather than content of the reports; their use as a tool to ascribe individual or organisational blame; and the perception that the SOR forms were being censored before they reached the health and safety team, which ultimately eroded trust between the workforce and management. Overall, the system as implemented on this site had the potential to cause more harm than good, and both disengage the workforce and frustrate the health and safety team. Although presented as a case study, it is suggested that the research methods used here have been able to expose and illuminate issues that would otherwise go unreported. It is recommended that these issues be considered within the design and implementation of such SOR systems in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Influenza vaccination uptake among health care workers (HCWs) protects patients and staff. Still, many health institutions' coverage rates are unsatisfactory. We aimed to test the effect of communicating moral appeals in increasing vaccination uptake in a real life setting. In three field experiments among HCWs, a moral appeal highlighting morally relevant consequences of influenza vaccination was manipulated. The outcome variables were vaccination intention right after exposure to the moral appeal (Study 1; N = 569 US and UK HCWs from various institutions) and vaccination uptake in subsequent weeks for those respondents who consented in sharing this data during the survey (Studies 2 and 3, respectively N = 121 and N = 770 Dutch hospital employees). Studies 1 and 3 showed that moral appeal enhanced vaccination intention and uptake (vaccination uptake increased by 11%), due to increased awareness that vaccination is a moral decision. In Study 2, moral appeal had no effect, probably because people with more outspoken vaccination attitudes had responded to the call to fill in the survey. Moreover, moral appeal increased support for an influenza vaccination mandate. Furthermore, the results suggest that moral appeal was especially effective among HCWs with no history of influenza vaccination. These results indicate that moral appeal can be a useful tool for increasing both vaccination uptake and mandate support within health care institutions. • Influenza vaccination coverage rates among health care workers are unsatisfying. • Moral appeal was tested in a field experiment among health care workers (HCWs). • Exposure to a moral appeal increased influenza vaccination uptake with 11%. • Exposure to a moral appeal increased support for an influenza vaccination mandate. • Moral appeal affected HCWs without an influenza vaccination history more strongly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Expanding the use of BIM into the safety risk management of modular construction. • Modular construction is safer as it reduces the physical footprint on-site. • Workers exposed to safety hazards when faced with more complex modular construction. • Using BIM in construction training, safety inspection, and crane management. • BIM for improved safety awareness and real-time hazard identification on-site. Governments internationally encourage and support the development of modular buildings as they can improve efficiency in the construction industry. Meanwhile, judging from the numerous reports published by public agencies responsible for the regulation and enforcement of workplace safety (e.g., HSE UK), occupational health and safety is an important aspect that the construction industry has been concerned with as there is still much room for improvement. Therefore, practitioners and scholars have begun to study the safety risks of modular construction. In a similar manner, this paper summarises the existing literature on the application of Building Information Modelling (BIM) technology in the safety management of the construction industry in general and the main safety hazards of modular construction. The authors then analyse the application of BIM technology in the safety risk management of modular construction as a joint topic. This is the main contribution of this paper as there is very little research being done that links all three subjects together. The findings show that BIM technology has a great application potential in modular construction, and specifically in the training of staff, safety inspection, and crane management. By adopting BIM-based solutions it is likely to improve worker safety awareness, detect hazardous factors and scenarios and optimise site layout. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Failure to conduct periodic fixed-time-to (or scheduled) maintenance on off-highway plant and equipment represents a significant health and safety hazard and major litigation risk for utility contractors completing service excavation and reinstatement works on public highways. Mini-excavators are a ubiquitous mobile plant item used for such tasks and have recently been responsible for several major injuries and fatalities involving workers and members of the public in the United Kingdom (UK). The research utilises the method of triangulation to examine the maintenance practices of utility contractors in the UK. Findings from the research reveal that a combination of prevailing market forces and internal ‘company’ pressures have inadvertently removed knowledgeable and trained operators, site foremen and managerial supervisors from hands-on maintenance inspections. Rather, ‘virtual’ maintenance protocols and procedures are adopted by head office but rarely fully implemented on-site. The research concludes with pragmatic recommendations and direction for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The treatment of maxillofacial injuries forms a substantial part of the work in oral and maxillofacial units, but injuries sustained in work-related incidents are uncommon, mainly because of the strict enforcement of Health and Safety policies. We used data from the Health and Safety Executive in the United Kingdom to review the incidence and aetiology of maxillofacial injuries that result from industrial accidents in the UK, and highlight the case of a worker who sustained an isolated fracture of the nasoethmoidal complex when he was trapped in a cheese press. In 2010-2011, roughly 115 379 accidents or incidents at work were reported in the UK, and of the 1623 (1%) that were maxillofacial, 81% occurred in the service sector. The most common mechanism of injury was assault (37%) and the most common injury was contusion (30%). Since the introduction of the Health and Safety Act, work-related accidents in the UK have decreased considerably. However, they will continue to occur because of human error. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study of runaway incidents involving thermal chemical reactions in the UK over the past 25 years (1988-2013) has been carried out. The objective of this study is to determine possible causes of thermal runaway incidents. A statistical analysis of the underlying problems that led to thermal runaway incidents has been provided. A comparison of the current study on thermal runaway incidents with those identified prior to 1988 has been carried out. This study clearly shows that lessons have not been learnt from thermal runaway incidents caused by operator errors, management failures and lack of organised operating procedures. These factors have been the possible causes of about 77% of all the thermal runaway incidents analysed in this study. The number of fatalities and injuries as a result of thermal runaway incidents has increased by ~325% and ~279%, respectively, in the last 25 years even though the number of incidents was significantly less. On the basis of this analysis, several recommendations have been proposed that could help to minimise the risks associated with any thermal runaway incidents in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Dutch and British rules on nexus between planning and water safety are compared. [•] Stark differences in institutional arrangements and practices were initially expected. [•] Some risk approach elements were clearly identified in a Dutch case study. [•] Dutch spatial planning and water safety management gradually seem to integrate. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A growing body of research supports the importance of supervisors’ safety leadership in promoting employees’ engagement in safety. However, the factors that give rise to these safety leadership behaviors are under-explored. The current study addressed this void by adopting a Job Demands-Resources framework to identify contextual influences on supervisors’ safety leadership behaviors. Focus group data from sixty-nine supervisors recruited from the UK construction industry showed that role overload, production demands, formal procedures, and workforce characteristics hindered supervisors’ engagement in safety leadership. In contrast, social support (especially from the organization and co-workers) and perceived autonomy promoted supervisors’ engagement in safety leadership. Exploration around these issues highlighted a need for more training for supervisors in this role and the development of a supportive environment between supervisors affiliated with different parent companies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This article reflects on the progress that has been made in Britain since publication of the Black report on workplace health in 2008. It provides an overview of the key recommendations of the report, reflecting on the interventions that have been put in place in response to these recommendations by the end of September 2011. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This study is anchored in a contractor company providing well services for platform drilling on the Norwegian (NCS) and the UK Continental Shelves (UKCS). The research project has as its point of departure the potential influences of group level characteristics, structural work factors, trust, and safety behaviour on safety performance. Do perceptions and performance differ across Shelves? Are “nomadic” groups or employees that have more unpredictable shift rotations more exposed to accidents than others? Is high trust and sound safety behaviour enhancing good safety performance? The results are based on questionnaire data from two samples of personnel distributed across three installations on the UKCS and nine on the NCS with a response rate of 67%: N =170 (UKCS) and N =621 (NCS). In addition, two focus group interviews were held in each country, with 15 participants in each. The results show that our model makes sense. Shelf shows a significant influence on safety performance in all but the final stage in our five-step logistic regression model, indicating that the effect may be mediated by safety compliance and safety participation. Installations and different work teams have different exposure and structural work factors matter significantly. Somewhat counter-intuitively, employees who have a “nomadic” status and who hold the least regular shift rotations appear to have a lower risk of being involved in incidents. High trust in workmates buffers against incident involvement and the same applies for high safety compliance. The results, challenges and implications for research and safety practitioners are discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The 19th century and first half of the 20th century is one of those periods in history of rapid economical, technical and social changes. There is an ongoing mechanization, followed by a movement to rationalize production and to make it cost effective. This has created a heavy burden of occupational deaths amongst workers. In this period occupational safety is developing into a professional field. Engineers are enclosing hazards and fencing heights, shaping up safety technique, and writing very practical publications on occupational safety. These publications, predominantly published in the United States, are leading to quite some safety related metaphors, with the iceberg and the domino’s as the most famous ones. Sociologists, psychologists, and physicians are more concerned with questions related to accident causation, and these specialists are conducting research leading to two different safety theories. Causes of occupational accident are found either in the workers’ capacity to handle hazardous situations, or in external causes, like very long working hours, dangerous machines and the increased pressures of work and speed of production. The Pittsburgh survey, the first extended analysis of occupational accidents in a steel district, strongly advocated the environmental hypothesis, while the so-called ‘individual hypothesis’ is favored by the American Safety First Movement, starting as a private initiative in 1906 by US Steel, and later spreading out over Western European countries. The British Industrial Fatigue Board has given the individual hypothesis its scientific justification. Despite scientific criticism just after World War II on the concept of accident proneness and ‘unsafe acts’, its popularity is not fading. Even nowadays the famous metaphors are still part of the vocational training of safety experts, also in The Netherlands. Apparently professional and scientific developments in occupational safety are belonging to two separate worlds. Before World War II, The Netherlands is not a leading country in occupational safety but a follower, first of France and the German speaking countries. After World War I its focus is directed towards the Anglo-Saxon countries. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In the pursuit of Health and Safety (H&S) improvement within the UK construction industry, several studies have been conducted to identify accident causal factors to enable the development of accident prevention measures. Adding to such studies, a critique of H&S literature demonstrates that construction project features (CPFs) such as the nature of project, method of construction, site restriction, project duration, procurement system, design complexity, level of construction, and subcontracting contribute to accident causation and that their contribution is through the introduction of proximal accident causal factors into the construction process. However, the extent of this contribution by these CPFs remains sparingly known and requires further investigation. The study provides this insight by indicating that the extent to which CPFs contribute to accident causation is influenced by two factors; the extent to which the proximal factors contribute to accident causation; and the extent to which the proximal factors are prevalent within the CPFs. In line with this fresh insight, an approach for determining the extent to which CPFs contribute to accident causation is put forth. The approach proposes to use a qualitative–quantitative rating scale to determine the two determinant factors and then combine them using a mathematical formula to obtain the extent to which CPFs contribute to accident causation. By this approach the grey areas in literature concerning the extent to which CPFs contribute to accident causation will be illuminated and by that contribute to improvement in construction accident prevention. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The main objectives of this study were to investigate the causes and circumstances of all fatal work-related accidents in the UK fishing industry from 1996 to 2005, to compare fatal accident rates with those in all other British occupations and industries and in the general British workforce, and to establish long term trends in the fatal accident rate in UK fishing since 1919. Of 160 deaths from work-related accidents in the UK fishing industry from 1996 to 2005, 86 arose from incidents involving fishing vessels and 74 were from personal accidents, with a fatal accident rate of 102 per 100,000 fishermen-years. After fishermen, the next most hazardous occupations were dockers and stevedores (28 per 100,000), refuse and salvage workers (25), agricultural machinery drivers (18), steel erectors, road construction workers (both 15), roofers (13) and scaffolders (12). The fatal accident rate among fishermen was 115 times greater than in the general British workforce, while there has been little reduction in the fatal accident rate in the UK fishing industry in the last 60 years. This study shows that commercial fishing is by far the most hazardous occupation in Britain. Prevention of fatal accidents should focus on increased use of personal flotation devices, reductions in lone fishing and the use of unstable, unseaworthy and badly maintained fishing vessels. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Lifting operations and associated equipment have become commonplace within the UK construction industry. However, recent high profile accidents involving lifting equipment have shown that the result of its misuse can have serious cost and health implications. The main aim of the research was to investigate lifting operations on construction sites exploring different options, their effectiveness, and their effect on safety. This research looked into the processes in place; the factors that have to be taken into consideration when placing and using lifting equipment; and the competent persons required when operating equipment. With these aims, literature review was conducted. This was followed by investigation on three construction sites. These case studies were enhanced through interviews with general site staff, managerial staff, and appointed persons. The findings revealed six main points to improve safety in lifting operations. These are: through planning; training; equipment selection, use and inspection; feedback/communication; appointed person’s role; and database. Thorough planning of lifting operations has positive effects on safety. There is need for tighter accreditation of all qualifications in the lifting operations field. The charter of major lifting equipment from specialist contractors should be considered as industry best practise. Companies should avoid authoritarian working culture to facilitate efficient feedback to improve safety. The appointed person should have site based role. Site inspections and maintenance should be monitored on a national database form. Practitioners can benefit from this paper as it provides information on experiences from three construction sites. Furthermore, researchers can use the findings for their future studies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Migrant workers safety remains a major challenge in the construction sector. • There has been limited focus on migrant worker safety in Italy, Spain and the UK. • Role modelling and soft skills are key for migrant workers' safety behaviours. • On-site training may be crucial to safety training of migrant workers. • Supervisors modelling safety behaviors is crucial to safety training transfer. The construction industry is notoriously high risk for accidents, injuries, and deaths, particularly for non-national or migrant workers, who comprise a significant proportion of the workforce. This paper presents an international, qualitative study focused on exploring the challenges which influence the safety of migrant construction workers in Italy, Spain, and the UK. Based on a comprehensive review of the literature, we formulated two research questions about the challenges relating to safety that migrant workers face and the challenges to safety training effectively improving migrant workers' safety behaviours. We present our template analysis of semi-structured interviews and focus groups with 88 participants from four occupational groups across all three countries. This identified commonalities and differences in interpretations of the primary challenges to migrant workers' safety, amongst participants from the various occupational groups (workers, site supervisors, safety trainers and safety experts) in Italy, Spain, and the UK. These were associated with: increased use of subcontractors; dilution of safety standards down the supply chain; pressure to breach safety regulations on site; differing safety-related attitudes and behaviours due to national cultural differences, language barriers and issues relating to training (provision, delivery, language, content and transfer). Finally, we summarise the contributions and limitations of our study, arguing further interventions related to safety training are needed, along with ethnographic studies to explore how both macro-level and contextual factors affect safety outcomes for migrant construction workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Risk assessment is an implicit requirement of the UK Health and Safety at Work etc. Act (HSW, 1974) and is also explicitly required by other general and industry-specific regulations. A suitable and sufficient risk assessment, with effective use made of the findings, is seen as an integral part of successful health and safety management. However, there are a number of common mistakes or `pitfalls'' that are often made or encountered when carrying out a risk assessment. This paper sets out to illustrate some of the most commonly encountered pitfalls through a series of case studies taken from a range of UK industry sectors. A discussion of good practice is also presented in each case. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Problem: Accidents involving temporary access systems, particularly temporary scaffolds, account for a large proportion of injuries in the construction industry worldwide. Method: This paper outlines the development of a prototype decision aid (SCAFPASS, an abbreviation for Scaffold Planning Aid for System Safety) to promote access scaffold safety. It was guided by an examination of the root-causes and management deficiencies apparent in: (a) paper-based files of 186 access-related incidents held by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in the UK; and (b) computer-based files of 2,910 incidents appearing in the HSE database between 1997 to 2000. Results: The more frequent root-causes included the fitting of defective components, unauthorized modification of the structure, omission of barriers, and errors resulting in simple, readily detectable structural faults. Common managerial deficiencies included failure to control risk, unsafe methods and procedures, and inadequate training and supervision. Impact on Industry: SCAFPASS aims to avoid these root-causes by improving safety management from the outset and throughout all phases of a project. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Studies health and safety management within working groups in manufacturing sector in Great Britain. Response to demands of competitiveness; Management of business risks; Degree of management devolvement.

Examines the value of external safety and safety rewards in motivating the workforce in Great Britain. Strengthening of community relations; Disadvantages and limitations; Features of the awards; Comments about award schemes.

The article focuses on industrial health and safety in Europe. The British Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has expressed concern over the increasing volume of hydrocarbon releases in the offshore industry. Figures released showed that there had been no improvement in this type of incident in 2007-2008. Among the main causes of injuries were related to slips or falls, being trapped, struck by or striking against equipment, among others. To this end, the Health & Safety At Work Etc. Act was implemented and since its introduction, safety performance has improved by over 70%. In Germany, a new version of the Chemical Law porives several guideines into German right. It aims to protect people and the envirnmental against the harmful influence of dangerous chemicals and mixtures.

• Construction organisations need systematic learning from failures and near misses. • OHS is inseparable from organisational learning and collective sense-making. • OHS lessons are in project-specific silos with no cross-project transfer mechanisms. • The role of clients is crucial for encouraging OHS KT across supply chains. • Line managers are often the fastest and most efficient channels for OHS KT. Within the last decades the incidence of workspace injuries and fatalities in the UK construction industry has declined markedly following the developments in occupational health and safety (OHS) management systems. However, safety statistics have reached a plateau and actions for further improvement of OHS management systems are called for. OHS is a form of organizational expertise that has both tacit and explicit dimensions and is situated in the ongoing practices. There is a need for institutionalization and for the transfer of knowledge across and along construction supply chains to reduce OHS risks and facilitate cultural change. The focus of this article is the factors that facilitate OHS knowledge transfer in and between organizations involved in construction projects. An interpretative methodology is used in this research to embrace tacit aspects of knowledge transfer and application. Thematic analysis is supported by a cognitive mapping technique that allows understanding of interrelationships among the concepts expressed by the respondents. This paper demonstrates inconsistency in OHS practices in construction organizations and highlights the importance of cultivating a positive safety culture to encourage transfer of lessons learnt from good practices, incidents, near misses and failures between projects, from projects to programmes and across supply chains. Governmental health and safety regulations, norms and guidelines do not include all possible safety issues specific to different working environments and tied to work contexts. The OHS system should encourage employees to report near misses, incidents and failures in a 'no-blame' context and to take appropriate actions. This research provides foundation for construction project practitioners to adopt more socially oriented approaches towards promoting learning-rich organizational contexts to overcome variation in the OHS and move beyond the current plateau reached in safety statistics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents updates on safety and environmental regulations as of May 2009. In her keynote address at the Cefic Annual Responsible Care conference on October 23, 2008, British Health and Safety Executive (HSE) chair Judith Hackitt reminded senior managers and safety professionals to prioritize leadership and effective process safety and performance. A change made to the Stem Cell Law in Germany now allows embryo stem cells produced in foreign countries before May 1, 2009 to be imported and used for research work.

This section presents a schedule of events concerning process safety and environmental protection in Great Britain from September to November 2008, including a study on process contracts in London, England, a course on fire and explosion investigation in Leeds, and a meeting and workshop of the IChemE Safety and Loss Prevention Subject Group in Preston.

This section offers news briefs concerning process safety and environmental protection in Great Britain as of September 2008. Warwick International Group Ltd. was fined for an explosion and fire at their factory in Flintshire, Wales. Judith Hackitt, chair of the Health and Safety Executive, issued a statement on the 20th anniversary of the Piper Alpha disaster.

A calendar of events related to industrial safety in Great Britain in 2007 is presented. The fire and explosion investigation course will be held on September 10-14. The course Layer of Protection Analysis (LOPA) will be held on September 22-26. The practical emergency management training program will be held on October 3-5.