WORK AND STRESS

Special Number on Safety Culture

Edited by Sue Cox and Rhona Flin

1 Safety culture : philosophers stone or man of straw?
        Sue Cox, Loughborough University.
        Rhona Flin, University of Aberdeen.

2 Safety culture: Some theoretical concerns (prov title)
      Nick Pidgeon, University of Wales Bangor

3 The assessment of safety culture at a nuclear re-processing plant.
      Terry Lee, University of St. Andrews.

4 Measuring safety climate on offshore installations.
        Kathryn Mearns et al, University of Aberdeen.

5 Measuring and modelling safety climate in the European manufacturing sector.
        A. Cheyne, S. Cox , Loughborough University
        A. Oliver and J.M. Tomás, University of Valencia.

6 Safety culture as an ongoing process: Culture surveys as opportunities for inquiry and change
      J. Carroll, MIT Sloan School of Management

7 Safety culture on the UK railway network
        S. Clarke, UMIST

8 Safety culture: Some theoretical and practical issues
      J. Reason, University of Manchester

 Editorial

"Developing a positive health and safety culture is important if high standards of health and safety are to be achieved and maintained. There is a limit to the health and safety performance an organisation can achieve without addressing the contribution which human factors have to play in eliminating occupational accidents and ill health." David Eves, Deputy Director UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE, 1997)

Safety Culture

The concept of safety culture appears to have become increasingly important for our understanding and management of health and safety at work. Cultural theory was one of the dominant themes in the general management literature of the early 1980s, and as such strongly influenced popular approaches to organisational performance and effectiveness (see, for example, Schein, 1985; Schneider, 1990). However, the idea that cultures might be multi-faceted and that safety culture might be an important organisational attribute did not gain any significant level of acceptance until the late 1980s, and then initially in the nuclear industry. The notion of safety culture is now gaining importance in all sectors of and has been highlighted as a contributory factor in a number of major disasters (Fennell, 1988; Hidden, 1989).

The growing importance of the concept is confirmed by the number of advisory committee reports which have been produced, and international conferences which have been held in recent years, mostly focusing on specific sectors. These range from reports directed at the nuclear sector, for example, the International Nuclear Safety Advisory Group’s Safety Report on Safety Culture (IAEA, 1986), in the wake of the Chernobyl incident, to more recent congresses centred around energy industries for example, the 1997 International Conference on Safety Culture in the Energy Industries, held at Aberdeen University. With this increasing interest in safety culture, and its relationship to health and safety management has come an increasing demand for more empirical, and more adequate, research into its nature, and for the application of research findings in support of continuous improvement. This in itself is interesting because the original drive behind studying organisational culture was deliberately qualitative in nature and strongly framed by a post-modern and anti-empirical stance (see Denison, 1996). However, the particular demands of application have forced the development of empirical quantitative study in this area.

There remain a number of obstacles to conducting effective investigations in relation to safety culture. For instance, there is a need for clearer theoretical frameworks and more adequate methodologies, working models and measures and evaluated field studies. There is also a need to rationalise the existing literature on culture and climate to consider how improvements can be made within organisations. The time has now come to take stock of the research that has been produced in this area and for future directions to be considered. The papers in this volume seek to discuss the main theoretical issues involved in the study of safety culture, critically present some current methodologies, explore the utility of such methods in various industrial settings, and look at how such research might develop in the future. The question of how culture is studied, by qualitative or quantitative methods, has been an important area for many writers on organisations. Sometimes it is the concept of ‘climate’ rather than culture that has been associated with quantitative methods, and this term is occasionally preferred by those working empirically within a psychometric paradigm.

The nature and utility of safety culture, its measurement and the challenge to develop useful theoretical frameworks is discussed by Sue Cox (Loughborough University) and Rhona Flin (University of Aberdeen) in an opening framework article. Nick Pidgeon (University of Wales Bangor) then develops this discussion, outlining four key theoretical questions for safety culture research in the second paper. The papers which follow present the findings of recent safety culture research in various industrial settings. In the third paper, Terence Lee (University of St Andrews) describes a study to assess safety culture at a nuclear re-processing plant, while Kathryn Mearns and her colleagues (University of Aberdeen) examine the measurement of safety climate, and its relationship to safety culture, in offshore installations in the fourth paper. Alistair Cheyne (Loughborough University), Amparo Oliver (University of Valencia) and their colleagues examine the relationships between safety climate variables, in the manufacturing sector, in the fifth paper.

The experience of identifying safety culture in the US nuclear industry is described by John Carroll (Mass Inst of Technology, Sloan School) in the sixth paper, and Sharon Clarke (University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology) rounds off the sectoral discussion with her review of safety culture in the UK railway network. The final paper, by James Reason (University of Manchester) provides a management perspective to safety culture and examines how cultures might be developed to enhance health and safety management.

It is hoped that this compilation of papers will help to draw together some of the recent work in the area of safety culture and encourage the development of common theoretical terms of reference in the area. More particularly, it is hoped that, in future, the juxtaposition of theory and practice will allow for improvements for safety to be made, which, in turn, will be translated into a safer work environment.

Sue Cox
Loughborough University, UK
Rhona Flin
University of Aberdeen, UK

Denison, D. R. 1996, What is the difference between organizational culture and organizational climate? A native’s point of view on a decade of paradigm wars. The Academy of Management Review, 21(3), 619-654.

Fennell, D. 1988, Investigation into Kings Cross Underground Fire. Department of Transport, HMSO.

Health and Safety Executive 1997, Health and Safety Climate Tool Process Guidelines. Sudbury HSE Books

Hidden, A. 1989, Investigation into the Clapham Junction Railway Accident. London: HMSO

IAEA 1986, Summary Report on the Post-Accident Review Meeting on the Chernobyl Accident. International Safety Advisory Group. Safety Series 75-INSAG-1. Vienna: International Atomic Energy Agency.

Schein, E. H. 1985, Organisational Culture and Leadership. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Schneider, B. 1990, Organisational Climate and Culture. Oxford: Jossey Bass.

Word & Stress

Volume:- 11 Issue:- 1

Publication Date : 16th June 1997

Title: Workplace health promotion
Authors: T. Cox.   Pages 1-5.

Title: Work-related stress, coping resources, and heavy drinking in the restaurant business
Authors: Kristina Kjaerheim, Reidar.J Mykletun, Olaf.G Aasland, Tor Haldorsen, Aage Andersen.    Pages 6-16.

Title: An attribution model of teachers' occupational stress and job satisfaction in a large education system
Authors: John McCormick.   Pages 17-32.

Title: Critical evaluation of hardiness theory: Sex differences, perception of life events, and neuroticism
Authors: Lois.A Benishek, Frederick.G Lopez.    Pages 33-45.

Title: Negative affectivity (NA) and gender as moderators of the relationship between work-related stressors and depressed mood at
work 
Authors: Steve M. Jex, Deanne A. Heinisch.    Pages 46-57.

Title: Coping strategies, dysfunctional attitudes and psychological well-being in white collar public sector employees
Authors: Andrew Guppy, Lorraine Weatherstone.    Pages 58-67.

Title: Lay theories of work stress
Authors: Adrian Furnham.   Pages 68-78.

Title: Chinese version of the OSI: a validation study
Authors: Luo Lu, Cary L. Cooper, Yen Ching Chen, Chia Ho Hsu,  Hung Luan Wu, Jian Bin Shih, Chi Hua Li.   Pages 79-86.

Title: Modelling state anxiety in a medical setting: The mediating role of embarrassement
Authors: Meni Koslowsky, Abraham Sagie, Michael.G Goldenhersh,  Dror Guberman, Michael David, Henri Trau, Rachel  Friedman-Birnbaum, Reuven Bergman, Sima Halevy, Sarah Brenner. Pages 87-93.

Title: Burnout in Greek teachers: main findings and validity of the Maslach burnout inventory
Authors: Aristotle Kantas.   Pages 94-100.

Title: Book Reviews:- The healthy organization - Fairness, ethics and effective management. Workplace health: Employee fitness and exercise Authors: .    Pages 101-102.

Volume:- 11 Issue:- 2

Publication Date : 13th August 1997

Title: HIV/AIDS knowledge and HIV/AIDS risk perception: An indirect relationship
Authors: Eamonn Ferguson.   Pages 103-117.

Title: Sel-perceived occupational stress and distress in a Scottish police force
Authors: Fiona H. Biggam, Kevin G. Power, Ronald R. MacDonald, William B. Carcary, Eleanor Moodie.    Pages 118-133.

Title: The role of sense of coherence in well-being at work: analysis of main and moderator effects
Authors: Taru Feldt.   Pages 134-147.

Title: Neuroticism, locus of control, type A behaviour patten and occupational stress
Authors: James J. Walsh, John M. Wilding, Michael W. Eysenck, John D. Valentine.   Pages 148-159.

Title: Heart rate and blood pressure in male police officers and clerical workers on work and nonwork days
Authors: Suzanne McLaren.   Pages 160-174.

Title: Abusive interaction and role state stressors: Relative impact on student assistant stress and work attitudes
Authors: Loraleigh Keashly, Steve Harvey, Sean Hunter.
Pages 175-185.

Title: Power motivation, illness, coping strategies and psychological stress in police trainees
Authors: Janice Langan-Fox, Tanya Deery, Sara van Vliet.
Pages 186-195.

Volume:- 11 Issue:- 3

Publication Date : 17th November 1997

Title: Ageing, health and productivity: a challenge for the new millennium
Authors: A. Griffiths.   Pages 197-214.

Title: Job Stress, Social Support, Job Satisfaction and Absenteeism Among Offshore Oil Personnel
Authors: Pĺl Ulleberg, Torbjorn Rundmo.    Pages 215-228.

Title: A Comparison of Incident-Based and Scale Measures of Work Stressors
Authors: Steve M. Jex, Gary A. Adams, Tina C. Elacqua, David J. Lux.   Pages 229-238.

Title: Musculoskeletal symptoms and headaches in VDU users - a phychophysiological study
Authors: Clairy Wiholm, Bengt B. Arnetz.    Pages 239-250.

Title: Moderating Effects of Work-Based Support on the Relationship Between Jon Insecurity and its Consequences
Authors: Vivien K. G. Lim.   Pages 251-266.

Title: The impact of social support on the development of burnout in teachers: examination of a model
Authors: Esther R. Greenglass, Ronald J. Burke, Roman Konarski.  Pages 267-278.

Title: Organizational changes at a postal sorting terminal - their effects upon work satisfaction, psychosomatic complaints and sick leave Authors: Kurt G. I. Wahlstedt, Christer Edling.   Pages 279-291.

Title: Fishermen's Blues: Factors Related to Accidents and Safety Among Newfoundland Fishermen
Authors: Michael Murray, Donald Fitzpatrick, Colleen O'Connell.  Pages 292-297.

Title: Books for Review
Authors: Richard Graveling.   Pages 298-298.

Title: Books Received
Authors: Richard Graveling.   Pages 299-299.

Volume:- 11 Issue:- 4

Publication Date : 22nd April 1998

Title: The challenge of workplace health promotion: new roles are needed
Authors: Richard Wynne.   Pages 301-303.

Title: Psychophysiological reactions during the first year of foreign assignment: results from a controlled longitudinal study
Authors: Ingrid Anderzén, Bengt B. Arnetz.    Pages 304-318.

Title: Vicarious traumatisation in counsellors working in the N.S.W. sexual assault service: an exploratory study
Authors: C. N. E. Johnson, M. Hunter.   Pages 319-328.

Title: Effects of exposure to occupational violence and the mediating impact of fear
Authors: Phil Leather, Di Beale, Claire Lawrence, Rosie Dickson. Pages 329-340.

Title: Assisting employees with drinking problems: changes in mental health, job perceptions and work performance
Authors: Andrew Guppy, John Marsden.   Pages 341-350.

Title: Psychosocial stressors at work, psychological stress and musculoskeletal symptoms in care of the elderly
Authors: Marko Elovainio, Timo Sinervo.    Pages 351-361.

Title: Measurement of negative affectivity
Authors: Chockalingam Viswesvaran, Juan I. Sanchez.  
Pages 362-368.

Title: Does hardiness predict adaption to shiftwork
Authors: Philip Bohle.   Pages 369-376.

Word & Stress

Volume:- 10 Issue:- 1

Publication Date : 12th April 1996

Title: Editorial
Authors: C. L. Cooper.   Pages 1-4.

Title: The benefits of employee exercise programmes:a review
Authors: A. Griffiths.   Pages 5-23.

Title: The rise and fall? of mental stress claims in the United States - to go into 10/1
Authors: G. E. Brogmus.   Pages 24-35.

Title: The impact of negative affectivity on stressor-strain relations: a replication and extension
Authors: S. M. Jex, P. E. Spector.   Pages 36-45.

Title: Social support at work and its relationship to work absenteeism Authors: A-L. Undén.   Pages 46-61.

Title: Fatigue effects of noise on aeroplane mechanics
Authors: A. Kjellberg, P. Andersson, B. Sköldström, L. Lindberg. Pages 62-71.

Title: Pregnancy, work and women's well-being: a review
Authors: H. Pattison, H. Gross.   Pages 72-87.

Title: Sources of stress - to go into 10/1
Authors: W. J. R. Anderson, C. L. Cooper, M. Willmott.
Pages 88-95.

Title: Book reviews
Authors: Richard Graveling.   Pages 96-98.

Volume:- 10 Issue:- 2

Publication Date : 22nd July 1996

Title: Work-related violence - is national reporting good enough?
Authors: Di Beale.   Pages 99-103.

Title: Do you think your health or safety are at risk because of your work? a large European study on psychological and physical work demands.
Authors: Frank Andries, Michiel A. J. Kompier, Peter G. W. Smulders.   Pages 104-118.

Title: Violence in the nursing profession: occupationl and lifestyle risk factors in Swedish nurses.
Authors: Judith E. Arnetz, Bengt B. Arnetz, Inga-Lill Petterson. Pages 119-127.

Title: Moderating effects of social support in shiftworking and non-shiftworking nurses.
Authors: C.S. Smith, R.A. Schmieder.   Pages 128-140.

Title: Occupational overuse syndrome and the effects of psychosocial stressors on keyboard users in the newspaper industry.
Authors: Christine Stephens, Mike Smith.    Pages 141-153.

Title: The influence of sex and grade on perceived work stress an job satisfaction in white collar employees.
Authors: Andrew Guppy, Jo Rick.   Pages 154-164.

Title: The inverted-U relationship between stress and performance: a field study.|
Authors: Mina Westman, Dov Eden.   Pages 165-173.

Title: A re-analysis of the occupational stress indicator.
Authors: Ann J. Davis.   Pages 174-182.

Title: Managing workplace stress: a Canadian Delphi study among human resource managers
Authors: R. Loo.   Pages 183-189.

Title: Person - centred ergonomics. a Brantonian view of human factors. Authors: Richard Graveling.   Pages 190-192.

Volume:- 10 Issue:- 3

Organizational Issues in Hospitals

Publication Date : 22nd November 1996

Title: Editorial - Work and organizational psychology in hospitals
Authors: José M Peiro, A. Griffiths, Charles De Wolff, André Büssing, T. Cox, Wilmar.B Schaufeli.    Pages 193-194.

Title: Relations between leadership and professionals' attitudes and perceptions in primary health care teams comparison of two leadership models
Authors: José M Peiro, Vicente González-Romá, José Ramos, Ana Zornoza.   Pages 195-208.

Title: Testing the demand-control-support model among health care professionals: a structural equation model
Authors: Jan de Jonge, Peter P.M Janssen, Gerard J.P van Breukelen.   Pages 209-224.

Title: Burnout and reciprocity: towards a dual-level social exchange model Authors: Wilmar.B Schaufeli, Dirk van Dierendonck, Karin van Gorp.    Pages 225-237.

Title: Social tolerance of working time scheduling in nursing
Authors: André Büssing.   Pages 238-250.

Title: Health, well-being and burnout of ICU nurses on 12 and 8 hour shifts
Authors: I. Iskra-Golec, T. Marek, S. Folkard, C. Noworol. 
Pages 251-256.

Title: Burnout and work organization in hospital wards: a cross-validation study
Authors: Peter Vlerick.   Pages 257-265.

Title: Personnel turnover in health care organizations: test of a predictive model on work assesments by employees
Authors: Jeroen Pool, Eric Meeuwsen.   Pages 266-281.

Title: Obituary - Stephen Pheasant.
Authors: Peter Buckle.   Pages 282-282.

Volume:- 10 Issue:- 4

Publication Date : 12th March 1997

Title: Editorial:- Research into the prevention of musculoskeletal disorders: The search for principles
Authors: G. Wickström.   Pages 283-284.

Title: The effect of objective job demands on registered sickness absence spells; do personal, social and job related resources act as moderators? Authors: Jussi Vahtera, Jaana Pentti, Antti Uutela.   Pages 285-307.

Title: Psychosocial and organizational factors at work associated with neck, shoulder and low back pain in female hospital staff
Authors: Edvin Bru, Reidar.J Mykletun, Sven Svebak.
Pages 308-320.

Title: Musculo-skeletal problems in bricklayers as a function of length of employment: the role of secondary selection by low-back pain
Authors: H. Heuer, F. Klimmer, H. Kylian, A. Seeber, K.-H. Schmidt, G. Hoffmann, M. Luttke-Nymphius.   Pages 321-334.

Title: Daily work stress, mood and interpersonal job performance: a mediational model
Authors: Wendy Stewart, J. Barling.   Pages 335-350.

Title: Why aren't managers concerned about occupational stress? Authors: Kevin Daniels.   Pages 351-365.

Title: Reducing absenteeism by stress management: Valuation of a stress counselling service
Authors: Susan Michie.   Pages 366-371.

Title: Importance of active listening in treating workers with musculoskeletal disorders
Authors: Noomi Elander Lindberg, Erik Lindberg.    Pages 372-375.

Title: Books for Review
Authors: .   Pages 376-378.