Qualitative Safety Research at MG Resins

Qualitative Safety Research at MG Resins Casey Bird   Abstract In this article, qualitative safety research at MG Resins will be discussed. MG Resins is a polymer production plant that is projected to be the largest producer of plastics in the United States. Currently, this company is under construction and has experienced numerous incidents and delays. To overcome these complications, MG Resins will utilize the importance of qualitative research to enhance the construction project and prevent future incidents. The type of qualitative research that is being implemented is safety knowledge management (KM), and safety climate and behaviour research. These qualitative research tools are required to enhance the organizations safety program.   Qualitative research provides the ability to understand other employees safety needs or perceptions. It allows an organization to become a safety-first climate. In order to achieve a safety-first climate the organization needs to learn areas of needed enhancements. This is why qualitative safety research is paramount at MG Resins. MG will discuss the tools utilized for qualitative research, and how the effectiveness is measured in that research. To measure qualitative effectiveness the key safety indictors that will be utilized at MG is the Experience Modification Rate (EMR), hazard observations with Stop Work Authority (SWA), and employee involvement. This paper will also inform the reader on the importance of safety research, safety methods and safety methodology behind a safety-first climate. Qualitative Research in Safety MG Resins is a polymer production plant that is projected to be the largest producer of plastics in the United States. Currently, this company is under construction and has experienced numerous incidents, work delays, and cost overruns. During the construction process there has been an extensive amount of recordable injuries and incidents. Overall, MG Resins has an Experience Modification Rate (EMR) of greater than 2.0. The EMR is a number that utilizes payroll, and total incident loss experiences to measure insurance cost premiums (Smith, 2009). According to Smith (2009), a good EMR of less than 1.0 is achievable; only if the company adopts excellent incident control and prevention practices.   MG Resins EMR reflects a lack in excellent incident control and prevention practices. At MG, a majority of the incidents are not getting reported to MG management. To overcome this issue, qualitative research is now used to understand and evaluate the current safety program. Qualitative research relies on researching the individuals thoughts, perceptions, and experiences about a safety program (Olsen, Bjerkan, Naevestad, 2009). It is imperative to incorporate qualitative research to ensure a proactive and successful safety program. To be more proactive towards accident prevention, MG set high standards for a safety-first climate. A safety-first climate is defined as one that exhibits employees beliefs in regards to safety. Research indicates that these beliefs are directly related to safety behaviors and incidents (Huang, Jeffries, Tolbert, Dainoff, 2017). In support of these beliefs, there is an expectation for employers to research and implement safety programs. According to Neal and Griffin (2002), only just recently have organizations focused on implementing proactive safety behaviors.   This is mainly due to the extensive amount o f direct and indirect cost associated with workplace incidents.   Thus, MG Resins adopted safety knowledge management (KM) as primary qualitative research to counteract the incident rate. Effective KM is seen when organizations continuously improve production, quality, safety, and corporate image. The only way to ensure this is achieved is to acquire employee feedback and involvement. MG utilizes feedback surveys after every training session to ensure the correct goals and/or messages have been received. These surveys also provide other data to the presenter and management with an outsiders view as to enhance the programs. Safety Climate and Behaviour research model is utilized as secondary qualitative research to support MGs primary KM research. To measure the overall effectiveness of the KM research, MG Resins utilizes the Safety Climate and Behaviour research model. This research model is developed by Andrew Neal Mark Griffin (2002). These authors developed a model based on a five year study to convey the importance of a safety-first climate (Neal Griffin, 2002). The components utilized to link the relationship of a safety-first climate in the workplace are leadership support, safety knowledge, and safety motivation to measure the overall safety performance. This model utilizes two data points to research an organizations safety performance. The first data point utilizes upper management and leadership as antecedents. Antecedents are individuals that indirectly affect the behavior of the entire organization in regards to knowledge, skill, or motivation (Neal Griffin, 2002). Antecedents are normal ly considered as upper management. These antecedent individuals are normally the organizations Company Executive Officers (CEOs), or Directors. According to Neal and Griffin (2002), the second data point utilizes determinants as a performance measure of factors that directly affect worker behavior through their actions. These determinant individuals are normally the organizations middle management. This is usually the front-line employees immediate Supervisor, or Manager. The determinants directly affect the workers performance in regards to knowledge, skills, and motivation (Neal Griffin, 2002). In other words, people are dependent upon management to be role models through their daily actions. For this reason, MG developed a Fundamentals of Management (FOM) training program that is currently being implemented. This FOM training ensures management takes proper actions at all times. The FOM presentation identifies various research methods that visualize incident trends by using the safety triangle. According to the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE), the safety triangle was created 86 years ago by H. W. Heinrich (ASSE, 2014).   The safety triangle provides an incident ratio that reassures the root causes of all incidents are identified. It is imperative that even minor incidents are prevented, which in turn will prevent the major incidents (ASSE, 2014). With the safety triangle, MG inputs their incident ratio into the safety triangle to identify problem areas and trends. The FOM presentation also utilizes research based on the total number of SWAs employees utilized and resolved. Employees are trained, supported, and motivated to utilize SWA for any hazard observations. A hazard could be any unsafe act or condition in the work environment. This continuous employee involvement is critical to ensure the safety program is psychologically working.   As cited in Neal and Griffin (2002), psychological climate is when individual perceptions of the work environment are established. It is when these perceptions of the work environment are shared, that it becomes an organizational climate (as cited in Neal Griffin, 2002). It is important for management to receive feedback from employees on needed enhancement areas. During the FOM presentation, leaders are encouraged to support, train, and motivate employees to be safe on any job (as cited in Neal Griffin, 2002). To overcome any miscommunication, it is critical for a safety program to test employees on knowledge learned. As a follow-up, MG Resins constantly researches employees feedback by issuing questionnaires on safety-related objectives. This research provides another means to ensure employees have received the correct message, as well as enhance future safety objectives. This helps to ensure the principles of learning have been achieved. Safety compliance and participation can only be achieved once employees have the proper knowledge, skills, and motivation (Neal Griffin, 2002). Safety compliance and participation is measured by MG Resins to ensure proper relationship behaviors are occurring. When safety compliance and participation are both lacking in the workplace, the root cause can be traced back to the determinants of performance. If individuals do not have knowledge, skill, or motivation they will not comply or participate (Neal Griffin, 2002). As a result, MGs management is encouraged to follow the proper relationship among antecedents, determinants, and components for sufficient safety performance. Research is utilized on a daily basis within MG Resins to determine the overall success and failures. Research is paramount in the safety field to prevent future incidents. Qualitative Research Results Since implementation of the qualitative research, MG safety program has improved significantly. Currently, MG has an EMR of 1.5, and more employees are becoming involved to enhance the safety program. More incidents are now being reported, as well as SWAs. Last month alone there was a total of 30 SWAs that was reported to management. Management has also resolved hazard observations immediately to show employees the importance of their help. MG has also formed a safety committee comprised of ten employees that freely volunteered to be on the committee. A safety committee is the sole driving force behind the success of a safety program. It provides a direct voice for employees out in the field to upper management on needed enhancements. Conclusion In my opinion, as a safety professional, qualitative research is a required necessity to improve any organization. Without qualitative research an organization would become stagnant in day-to-day operations and programs. Qualitative research allows constructive feedback from employees to the organization which ensures proactive actions. Proactive actions are vital in a safety program and an organization as well. As a result, a future qualitative tool at MG Resins will consist of a technology implementation called Eagle Eye. This is a software program, as well as a phone application. Eagle will allow employees to input hazard observations, needed enhancements, and other organization comments. This new technology will allow a quicker and effective means to track data. It will allow real time safety needs directly to management and supervisors. This ability will provide an effective means to reduce and prevent incidents. In hindsight, when an organization is able to be proactive in reducing or eliminating incidents, it can then focus on other areas of the organization. These areas are production, quality, safety, and corporate image. Qualitative research will propel, achieve, and advance desired goals in these departments. As a result, the organization is able to understand the employees needs and wants. This in turn creates sustainability and enhancement of in an organization. Any organization would be wise to incorporate and utilize qualitative research to achieve a spot on the global stage. References American Society Of Safety Engineers. (2014). ASSEs professional safety journal: A new view of the great safety pyramid. Retrieved from http://www.asse.org/asses-professional-safety-journal-a-new-view-of-the-great-safety-pyramid/ Huang, Y.H, Jeffries, S., Tolbert, G. D., Dainoff, M. J. (2017). Safety climate. Retrieved from http://web.b.ebscohost.com.libraryresources.columbiasouthern.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=7b076142-a850-4215-a181-379f20d93365%40sessionmgr104vid=4hid=116 Neal, A., Griffin, M. A. (2002). Safety climate and safety behaviour. Retrieved from http://web.b.ebscohost.com.libraryresources.columbiasouthern.edu/ehost/detail/detail?vid=6sid=f4fdbfe9-acc4-46f7-bd19-fcdd784af3c4%40sessionmgr120hid=123bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT1zaXRl#AN=9373705db=bth Smith, S. (2009). Area workers comp agency asks employers: How low can you go? Retrieved from http://ehstoday.com/health/workers-compensation/workers_comp_modification_score_6765 Olsen, E., Bjerkan, A.M., Naevestad, T.O. (2009). Modelling the effects of a large-scale safety culture programme: a combined qualitative and quantitative approach. Retrieved from http://web.b.ebscohost.com.libraryresources.columbiasouthern.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=c551831e-3525-4ce7-8759-f0382ae7f697%40sessionmgr120vid=5hid=116

Personal Strategy Card Essay

B. Carefully describe the degree to which you use each of your Learning Patterns. (Refer to the Personal Learning Profile you developed for your Week Two assignment and any feedback provided by your instructor to determine if you need to refine your responses as you complete this section.) Sequence: When I use sequential pattern on a use first basis I feel most comfortable, knowing that if I follow everything step-by-step makes completing assignments from beginning to end without interruption go smoother. Using sequential pattern in my household makes things easier, because you find myself seeking order and consistency, even when I’m not trying to. Now, that I’ve learned about sequence learning I notice it at work more often, with my desk. Everything has to be tidy and organised, if not I feel frustrated until I get it how I want it. I found out that I tend to do well when I know I am depended on to complete the task at hand. Precision: I don’t really agree with using precise pattern on a use first basis. One thing I do enjoy doing is answering questions, but I find myself being a little to specific. Some people call me noisy, but I just like to  know exactly what’s going on. In that case everyone uses precise pattern on a use first basis. Technical Reasoning: Using technical pattern on a use first basis is what I do often. I’m always trying to solve problems without writing out answers. In my opinion people learn best from their past experience. I have no sisters or brothers so I’ve always had a stand-alone, independent attitude. Confluence: My score indicated that I use the confluence learning pattern, as needed which is understandable. I guess it’s a good thing to have confluence to be used on a as needed basis, because these patterns tend to lay dormant until I need to wake them up and let them know that they need to be used. Sometimes I believe my ideas are just a little bit better then the next person, but I blame that on being the only child. There’s nothing wrong with taking a risk, but I think you have to decide the right time to take a risk. C. Identify all verbs and specific terms from the assignment instructions and describe how each Learning Pattern will be used to effectively complete the Week 5 assignment. (Critically review the Final Reflection assignment in Week Five and decode it.) Sequence: The assignment is asking you to group, review, develop, classify and show examples for each one verbs that belongs in the sequence learning pattern. Precision: It’s asking for you to explain and identify your learning patterns and describe what type of learner you are. Technical Reasoning: Technical Reasoning is not needed, because there isn’t anything specific that needs to be written briefly. Now it does say write five paragraphs 2 to 3 sentences long, but in my eyes thats not brief. In this pattern you aren’t using your hands to build anything. Confluence: This assignment is asking you to creatively think and originate the assignment as a whole. D. Explain how you will Forge, Intensify, or Tether (FIT) your Learning Patterns to implement personal strategies so you can complete the Week Five assignment efficiently and effectively. (If you do not need to FIT a Pattern, include a description of the strategies you naturally use which help you to be successful on these types of tasks.) Sequence: I’ll tether my sequence pattern, because I like things to be perfect so I don’t have to worry about my assignments being turned in late. If I continue to tether my sequence to perfection, this will give me more time to turn in my assignments no matter what class i’m taking. Precision: Intensifying this pattern involves me using the information that i’ve lerned and gathered during this course for the past five week. At the same time document how this course has affected my way of learning and writing. Technical Reasoning: I don’t believe that there are stategies for technical reasoning, because this assignment requires you to reflect and use detailed writing about what was learned during this course. Confluence: By escalating my brainstorming and coming up with better ideas that can be used to improve my writing assignments. It should be tethered because if I use too many ideas in my writing I could confuse my reader.

Impact of power and politics in organisations Essay

More than 40 years ago, Harold Lasswell (1936) defined politics as â€Å"the study of who gets what, when and how†. Certainly who gets what, when, and how are issues of fundamental importance in understanding formal organizations. Nevertheless, organizational politics and power are both topics which are made conspicuous by their absence in management and organization literature. Therefore, power and politics in an organization can now be defined as the management of influence to obtain ends not sanctioned ends through non-sanctioned influence means. The issue of whether or not organizational politics negatively impacts performance requires a specification of the dimensions that are to be used in evaluating organizational performance. For our purposes, performance in an organization refers to any of the standard indicators of organizational well-being, including profit in the case of a business firms and the ability to get projects completed and within budget with respect to non-profit organizations. Making organizations more innovative, responsive and responsible requires focusing on a number of leadership, power and influence issues. These issues are critical in coping with the strategic environmental with all its characteristics and strategic leader performance in that environment. The issues influence developing teams at the strategic level as well as managing organizational processes linked to values and ethnics, organizational culture, visioning and the management of change, such issues include; †¢ Implementing strategic or adaptive change in the face of formidable resistance. †¢ Fostering entrepreneurial and creative behaviour despite strong opposition. †¢ Gaining resources and support from bosses whose personal agenda might include organizational harmful political games. †¢ Avoiding destructive adversarial relationships with others whose help and cooperation are paramount to your success, but who are outside your chain of command and your direct control. †¢ Building and developing an effective teams in an internal environment where the natural tendency is to conflict with each other. †¢ Fostering organizational excellence, innovation and creativity, and not getting mired in bureaucratic politics or dysfunctional power conflicts. For most leaders in an organization, the key to successful implementing organizational change and improving long term performance rests with the leader’s skill in knowing how to make power dynamics work for the organizational, instead of against it. In John Gardner’s power in organization’s he wrote about leadership and power in organizations, notes, â€Å"of course leaders are preoccupied with power! The significant questions are: what means do they use to gain it? How much do they exercise it? † To what ends do they exercise it? He further states, â€Å"Power is the basic energy needed to intimate and sustain action or, to put it another way, the capacity to translate intention into reality and sustain it†. Power is the opportunity to build, to create, to nudge history in a different direction. The concept of organizational politic can be linked to Harold Lasswell’s (1936) where politics involves the exercise of power to get something done, as well as to enhance and protect the vested interests of individuals or groups. Thus, the use of organizational politics suggests that political activity is used to overcome resistance and implies a conscious effort to organize activity to challenge opposition in a priority decision situation. Because of scarce resources and enduring differences, conflict is central to organizational dynamics and power is the most important resource. Conflict is more likely in under bounded systems (less regulation and control) in an over bounded system with power concentrated to the top. Jeffories makes the point that organizations play the political game within the broader governmental context, but these individuals also play politics within organizations. And power is key in both cases, because it confers the ability both to allocate resources- in itself a way to increase power and to consolidate power by bringing others with similar goals and objectives into the inner decision making core. Drummond, Helga asserted that organization diversity, interdependence, resource scarcity, and power dynamics will inevitably generate political forces regardless of the players. Organizational politics cannot be eliminated or fantasized away. Leaders with s healthy power motive can learn to understand and manage political processes in the organization. Power in an organization is attractive because it confers the ability to influence decisions, about who gets want resources, what goals are pursued, what philosophy the organization adopts, and power also gives a sense of control over outcomes and may in fact convey such enhance control. In conclusion, the impact of politics and power cannot be over emphasized because it is the only means through which an organization can achieve it goals and objectives without being too personal. SOURCES 1. Drummond, Helga (2000): introduction to Organizational Business. 2.Allen, R. W, & Porter, L. W. : Organizational politics and its effects on members. 3. Harold Lasswell: Organizational politics and its effects on members. Organizational behaviour 4. David K. Banner: Designing effective organisations 5. Stephen Robbins: The Truth about Managing People and Nothing but the Truth. 6. Willie E. Hopkins: Aligning organizational subcultures for competitive advantage 7. Mishane and Von Glinow: Organisational behaviour 8. Kreitner and Kinicki: Organizational behaviour 9. Stephen J. Zaccaro: The Nature of Organizational Leadership.

Fast Food Restaurants And Their Effects - 969 Words

Fast-Food Restaurants and Their Effects In America, there are numerous of fast-food restaurants that many people enjoy eating at. People choose to eat at fast-food restaurants, because it is very convenient and they do not have to go home and prepare a meal. In addition, fast-food is usually cheaper for a family as well. However, the food from the restaurants are causing multiple problems in today’s society. It has a significant impact on American’s health which is leading to deaths and obesity. Also, fast food can lead to an increase in weight gain and bad nutrition for a human’s body. David Zinczenko is the editor-in-chief of Men’s Health magazine. In his essay, Don’t Blame the Eater, he argues that fast-food restaurants are unhealthy and that they are causing health issues in many teenagers, specifically obesity. He provides an example in his essay that describes his experience with fast-food in his earlier life. Zinczenko himself writes, â€Å" By age 15, I had packed 212 pounds of torpid teenage tallow on my once lanky 5-foot-10 fame.† At the age of 15, he was not worried about the calories or fats from foods that he was eating and every day he was going to a fast-food restaurant: â€Å"Lunch and dinner, for me, was a daily choice between McDonald’s, Taco Bell, Kentucky Fried Chicken or Pizza Hut.† Zinczenko began controlling his diet and realizing that the fast-food restaurants were not healthy for his body. The purpose of this essay was for Zinczenko to show readers theShow MoreRelatedEffects Of Inequality In Fast Food Restaurants862 Words   |  4 PagesInequality in fast-food restaurants Introduction: What roles are common for people of color working in fast-food restaurants compared to their counterparts? It is my belief that African-Americans are more likely to be crew members that get paid minimum wage. I suppose that is the case because most restaurants crew members are not required to have any level of degrees, but should be familiar with basic functions, such as addition and subtraction. However, managers and assistant mangers requireRead MoreEffects Of Nutrition Information Inclusion At Fast Food Restaurants Essay1532 Words   |  7 PagesEffects of Nutrition Information Inclusion at Fast Food Restaurants Philadelphia’s menu labeling law has required chain restaurants like McDonald’s to include nutritional information about the food they serve on their menu boards. For the law to be effective in changing the health condition of citizens in Philadelphia, it is crucial for citizens to fully understand the nutrition information listed. â€Å"In order for fast food consumers to respond to calorie information on menu boards it is necessaryRead MoreFast Food and Obesity in Adults990 Words   |  4 Pages2013 Fast Food and Obesity in Adults In Aprils addition of Men’s Health magazine there is a picture of salted golden French fries inside a white cup. This advertisement invokes hunger for unhealthy and cheap fast food to consumers. The fast food industries false advertisements, unhealthy food, and long term effects of consuming fast food all lead to the causes and effects of adulthood obesity in the lives of thousands of Americans today. McDonalds, Burger King, Wendy’s, and other fast food industriesRead MoreThe Choice Of Food By A Consumer Is Predominantly Affected By Convenience Essay1102 Words   |  5 Pages1.0 Introduction The choice of food by a consumer is predominantly affected by convenience. The growth of home delivery for supplies, microwave dinners, drive-thru windows, and internet shopping is an indication that most consumers are driven by convenience in the determination of choices (Jaeger and Meiselman, 2004, p.318). Customers use convenience to establish how, what, why, when, with whom, and where to eat (Costa et al., 2005, p.79). Jaeger, S.R., Cardello, A., V. (2007, p.238), argued thatRead MoreFast Food Research Paper1014 Words   |  5 PagesFA Research Paper Topic: Fast Food 1. Why is fast food bad for you? 2. What are the effects of eating fast food? 3. What are some successful fast food industries and there business strategies? Introduction It seems harmless, satisfies your hunger, and is cheap, but really is egregiously unhealthy. The fast food industry is very smart; they have many sly business strategies to make money. They target children and students and make millions of dollars in profit. Each and every dayRead MoreObesity : A Top Problem For Public Health1706 Words   |  7 Pageshealth effects. BMI, body mass index, was introduced to calculate underweight, overweight or obese people as it correlates with the amount of body fat in an individual. Adults are considered obese if they have a BMI of 30 or higher. A number of factors are said to contribute to this epidemic in adults. These include consumption of energy dense food, prenatal exposure to nicotine, and minimal physical activity. This research paper investigates the various causes of obesity and the role fast food restaurantsRead MoreFast Food Restaurants: A Detriment to the Health of Americans833 Words   |  4 Pagesthe have eaten regularly at fast food restaurants. As the obesity rate increases, the number of fast food restaurants goes up as well. Although it is not certain, many believe that obesity in the United States is correlated to eating fast food. Since the United States has the highest obesity rate out of any country, it is important for Americans to monitor the fast food industry that may be causing obesity. With the pressure to get things done in a timely manner, fast food became a big necessity. HoweverRead MoreFast Plants Lab Report1148 Words   |  5 PagesFast food or Bastard food? Figure 1: . In 2010 A cartoon by Piraro about how fast food effect pigeons which representing the people who addicted on fast food. In the 21 century, people are suffering from all kinds of diseases and over 85% of them are caused by, an unhealthy, diet. In the United States, 25% of Americans eat fast food every day, which can cause heart disease, hypertension and diabetes, starting with overweight. McDonalds, Taco Bell, Wendy’s, and Burger King are very popularRead MoreObesity Fast Food Nation Essay661 Words   |  3 PagesFast Food Nation Obesity has grown into a rampant issue all over the United States, over the past few decades. Fast foods also have increased their outlets in the nation, in turn, depicting a success in the business venture. It is clear that fast foods have become quite cheap in comparison to healthy, homemade meals. Subsequently, people have turned to eat fast foods for economic reasons. Convenience is yet another reason behind people’s high indulgence in eating fast foods other than healthy,Read MoreFinding Out The Satisfaction Of Students From Whiteria Regarding Their Taste And Preferences Towards Fast Food Essay1156 Words   |  5 Pages Fast food does not only mean to prepare food and serve quickly but it also satisfy the consumers in terms of their taste and preference. Even in many restaurants after serving the food to the customer, restaurants ask the customers to fill up a survey form to know their customers taste and preferences and also their satisfaction level. The main obj ective of this report is to find out the satisfaction of students from Whiteria regarding their taste and preferences towards fast food. The survey