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Monitoring Safety Process Performance with Leading Indicator Safety Audits

Van Bibber, Ashley M.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1430422992

Abstract Details

2015, Master of Science (MS), Ohio University, Industrial and Systems Engineering (Engineering and Technology).
Safety professionals are constantly striving to improve safety in the workplace and achieve the ultimate zero incident goal. Easy fixes and implementations are the first lines of attempt to work towards that goal. Over time, greater commitments and investments into continuous improvement will be necessary to maintain a higher level of performance and expectations within a safety program. Lagging indicators have long been used in safety as a measure of success. These indicators provide cost data and information about an injury or illness after it has occurred. However, this information can only provide knowledge of the effects or evidence of an injury. Leading indicators are specific items that can potentially explain or predict the possibility of a future incident. General research and information on leading indicators has been seen in occupational safety and health research in the past decade, with case studies only starting to appear within the last five years. The object of this study was to develop safety audits around leading indicators selected from past incident reports and monitor the performance of the key indicators selected at two dining halls at a large Midwestern university. Risk awareness assessments were distributed to full-time staff to study personal perceptions of risks in the work environment. Additionally, toolbox talks were conducted at staff meetings in an attempt to connect safety processes to personal perceptions of risk. Results indicated a statistically significant difference in the safety process performance between the two dining halls. Data from the safety audits were plotted on I-MR control charts. Control charts indicated out of control points for certain indicators in areas of the dining halls, which can demonstrate the increased risk of injury. Patterns in the control charts across multiple areas in one dining hall revealed an inventory control issue. The second dining hall experienced a safety behavior issue that was confirmed with information from the risk awareness assessments, but was not able to be monitored with the safety audits. This finding suggests the need for a lasting relationship with employees also, as safety audits may not be as successful with capturing safety-related behaviors.
Diana Schwerha (Advisor)
Gary Weckman (Committee Member)
Dale Masel (Committee Member)
Ryan Timothy (Committee Member)
149 p.
Industrial Engineering; Occupational Safety
occupational safety; safety audits; leading indicators; control charts; capability analysis; quality tools; dining halls; food service

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Van Bibber, A. M. (2015). Monitoring Safety Process Performance with Leading Indicator Safety Audits [Master's thesis, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1430422992

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Van Bibber, Ashley. Monitoring Safety Process Performance with Leading Indicator Safety Audits. 2015. Ohio University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1430422992.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Van Bibber, Ashley. "Monitoring Safety Process Performance with Leading Indicator Safety Audits." Master's thesis, Ohio University, 2015. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1430422992

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ohiou1430422992
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© 2015, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Ohio University and OhioLINK.