NIOSH, under 91, Sections 20 and 22 (Section 20-22, Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1977) has the responsibility to conduct research relating to innovative methods, techniques, and approaches dealing with occupational safety and health problems. This project seeks to understand the best practices for developing, implementing, and maintaining a robust risk management system (i.e. health and safety management system [HSMS]). Researchers suggest that an HSMS requires considerable knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies from all individuals within an organization as well as focused and purposeful coordination between them. Previous research considered the sheer number of possible choices to be a barrier to HSMS adoption. Therefore, NIOSH began to understand what the most fundamentally important elements were that support the development, implementation and maintenance of a comprehensive, effective risk-based HSMS. NIOSH surveyed practicing health and safety executives, managers, and professionals from a variety of mining commodities to determine if they agreed on which HSMS elements and practices were most important. The results of this study suggested that the following areas require consistent focus and attention: Leadership Development; Accountability; Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Development; System Coordination; Culture Enhancement; Behavior Optimization; and Risk Management. To date, little empirical research has been conducted to address practical research questions related to each. Therefore, the current research task is designed to investigate research questions related to the practical purpose, implementation, and evaluation of each element:
- how is each of these HSMS elements best executed within mining organizations?;
- how do you know an element has been successfully implemented within the organization?; and
- what are the barriers to implementing these HSMS elements within mining organizations?
This study employs a strictly qualitative approach to answer the research questions. A qualitative approach allows researchers to probe participants and learn about their specific experiences through in-depth examples. A protocol that will be used during an interview and/or focus group was developed. The subject matter in the protocol is focused on implementing and evaluating specific elements within managers’ HSMS and possible barriers to implementation and evaluation.
NIOSH is seeking a three year approval for this project which will target mine sites for participation by reaching out to organizational leaders/managers of health and safety at respective mines for their participation. Data collection, in the form of interviews and/or focus groups will occur to answer the questions for this study.
Respondents targeted for this study include corporate or site mine managers (also referred to in some cases as leaders, executives, coordinators or supervisors). These individuals are responsible for the day-to-day administration and/or implementation of the HSMS. In some cases, more than one individual is responsible for certain aspects of the HSMS. Therefore, depending on how these responsibilities are designated at mine sites and how many of these leaders are interested at each mine site, researchers will either facilitate a single interview or a focus group with mine site leadership.
Participants will be recruited through members of mine management using a mine recruitment script. It is estimated that a sample of up to 100 individuals (approximately 34 per year) will agree to participate among a variety of mine sites. Participants will be between the ages of 18 and 75, currently employed, and living in the United States. Participation will require no more than 60 minutes of workers’ time (approximately five minutes for the informed consent process and 55 minutes for the interview or focus group—there is no cost to respondents other than their time).
Upon collection of the data, researchers will analyze and determine the effect that each element has on a mine’s ability to develop, implement or maintain an HSMS. With that said, lines of theoretical inquiry will be used to inform the thinking behind the practical guidance ultimately provided to mining organizations. Essentially, best practices can be provided that are applicable across an HSMS, not respective to just one aspect or element. Therefore, the findings will be used to make an HSMS more feasible and applicable for the mining industry.
