A Study Relating to the Minimisation of Work Injury Risks Associated with the Manual Handling of Students with Disabilities in Special Schools
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Author(s)
Primary Supervisor
Hyde, Mervyn
Other Supervisors
Brown, Raymond
Year published
2014
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Today and in past years, specific improvements in manual handling safety have been attributed to micro-level ergonomic interventions and mechanical factors. Yet, manual handling work injury and related musculoskeletal disorders [MSDs] continue to increase. This highlights the need for systems (International Ergonomics Association [IEA], 2014) to consider both macro-level and micro-level organisational factors as precursors to safe manual handling outcomes. This study reports on the actions that a trial special school took to achieve higher levels of safety in the manual handling of students with disabilities. The study ...
View more >Today and in past years, specific improvements in manual handling safety have been attributed to micro-level ergonomic interventions and mechanical factors. Yet, manual handling work injury and related musculoskeletal disorders [MSDs] continue to increase. This highlights the need for systems (International Ergonomics Association [IEA], 2014) to consider both macro-level and micro-level organisational factors as precursors to safe manual handling outcomes. This study reports on the actions that a trial special school took to achieve higher levels of safety in the manual handling of students with disabilities. The study explored the impact of macro-level organisational climate and micro-level manual handling safety climate on people in these workplaces and on incidences of work injury and MSDs, in order to understand and inform current processes surrounding the minimisation of work injury risks associated with the manual handling by staff of students with disabilities in Queensland special schools. The conceptual framework for the study was underpinned by Giddens’ (1984) Structuration Theory and Rogers’ (1995) Diffusion of Innovations Theory, utilising theoretical research framework categories derived from the organisational theories of Mortenson, Smith and Cavanagh (1989), English (2002), Harris (2004), Fullan (2004), Goleman (2000); and theoretical research framework categories constructed from state and national government policy and legislation and relevant manual handling safety climate protocols and regulations (National Safety Council of Australia [NSCA], 2003). The aim was to investigate the relationships existing among organisational climate, manual handling safety climate and work injury and MSDs. The Trial School and fifteen like Sample Schools provided qualitative data from principals [n=15] and staff [n=236] together with quantitative survey and injury data.
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View more >Today and in past years, specific improvements in manual handling safety have been attributed to micro-level ergonomic interventions and mechanical factors. Yet, manual handling work injury and related musculoskeletal disorders [MSDs] continue to increase. This highlights the need for systems (International Ergonomics Association [IEA], 2014) to consider both macro-level and micro-level organisational factors as precursors to safe manual handling outcomes. This study reports on the actions that a trial special school took to achieve higher levels of safety in the manual handling of students with disabilities. The study explored the impact of macro-level organisational climate and micro-level manual handling safety climate on people in these workplaces and on incidences of work injury and MSDs, in order to understand and inform current processes surrounding the minimisation of work injury risks associated with the manual handling by staff of students with disabilities in Queensland special schools. The conceptual framework for the study was underpinned by Giddens’ (1984) Structuration Theory and Rogers’ (1995) Diffusion of Innovations Theory, utilising theoretical research framework categories derived from the organisational theories of Mortenson, Smith and Cavanagh (1989), English (2002), Harris (2004), Fullan (2004), Goleman (2000); and theoretical research framework categories constructed from state and national government policy and legislation and relevant manual handling safety climate protocols and regulations (National Safety Council of Australia [NSCA], 2003). The aim was to investigate the relationships existing among organisational climate, manual handling safety climate and work injury and MSDs. The Trial School and fifteen like Sample Schools provided qualitative data from principals [n=15] and staff [n=236] together with quantitative survey and injury data.
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Thesis Type
Thesis (PhD Doctorate)
Degree Program
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
School
School of Education and Professional Studies
Copyright Statement
The author owns the copyright in this thesis, unless stated otherwise.
Item Access Status
Public
Subject
Manual handling
Musculoskeletal disorders [MSDs]
Students with disabilities, Services for
Manual handling safety climate protocols and regulations
Work injuries, Minimisation