Occupational Safety and Health (PhD) / Επαγγελματική Ασφάλεια και Υγεία (PhD)

This work investigates the views of risk assessment (RA) practitioners on the decision-making influences and the transnational considerations affecting RA for critical infrastructure protection (CIP). The investigation is driven by the realization that contemporary RA models and processes fail to adequately consider the domain based characteristics of transnational Critical Infrastructure (CI) characteristics. They also fail to recognize the full extent of the human decision-making influence on the RA process itself, as well as the relative lack of homogeneity across assets, stakeholders, geographies, national boundaries, paradigms, and people, in transnational CI environments. The investigation was based on the thematic analysis of the interviews of twelve expert RA practitioners, following a validation of the interview protocol by a focus group of experts, and a document study of two CI projects. The analysis identified an overarching theme counter-signing their collective view that the team approach is the one true remedy for all RA process shortcomings. Five other themes support this high-level view: (1) the value of the human influence of RA, (2) the effect of transnationalism on RA for CIP, (3) the view that consistency in tools and methods is not necessarily a panacea to performance, and two groups of forces influencing the process and the setting; (4) CI organizational RA-influencing forces; and (5) CI RA enablers and impediments. All six themes were validated by member-checking. Despite the view of the team-approach being an absolute panacea in the eyes of practitioners, insights from the current industry RA practice from the interviews themselves, and from an investigation of relevant literature, has not identified rules and guidelines in its application, evidence of it being coordinated or applied consistently, nor an indication of it being an integral part of RA processes. Careful analysis of the learning from the interviews suggests that a risk assessment model-agnostic collaborative approach to RA for CIP, such as the suggested self managed team approach, which would embrace the weak-signals process and the future wheels approach, can effectively address the transnationalism and human decision making challenges identified in this report, the absence of performance assessment metrics for the RA process specifically at the level of the professional, as Considerations in Risk Assessment for Critical Infrastructure Protection (A thematic analysis approach) well as deliver improved assessment of terrorism and cyber risks whose nature is aversive to traditional RA methodologies. The suggested team approach for RA for CIP and the articulation of the benefit that the added scope of a weak-signals and futures-wheel approach would bring to the process, was outlined in the conclusions, however, both would benefit from additional research for its better articulation and testing with a suitable pool of expert practitioners.

Wildfires are a significant threat to human lives and the environment, particularly in the wildland-urban interface (WUI). Ways to reduce fire hazard in the WUI are context specific, depending on the type and quantity of vegetation, the susceptibility of the structures to fire, and cultural aspects of the society. In the west coast of Norway, the WUI consists of human constructions, mostly intermingled with a nature type characterised as untreated (during the last 70 years) coastal heathland. This doctoral study ‘Innovative and Sustainable Solutions for Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Risk Management in Costal Norway’ focuses on suggesting evidence based and applicable solutions for managing fire risks in this particular type of WUI, i.e., settlements surrounded by fire-prone areas, specifically unmanaged coastal heathlands. By collaborating with local stakeholders, and through excessive field work, the research identified the underlying drivers of WUI fire disasters and proposes innovative tools, practices, and systems for WUI fire adaptation. The PhD researcher is conducted under the European University of Cyprus (EUC). This doctoral study is part of the research project 'Reducing fire disaster risk through dynamic risk assessment and management' (DYNAMIC) facilitated by the support of Gjensidige Stiftelsen, Western Norway University of Applied Science (HVL), and the Research Council of Norway (RCN) as part of the 'Store Brannløftet' initiative. The principal objective underpinning this initiative is to significantly mitigate the risk associated with fire disasters, by minimizing the possibility of undesirable fire incidents in the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) and densely wooden settlement along Norway's west coast. Thereby enhancing the safety quotient within the Norwegian societal context. The study aims to answer two research questions: (RQ1) What can be learned from previous WUI fire incidents on the west coast of Norway to inform fire preventive approaches? Moreover, (RQ2) what innovative tools, practices, and systems may be locally applicable and useful for coexisting with fire in the WUI on the west coast of Norway, and how can they be implemented or upscaled? The research emphasizes the importance of proactive risk management in fire-prone environments. Moreover, social innovation is utilized to develop practical and context-related solutions for WUI fire safety. Prescribed burning in the coastal heathland (a fire adapted ecosystem, where the prevailing plant, Calluna Vulgaris (L.) Hull (hereafter Calluna), regenerates through regular burning cycles) is suggested as a risk mitigation tool. Grazing with Nofense (virtual fencing technology) restriction of the animals to reduce biomass in the WUI has also been investigated with positive results. The study was conducted together with local stakeholders in co-creative processes to identify innovative tools, practices, and systems that can be implemented or upscaled for coexisting with fire in the WUI on the west coast of Norway. Through this approach, the study seeks to provide novel and sustainable solutions for WUI fire disaster prevention. The study uses various social science research methods, such as document studies, semi-structured interviews, case studies, living lab, and action research, to provide practical solutions for WUI fire disaster prevention. This research provides significant contributions to the academic field of WUI fire management, particularly in living with fire approaches and integrating fire as part of landscape management in fire-prone environments. Furthermore, the study offers context-specific solutions for WUI fire safety by providing insights to risk perceptions and management of WUI fire disasters in coastal Norway. Overall, this PhD research highlights the importance of creating sustainable socio-ecological systems that foster the well-being of society and the natural environment, thus naturally facilitating fire safe conditions. By providing innovative research methods and practical solutions, this PhD thesis offers valuable insights into coexisting with fire in the wildland-urban interface and creating sustainable solutions for preventing disasters caused by WUI fires. The results have been made readily available in four published academic journal articles. The study has the potential to impact and benefit both local communities and wider society.

Background: Despite the repeated evidence that point out the strong link between occupational risks, work-related stress, and emotional exhaustion, to this date, the research on occupational risks and their consequences to the general wellbeing of Public Health Inspectors is very limited, although the nature of the work presents a range of threats to physical and psychological health. The aim of this study was to report the job risks of Public Health Inspectors in Greece and investigate possible relationships with burnout, job satisfaction and training needs. Methods: This is a quantitative, cross-sectional, nationwide study in Greece, conducted in two phases: 1) pilot study in the first quarter of 2021 and 2) main study the second and third quarters of 2021. For data collection, an online survey was created, and the web link was distributed to respondents by email. A total number of 684 Public Health Inspectors were contacted and 231 responses were collected (response rate 33.77%). The pilot phase of the study (N=46) successfully validated the reliability of the data collection instrument. The main study was then conducted in a sample of N=185 Public Health Inspectors. Job risks were measured with a novel risk assessment instrument developed by the researcher also developed instrument for measured training needs and quality, while burnout was measured with Maslach Burnout Inventory and job satisfaction with Paul Spector’ s Job Satisfaction Survey (JSS) as adopted in the Greek language. Results: The findings of this study indicated that 87% of participants gave high ratings to psychosocial risks and ergonomic risks, followed by 78% for organizational risks and 74% for biological risks. Physical risks and chemical risks are less prevalent (55% and 56%, respectively). Burnout has proven to be an issue, since 42.7% of participants report above average burnout scores. Most participants (59.46%) reported medium job satisfaction scores, while a significant proportion of 32.97% reported dissatisfaction. Psychosocial risks were significant predictors of emotional exhaustion (β=0.500, p<0.001) and burnout (β=0.455, p<0.001), while organizational risks (β=-0.282, p=0.001), emotional exhaustion (β=-0.477, p=0.000) and perceived training quality (β= 0.195, p=0.002) were linked to job satisfaction. Most participants (65.41%) reported high training needs while no direct relationship was found with job risks (p>0.05). Employees in rural areas presented a higher perception of biological risks (χ2= 14.826, p<0.01) and burnout (χ2= 16.017, p <0.01). Higher training needs were reported by employees in urban areas (χ2= 24.895, p <0.01). Conclusions: Public Health Inspectors in Greece face a variety of job risks, mainly psychosocial, ergonomic, organizational, biological, chemical and physical risks, the severity of which contribute to emotional exhaustion and burnout, while linked to lower levels of job satisfaction. These findings were among the first to address Occupational Health and Safety of Public Health Inspectors in Greece and worldwide, incorporating already established but also new evidence of organizational, ergonomic and psychosocial risks that are increasing in current working conditions worldwide. A new proposed classification of job risks for Public Health Inspectors was developed and was verified scientifically, while a checklist was proposed for risk assessment in Public Health Organizations. This study contributes to the limited evidence supporting the link between job risks, burnout and job satisfaction adding new information to occupational health and safety for the field of Public Health Inspection, which could be exploited to advance the quality of Public Health Services provision. Also reported high training needs, especially in the fields of health and safety at work, stress management, personal protective equipment, protection against biological agents and protection from chemical agents. Especially, protection against biological agents such as coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19).

Workplace risks, hazards, and accidents remain a significant concern for workers in the oil and gas industry. Workers are continuously exposed to different occupational risks, threats, and recurrence of several accidents in the industry globally. Because of the various activities that occur during the exploration and production phase, the oil and gas industry is thought to be one of the most dangerous workplaces. Tackling the challenges, the industry is facing is very important to workers in the industry and operational environment. The study aims to identify ways to reduce the danger, threat, and accident associated with the Nigerian oil and gas industry using secondary and primary data information. A total of 1000 questionnaires were distributed to various departments within the study industry and who may have been affected by a health problem or have encountered some threat that could jeopardize their health or even result in death at work in 27 oil and gas stations, of which 19 separate companies operated and 327 were returned to the research team. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS V.20.0 IBM) was used to analyze data for the study to convert both items and sub-items into variables that were important to the study. The participant's various responses "answers" were coded using value labels, and the variables were entered for analysis. Categorical data such as age, gender, general working knowledge, and awareness of health and safety procedures and protocols, descriptive statistics, such as percentages, frequencies, means, ranges, and standard deviations, corrections of variables were measured. The Generalized Linear Model (GLM) was fitted using the Poisson distribution because the number of responses to each question is counted. Chi-square statistical test was utilized to compare the differences in the number of the levels of the answers (strongly agree, agree, disagree, strongly disagree and neutral) to each question in the questionnaire concerning the various factors that influence the safety and health of workers in the study industry. Factor analysis was used to classify the latent constructs when many of the variables were understudied. Principal component factoring and orthogonal Varimax rotation were subjected to test. Multiple regression analysis was used to determine the factor that has a more predictive influence on significant accidents and risks that may affect workers health in the oil and gas industry. The study's findings and recommendations will aid the oil and gas industry to improve worker safety and health in their operational environment on a local and worldwide scale. It will also assist the industry in detecting a safety deficiency and reducing the number of threats, hazards, and injuries in the industry.

Understanding of weak signals and being able to manage them through the development of certain mechanisms, would potentially facilitate organizations to attain acceptable and sustainable OSH maturity level. The systematic and on time identification of weak signals, provides the potential for early intervention and consequently, the abolishment of unwanted consequences and impending major disasters, leading to safer and healthier workplaces. The purpose of this research was to provide a theoretical contribution towards a better understanding of the current knowledge, the nature and the impact of weak signals and to provide potential directions regarding the introduction of weak signals management within established Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems (OHSMS), based on a proactive approach. In this thesis, a thorough review of the existing OSH literature, supplemented by a technical examination of selected major industrial disasters (Bhopal, Chernobyl, Piper Alpha and Deepwater Horizon), is enhanced by a mixed research method that included Delphi method, documentary analysis and establishment of results by an online experts’ focus group discussion. Delphi method was utilized to explore experts’ opinion, regarding weak signals management in OSH, while the selected group of experts was asked to participate in two rounds of questions both close and open ended, aiming to determine consensus amongst them, with regard to weak signals management. Documentary analysis of three occupational accidents attained by the Department of Labour Inspection in Cyprus, acted as complimentary data to the preceded Delphi method, whereas an online experts’ focus group discussion attained to establish research findings. The findings of this research, revealed the existence of a considerable number of weak signals, operational and organizational, prior occupational accidents and disasters and the importance of their on-time management for incidents’ prevention. Furthermore, the outcomes of this research enhanced the development of a clearer definition of weak signals in the OSH domain, the development of a comprehensive weak signals management framework, and concurrently provide directions for the introduction of weak signals management into existing traditional OHSMS. At an organizational level, if weak signals management becomes part of the existing OHSMS, would potentially have an impact on the OSH maturity level of the organization, whereas at a broader level a comprehensive weak signals framework might support strategic choices and policies, as well as OSH legislation amendments, towards the reduction of occupational accidents, diseases, dangerous occurrences and other unwanted incidents at workplaces. Furthermore, this research exposes the necessity of the introduction of weak signals into the training of OSH professionals