Varianou - Mikellidou, Cleo

The domain of occupational safety and health (OSH) is forced to respond to the requirements set by the rapid technological development and progress in order for the organizations to attain acceptable organizational safety and health maturity levels. Being able to understand weak signals and to develop mechanisms for their identification and management, can potentially lead to safer and healthier workplaces. The systematic and on-time identification of weak signals and their origin provides the potential for early intervention. If the threat is not recognized at an early stage, then the possibility of successful intervention is minimized along with the potential to abolish unwanted consequences and impending major disasters. This paper investigates and analyzes the current knowledge and use of weak signals within the OSH domain. The investigation is primarily based on the review of existing OSH literature, and is supplemented by a technical examination of selected major industrial accidents with respect to the documented existence of weak signals before their occurrence. The findings of this investigation provide a theoretical contribution towards a better understanding of the nature and current impact of weak signals within the OSH domain. Furthermore, they highlight the lack of weak signals consideration within traditional occupational health and safety management systems (OHSMS), and indicate that their explicit management can potentially enhance the global effort made for the minimization of occupational accidents, diseases and dangerous occurrences.

The domain of occupational safety and health (OSH) is forced to respond to the requirements set by the rapid technological development and progress in order for the organizations to attain acceptable organizational safety and health maturity levels. Being able to understand weak signals and to develop mechanisms for their identification and management, can potentially lead to safer and healthier workplaces. The systematic and on-time identification of weak signals and their origin provides the potential for early intervention. If the threat is not recognized at an early stage, then the possibility of successful intervention is minimized along with the potential to abolish unwanted consequences and impending major disasters. This paper investigates and analyzes the current knowledge and use of weak signals within the OSH domain. The investigation is primarily based on the review of existing OSH literature, and is supplemented by a technical examination of selected major industrial accidents with respect to the documented existence of weak signals before their occurrence. The findings of this investigation provide a theoretical contribution towards a better understanding of the nature and current impact of weak signals within the OSH domain. Furthermore, they highlight the lack of weak signals consideration within traditional occupational health and safety management systems (OHSMS), and indicate that their explicit management can potentially enhance the global effort made for the minimization of occupational accidents, diseases and dangerous occurrences.

The aim of this study is to provide a theoretical contribution towards a better understanding of the nature and impact of weak signals within the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) domain, 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. For the purpose of this study, a Delphi method with two iterations was utilized, supplemented by an experts’ focus group discussion, aiming to explore experts’ opinion regarding the potential impact of weak signals management in OSH. The findings of this research, reveal the existence of weak signals prior occupational accidents and other unwanted incidents at workplace, as well as the importance of its on-time management. The outcomes, enhance the development of a clearer definition of weak signals in the OSH domain, the development of a comprehensive weak signals management framework and concurrently, and provide directions for the introduction of weak signals management into existing traditional OHSMS

The aim of this study is to provide a theoretical contribution towards a better understanding of the nature and impact of weak signals within the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) domain, 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. For the purpose of this study, a Delphi method with two iterations was utilized, supplemented by an experts’ focus group discussion, aiming to explore experts’ opinion regarding the potential impact of weak signals management in OSH. The findings of this research, reveal the existence of weak signals prior occupational accidents and other unwanted incidents at workplace, as well as the importance of its on-time management. The outcomes, enhance the development of a clearer definition of weak signals in the OSH domain, the development of a comprehensive weak signals management framework and concurrently, and provide directions for the introduction of weak signals management into existing traditional OHSMS.

The aim of this study is to provide a theoretical contribution towards a better understanding of the nature and impact of weak signals within the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) domain, 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. For the purpose of this study, a Delphi method with two iterations was utilized, supplemented by an experts’ focus group discussion, aiming to explore experts’ opinion regarding the potential impact of weak signals management in OSH. The findings of this research, reveal the existence of weak signals prior occupational accidents and other unwanted incidents at workplace, as well as the importance of its on-time management. The outcomes, enhance the development of a clearer definition of weak signals in the OSH domain, the development of a comprehensive weak signals management framework and concurrently, and provide directions for the introduction of weak signals management into existing traditional OHSMS.