Using self-determination theory to identify organizational interventions to support coal mineworkers’ dust-reducing practices

Advancing the application of safety and health(S&H)technologies is likely to remain a value in the mining industry.However,any information that technologies generate must be translated from the organization to the workforce in a targeted way to result in sustainable change.Using a case study approach with continuous personal dust monitors(CPDMs),this paper argues for an organizational focus on technology integration.Although CPDMs provide mineworkers with near real-time feedback about their respirable coal dust exposure,they do not ensure that workers or the organization will continuously use the information to learn about and reduce exposure sources.This study used self-determination theory(SDT)to help three mines manage and communicate about information learned from the CPDM technology.Specifically,35 mineworkers participated in two mixed-method data collection efforts to discuss why they do or do not use CPDMs to engage in dust-reducing practices.Subsequently,the data was analyzed to better understand how organizations can improve the integration of technology through their management systems.Results indicate that using the CPDM to reduce sources of dust exposure is consistent with mineworkers’self-values to protect their health and not necessarily because of compliance to a manager or mine.

The role of emergency incident type in identifying first responders' health exposure risks

Fire-based emergency management service(EMS)personnel are dispatched to various incidents daily,many of which have unique occupational risks.To fully understand the variability of incident types and how to best pre-pare and respond,an exploration of the U.S.coding system of incident types is necessary.This study uses potential exposure to SARS-CoV-2 as a case example to understand if and how coding categories for incident call types may be updated to improve data standardization and emergency response decision making.Researchers received emergency response incident data generated by three fire department computer-aided dispatch(CAD)systems between March and September 2020.Each incident was labeled EMS,Fire,or Other.Of the 162,766 incidents,approximately 8.1%(n=13,144)noted potential SARS-CoV-2 exposure within their narrative descriptions of which 86.3%were coded as EMS,9.9%as Fire,and 3.9%as Other.To assess coding variability across incident types,researchers used the original 3-incident type variable and a new 5-incident type variable reassigned by researchers into EMS,Fire,Other,Hazmat,and Motor Vehicle.Logit regressions compared differences in potential exposure using the 3-and 5-incident type variables.When evaluating the 3-incident type variable,those respond-ing to a Fire versus an EMS incident were 84%less likely to be associated with potential exposure to SARS-Cov-2.For the 5-incident type variable,those responding to Fire incidents were 77%less likely to be associated with a potential exposure than those responding to EMS incidents.Changes in potential exposure between the 3-and 5-incident type models show the need to understand how incident types are assigned.This demonstrates the need for data standardization to accurately categorize incident types to improve emergency preparedness and response.Results have implications for incident type coding at fire department municipality and national levels.