ADVANCEMENT OF THE SCIENCE
with 25–34 years ( p =.020). Younger partici- pants were more likely to report being pres- sured to work longer hours. Work-Related Physical Symptoms Figure 1 illustrates the level of work-related musculoskeletal pain and tiredness experi- enced by respondents the week before they completed the survey. Tiredness was the most common work symptom resulting from the physical demands of the job. No statistically significant dierence was observed across demographic variables. Impact of the Pandemic Respondents were asked to report on their role in slowing down the COVID-19 pan- demic and the eect it had on their work- place well-being. Most participants reported that they have a significant role (75.2%) and that their experience and training in EH prepared them for their roles with their cur- rent employer (73.1%). Of the respondents, 55.8% indicated that they were concerned, however, about potentially being exposed to the virus while doing their work. In addi- tion, more than one third of the respondents (35.1%) indicated that their willingness to go to work was aected by the pandemic. Fur- thermore, almost one half of the respondents (48.9%) reported that they were concerned about working in a potentially high-risk COVID-19 environment while at the same time maintaining personal responsibilities for their families, colleagues, and themselves. A Kruskal–Wallis test showed a significant dierence among the category of job position in relation to COVID-19 role: H (7) = 22.56, p =.005. Post hoc pairwise comparisons showed that the executive director position was dierent from the senior ocer position ( p =.010), executive director from ocer ( p =.005), and manager from ocer ( p =.014). Participants occupying senior positions had a lesser role during the pandemic. Workplace Violence Respondents were asked to report on their experience of dierent types of workplace violence in the past 12 months while doing their work. Verbal violence (i.e., have been shouted at, sworn at, called names, or verbally confronted) was the most common type of violence reported by participants ( M = 3.20), followed by the threat of physical violence
TABLE 1
Survey Respondent Responses Related to Statements About the Management Commitment of Their Organization to Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Concerns ( N = 158)
OHS Statement
Strongly Agree # (%)
Agree # (%)
Neither Agree nor Disagree # (%)
Strongly Disagree # (%)
Disagree # (%)
The health and safety of workers is a major priority for management I feel protected from work-related injury or illness in my current work environment I normally have sufficient time to take appropriate safety precautions while completing my work-related duties I feel free to express my concerns about workplace health and safety conditions to management Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) is supplied and readily available by my employer I am often required to do a task that makes me feel like I might be at risk of getting hurt People working with me are frequently exposed to dangerous or risky situations I feel managers and supervisors demonstrate correct examples by following correct health and safety rules and work practices I have received adequate training from my current employer to recognize health and safety hazards in my job In my job, I have a lot of say in how I do my work I can report injuries to my manager without worrying about how it will affect my job It is easy for me to manage my work duties with family responsibilities
66 (41.8)
65 (41.1)
10 (6.3)
9 (5.7)
8 (5.1)
46 (29.1)
75 (47.5)
18 (11.4)
11 (7.0)
8 (5.1)
65 (41.1)
71 (44.9)
13 (8.2)
5 (3.2)
4 (2.5)
72 (45.6)
52 (32.9)
11 (7.0)
14 (8.9)
9 (5.7)
57 (36.1)
59 (37.3)
24 (15.2)
12 (7.6)
6 (3.8)
3 (1.9)
26 (16.5)
33 (20.9)
62 (39.2)
34 (21.5)
5 (3.2)
36 (22.8)
42 (26.6)
52 (32.9)
23 (14.6)
36 (22.8)
72 (45.6)
23 (14.6)
19 (12.0)
8 (5.1)
41 (25.9)
76 (48.1)
24 (15.2)
13 (8.2)
4 (2.5)
68 (43.0)
67 (42.4)
12 (7.6)
9 (5.7)
2 (1.3)
80 (50.6)
56 (35.4)
14 (8.9)
4 (2.5)
4 (2.5)
38 (24.1)
74 (46.8)
26 (16.5)
16 (10.1)
4 (2.5)
I feel my organization has a positive safety culture
48 (30.4)
64 (40.5)
30 (19.0)
10 (6.3)
6 (3.8)
Employees have sufficient access to workplace health and safety training programs The safety procedures and practices in my organization are useful and effective
38 (24.1)
62 (39.2)
32 (20.3)
20 (12.7)
5 (3.2)
29 (18.4)
75 (47.5)
34 (21.5)
13 (8.2)
7 (4.4)
My work area is adequately staffed
22 (13.9)
47 (29.7)
27 (17.1)
43 (27.2)
19 (12.0)
16
Volume 86 • Number 6
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