Table 1: Interview sample by location and business size Location Size of Business N Sydney Small 21 Sydney Medium 2 Melbourne Small 18 Melbourne Medium 13 Total businesses 54 Note: Small businesses are businesses with 1–19 employees and medium businesses are those with employees. Interview guide The interview guide encompassed the following areas of enquiry: How do employers/managers obtain health and safety information? How do employers/managers determine common hazards and risks in their business? What are the main safety problems or issues in their workplace? What are the risk control measures for these safety problems? Do employers/mangers consult their workers in identifying hazards and selecting risk control measures? How are health and safety issues discussed and communicated in the workplace? Do employers/managers consider their risk management practices effective (or not) and why? What are their attitudes towards work health and safety? Are small businesses aware of work health and safety programs designed for them? Are small businesses accessing and using guidance materials provided by work health and safety authorities for their industry? In addition information was collected on the use of bridge and gantry cranes in the structural metal products manufacturing industry including: How common was the use of bridge and gantry cranes with more than three powered operations in the industry? Are these considered more high risk compared to bridge and gantry cranes with three or less powered operations? Are businesses aware of circumstances under which a high-risk license is required to operate bridge and gantry cranes? These supplementary research questions were included as part of this research for two reasons. First, it was expected that some in the industry were likely to use bridge and gantry cranes in a workshop or factory setting. Second, little information was available on the use of bridge and gantry cranes or understanding of licensing requirements. This study employers’ provided an opportunity to obtain this information. Online forum and mobile phone app All interview participants were asked to be involved in a subsequent stage of the study to record examples of risk management strategies used in their workplace using an online forum and a mobile phone app. The app allows participants to upload images, ‘Out-there’ video, audio and text to provide further information on risk management practices and examples of hazards.
Table 1: Interview sample by location and business size Location Size of Business N Sydney Small 21 Sydney Medium 2 Melbourne Small 18 Melbourne Medium 13 Total businesses 54 Note: Small businesses are businesses with 1–19 employees and medium businesses are those with employees. Interview guide The interview guide encompassed the following areas of enquiry: How do employers/managers obtain health and safety information? How do employers/managers determine common hazards and risks in their business? What are the main safety problems or issues in their workplace? What are the risk control measures for these safety problems? Do employers/mangers consult their workers in identifying hazards and selecting risk control measures? How are health and safety issues discussed and communicated in the workplace? Do employers/managers consider their risk management practices effective (or not) and why? What are their attitudes towards work health and safety? Are small businesses aware of work health and safety programs designed for them? Are small businesses accessing and using guidance materials provided by work health and safety authorities for their industry? In addition information was collected on the use of bridge and gantry cranes in the structural metal products manufacturing industry including: How common was the use of bridge and gantry cranes with more than three powered operations in the industry? Are these considered more high risk compared to bridge and gantry cranes with three or less powered operations? Are businesses aware of circumstances under which a high-risk license is required to operate bridge and gantry cranes? These supplementary research questions were included as part of this research for two reasons. First, it was expected that some in the industry were likely to use bridge and gantry cranes in a workshop or factory setting. Second, little information was available on the use of bridge and gantry cranes or employers’ understanding of licensing requirements. This study provided an opportunity to obtain this information. Online forum and mobile phone app All interview participants were asked to be involved in a subsequent stage of the study to record examples of risk management strategies used in their workplace using an online forum and a mobile phone app. The ‘Out-there’ app allows participants to upload images, video, audio and text to provide further information on risk management practices and examples of hazards.
whs-structural-metal-product-manufacturing.docx