Workplace Safety Strategies Used by Managers to Reduce Workplace Accidents
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Walden University ScholarWorks Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection 2020 Workplace Safety Strategies Used by Managers to Reduce Workplace Accidents Bryan William Vaiagae Walden University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection at ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Walden University College of Management and Technology This is to certify that the doctoral study by Bryan Vaiagae has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects, and that any and all revisions required by the review committee have been made. Review Committee Dr. David Blum, Committee Chairperson, Doctor of Business Administration Faculty Dr. James Glenn, Committee Member, Doctor of Business Administration Faculty Dr. Robert Banasik, University Reviewer, Doctor of Business Administration Faculty Chief Academic Officer and Provost Sue Subocz, Ph.D. Walden University 2020 Abstract Workplace Safety Strategies Used by Managers to Reduce Workplace Accidents by Bryan Vaiagae MBA, Webster University, 2016 BAS, Campbell University, 2014 Doctoral Study Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Business Administration Walden University February 2020 Abstract Ineffective safety strategies contribute to work-related accidents making the workplace one of the hazardous locations in the United States. The findings might provide organizational managers with strategies to improve workplace safety practices leading to a healthier and safer work environment. Grounded in Heinrich’s safety management systems conceptual model, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore strategies organizational managers used to reduce workplace accidents. The participants consisted of 6 managers who oversaw safety issues at 1 organization in the central region of North Carolina. Data were collected from semistructured interviews and company documents. Data analysis consisted of Yin’s 5-phase cycle. Three themes morphed to include enforcing the need for safety training, creating a culture for safety awareness, and implementing company-wide safety policies. A key recommendation is that organization leaders provide safety training, increasing safety awareness, and creating or revising company-wide safety policies. The implication for positive social change includes benefitting local residents through enhanced stability of communities with increased employment opportunities enabling residents to contribute to community betterment to sustain a safe working environment to enhance a safer community. Workplace Safety Strategies Used by Managers to Reduce Workplace Accidents by Bryan Vaiagae MBA, Webster University, 2016 BAS, Campbell University, 2014 Doctoral Study Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Business Administration Walden University February 2020 Dedication Above all, I would like to thank God for providing me with the power and strength to complete this DBA academic journey. Second, I dedicate this doctoral study to the two special women in my life, my mother Valu Bailey, and my wife and best friend, Cindy Vaiagae. Thank you both for your overall patience, love, support, and encouragement throughout my entire doctoral journey. I could not have done it without you both and would not have completed this milestone without you two by my side every step of the way. Acknowledgments The completion of this doctoral study would not be possible without the support of numerous people. I would like to thank my mentor and chair, Dr. David Blum, for encouraging me to have a fearless attitude, dedication, determination, discipline, grit, some humility, perseverance, persistence, and the ability to sacrifice time to successfully complete my doctoral study. I would like to thank my second committee member, Dr. James Glenn, for providing me with the feedback necessary to strengthen my doctoral study. I would like to thank my university research reviewer Dr. Robert Banasik, for his vision and feedback to help sharpen my doctoral study. I would like to thank all of my former faculty at Walden University as you all have inspired me and contributed to my success on this DBA journey. I would like to thank the organization and the participants for allowing me to collect data. I wish you continued success and pray that your organization continues to flourish. Finally, to the following individuals who understood what I was attempting to accomplish and or encouraged me through the many challenges and obstacles I encountered on my doctoral journey: Dr. Sylvia Gholston, Dr. Diane Marshall, Dr. Christopher Rice; my Walden University residency cohorts (Carl, Dr. Jesse Boyd, Kimberly, Mary, McArthur, and Dr. Sharon Love), the 82nd Airborne Division’s All-American Chorus, Lamar Davis, Christopher Fairley, Gail Rankine-Jones, Libby Sciole, Toni Staley, and Elaine Taylor. Thank you all so much for allowing me to share my ideas, thoughts, and concerns. Table of Contents Section 1: Foundation of the Study ......................................................................................1 Background of the Problem ...........................................................................................1 Problem Statement .........................................................................................................2 Purpose Statement ..........................................................................................................2 Nature of the Study ........................................................................................................3 Research Question .........................................................................................................4 Interview Questions .......................................................................................................4 Conceptual Framework ..................................................................................................5 Operational Definitions ..................................................................................................6 Assumptions, Limitations, and Delimitations ................................................................6 Assumptions ............................................................................................................ 6 Limitations .............................................................................................................. 7 Delimitations ........................................................................................................... 7 Significance of the Study ...............................................................................................7 Implications for Social Change ......................................................................................8 Review of the Professional and Academic Literature ....................................................8 Organization of the Literature Review ................................................................. 10 Strategy for Literature Search ............................................................................... 11 Safety Management Systems Conceptual Model ................................................. 11 Contrasting Theories ............................................................................................. 20 Examples of Quality Improvement Frameworks .................................................. 23 i Introduction to Workplace Safety ......................................................................... 28 Factors Improving Workplace Safety ................................................................... 33 Transition .....................................................................................................................48 Section 2: The Project ........................................................................................................49 Purpose Statement ........................................................................................................49 Role of the Researcher .................................................................................................49 Participants ...................................................................................................................52 Research Method and Design ......................................................................................56 Research Method .................................................................................................. 56 Research Design.................................................................................................... 57 Population and Sampling .............................................................................................59 Ethical Research...........................................................................................................61 Data Collection Instruments ........................................................................................64 Data Organization Techniques .....................................................................................71 Data Analysis ...............................................................................................................71