'Just right' job design: A new model using the Goldilocks paradigm. This proposal will generate new knowledge about designing jobs with the right amount of human movement. Prolonged sitting is now a serious work hazard that contributes to cardiovascular risk and obesity. The high incidence of these conditions in many work systems, such as rail, also presents a critical safety hazard due to threat of sudden incapacity while driving. Expected project outcomes are a ‘Just Right’ Job Design model sh ....'Just right' job design: A new model using the Goldilocks paradigm. This proposal will generate new knowledge about designing jobs with the right amount of human movement. Prolonged sitting is now a serious work hazard that contributes to cardiovascular risk and obesity. The high incidence of these conditions in many work systems, such as rail, also presents a critical safety hazard due to threat of sudden incapacity while driving. Expected project outcomes are a ‘Just Right’ Job Design model showing how tasks can be designed to enhance safety and health while maintaining productivity, and in the unlikeliest of workplaces. This will provide significant benefits for the many working Australians whose safety and health are compromised by exposure to prolonged sitting in seemingly intractable environments.Read moreRead less
Dynamic Rollover Occupant Protection (DROP): evaluation and regulation. This projects seeks to establish which occupant crashworthiness attributes a vehicle must possess to prevent injury in a rollover crash. The results will assist regulators, industry and consumer groups understand which critical factors need to be considered to develop rollover crashworthiness regulations, consumer tests and vehicle purchase policy.
My research focuses on understanding the role of behaviour in injury and safety, especially the issues of fatigue and error. The overall aim of my research is to develop better approaches to reducing the burden of injury and improving safety especially in transport.
Climate Change Impacts On Workplace Heat Extremes: Health Risk Estimates And Adaptive Options
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$741,938.00
Summary
Global warming will bring more hot (and extremely hot) days as Australia warms within the projected range of 2-4oC by 2070. Working in the heat is uncomfortable and requires rest breaks, yet pressure to keep working risks overheating and serious health problems. We will study the current effects on health and productivity on heat exposed workers, and model future trends in likely impacts under climate change in 8 (urban and rural) regions, with and without adaptive health protection strategies.
Safety management system for heavy vehicle transport. Crashes involving heavy vehicles result in around 330 deaths, over 3000 serious injuries annually, and cost over $6 billion per year. Trucks deliver 72% of Australia's total freight. The quantity delivered by trucks has increased by 40% over a decade and will double over the next 20 years. Conservatively the transport industry contributes about 5.6% to GDP and employs nearly 5% of the workforce. Safe transport is crucial for Australia's heal ....Safety management system for heavy vehicle transport. Crashes involving heavy vehicles result in around 330 deaths, over 3000 serious injuries annually, and cost over $6 billion per year. Trucks deliver 72% of Australia's total freight. The quantity delivered by trucks has increased by 40% over a decade and will double over the next 20 years. Conservatively the transport industry contributes about 5.6% to GDP and employs nearly 5% of the workforce. Safe transport is crucial for Australia's health and economic recovery. If a 10% reduction in casualty truck crashes were to result from this study, the cost benefit ratio would be around 200 to 1.Read moreRead less
MatesMonitor: Evaluating Suicide Prevention In The Construction Industry
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$628,742.00
Summary
We will evaluate a smart-phone based suicide prevention program for the construction industry called MatesMonitor. This will complement face-to-face training provided by an industry-wide suicide prevention program. MatesMonitor will provide education and awareness about suicide prevention and additional social support through regular contacts with participants. We anticipate MatesMonitor will result in improved suicide prevention literacy, and reduced suicide ideation and self harm.
This project will provide comprehensive nationally-representative data on the issue of hearing loss at work. We will undertake a large national survey to determine how many Australians are exposed to noise and ototoxic chemicals in the workplace and will use these data to estimate the future burden of work-related hearing loss. We will also estimate how changes in the use of noise control measures could alter the burden and the costs.
Identifying and controlling the source of Campylobacter and Salmonella in Australia. This project will identify the source of foodborne illnesses due to Salmonella and Campylobacter in order to inform food regulatory policy. The ultimate aim is to reduce the amount of foodborne disease in Australia.
An integrated model for assessing health effects of nanoparticle inhalation. This project aims to examine the associated risks of nanoparticle inhalation on heath by developing a toxicological predictive tool for health risk assessment. The outcomes of this research will lead to greatly improved preventative measures, thereby reducing occupational diseases and the health socio-economic burden of Australia.