Implementation of a novel taxonomy based on cognitive work analysis in the assessment of safety performance

Abstract

Purpose. The aim of this study was to examine how the developed taxonomy of cognitive work analysis (CWA) can be applied in combination with statistical analysis regarding different sociotechnical categories. Materials and methods. This study applied a combination of quantitative and qualitative methodologies. Workers (n = 120) and managers (n = 85) in the chemical industry were asked in a questionnaire how different occupational safety and health (OSH) measures were being implemented. The exploration of the qualitative CWA taxonomy consisted of an analysis of the following topics: (a) work domain; (b) control task; (c) strategies; (d) social organization and cooperation; (e) worker competencies. Results and conclusions. The following hypotheses were supported – activities of the management had positive impacts on the aggregated variables: near-accident investigation and instructions (H₁); OSH training (H₂); operations, technical processes and safe use of chemicals (H₃); use of personal protective equipment (H₄); measuring, follow-up and prevention of major accidents (H₅). The CWA taxonomy was applied in mixed methods when testing H₁–H₅. A special approach is to analyze the work demands of complex sociotechnical systems with the taxonomy of CWA. In problem-solving, the CWA taxonomy should seek to capitalize on the strengths and minimize the limitations of safety performance.

Keywords:

• cognitive work analysis
• taxonomy
• safety
• health
• qualitative method
• quantitative method
• workers
• managers

Acknowledgements

The author is grateful to Kyösti Louhelainen, Pirjo Korhonen, Niina Kallio, Milja Koponen and Eija-Riitta Hyytinen from the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (FIOH) for completing the questionnaire. The author would like to thank also Maria L. Hirvonen from the FIOH for her assistance in data analysis.

The author is very grateful to the two anonymous reviewers for their important comments, which improved substantially the quality of the article.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.