Supervisory Effects on Worker Safety in the Roofing Industry: Supplement, Complete Analysis of Data

摘要

In the second of two studies by NIOSH for the purpose of investigating safety and accident causation in the roofing segment of the construction industry, an effort was made to identify, evaluate and compare characteristics of behavior, attitude, personality, knowledge, and supervisory style of a sample of 88 roofing foremen drawn from 30 roofing companies from different regions of the United States. The 30 companies included in the study were selected to represent the extremes of the accident frequency distribution in the industry. The results of the first study led to the conclusion that accident proneness does not exist as a stable and enduring trait of personality. That conclusion, together with observations regarding the unusually significant role of the foreman in roofing work, was a major stimulus to the present investigation. The study assessed the impact of the first line supervisor on the accident experience of roofing crews. Also assessed was the top management attitude toward roofer safety and commitment to roofer safety in relation to the first line supervisor and the accident experience of the company as a whole. The investigation was undertaken in five steps, and the approach to and accomplishment of these tasks are described in detail. A primary objective was the delineation of differences between foremen and top management of high and low accident experience companies. The hazards of roofing work are discussed and the relevant literature is reviewed. The unique role of the foreman and the problems and difficulties of research in the roofing industry are analyzed.