Operations social practices in safety and health at work

Abstract

Abstract

Purpose – Studying the gap between improvements in operational performance of a manufacturing

organization does not necessarily represent the existent of safe and healthy work. The purpose of this paper is

to fill this gap validating a scale about social practices.

Design/methodology/approach – The literature was studied; data analysis instrument and the scale

validated by Q-sort. The reliability and validity of research instrument indicators were drawing from the

analysis of judges. The data were assessed by convergence matrix.

Findings – It was validated five social practices factors. It was enabled the adequacy of the name of the

constructs and establishment which indicators better convergence to the constructs.

Research limitations/implications – The judge´s number that answered the research was low. The level

of convergence related of two factors was above 50 percent.

Practical implications – It is possible to achieve better levels of performance through social practices.

Organizationsmust rethink the management and the routine of the workers to implement the operational practices.

Social implications – The practices need to have with well-defined rules, as well as action to drive

compliance. This vision also needs to be expanded to suppliers, customers and society.

Originality/value – Highlight five points: technology is the main factor for analyzes and decisions; the

search for quality leads organizations to seek practices that improve workers’ well-being, health and safety;

the activities of the worker are carried out on the factory, or in the work environment; Should not to belittle the

local community; culture is an essential factor to continuous improvement.

Keywords Sustainability, Scale development, Social practice, Health and safety at work, Q-sort