COMPARISON OF SAFETY PROGRAMS AND EMPLOYEE ATTITUDES WITHIN UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA FACILITIES MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENTS (RISK MANAGEMENT, WORKERS COMPENSATION)

Facilities Management (FM) departments within the each of the nine University of California Campuses consistently account for at least one-third of all lost-time workers compensation cases annually. One might assume that little deviation in accident rates between each of the departments would exist as a result of their identical missions and similar employee exposures to physical hazards and work functions. However, extreme intercampus variability existed among FM departments.

A survey questionnaire was administered to FM employees within one very high and one very low accident rate campus to attempt to explain causative factors.

Significant findings (.01 level) from this descriptive study were as follows: (1) Department Differences. (a) The low accident rate FM department had more formally written safety procedures for their employees than at the high accident rate FM department. (b) Employee and co-worker levels of safety consciousness were much higher at the low accident department than at the high one. This included hazard reporting frequency, safer behavior, and greater participation in safety planning activities. (c) Supervisor's influence on employee safety was perceived to be higher on the low accident rate FM department. This included stronger enforcement of safety equipment use, higher level of safety consciousness, and better communication network with employees. (d) Employee job satisfaction was much higher on low accident campus than high one. (e) The low accident rate FM department registered more employees with perceived good to excellent physical condition than within high one. (2) Individual Differences (Accident Free versus Accident Experiencing Employees)--Aggregate From Both Campuses. The following characteristics were found in FM employees with accident free employment records: (a) Feels less pressure on the job. (b) Receives ongoing safety training. (c) Has higher level of safety consciousness. (d) Reports hazards and injuries more frequently no matter how minor. (e) Is satisfied with job and feels university treats him very well. (f) Believes co-workers and supervisors also have high level of safety consciousness. (g) Discusses openly with co-workers their unsafe behavior. (h) Has good working rapport and communication with supervisor and co-workers and participates frequently in safety planning activities. (i) Exercises routinely and feels physical condition is very good.

A majority of factors significantly affecting the accident free population similarly affected the accident free employee group on the high accident rate campus. (Abstract shortened with permission of author.)