New Zealand Journal of Health and Safety Practice

Exposures and Health Effects of Diacetyl and 2,3-Pentanedione in a Coffee Processing Facility

Kerry Cheung — 2024-04-27

Diacetyl and 2,3-pentanedione are alpha-diketones that are generated during the coffee roasting process and have been shown to be related to respiratory symptoms, abnormal lung function, and in rare cases, an irreversible disease called obliterative bronchiolitis. This study measured personal exposures in a coffee roastery in New Zealand using thermal desorption tubes and explored the prevalence of respiratory symptoms with a health questionnaire.

Exposures from task samples were highest for grinding (Geometric Mean (GM): 22.5 ppb diacetyl; GM: 19.3 ppb 2,3-pentanedione), followed by packaging (GM: 10.8 ppb diacetyl; GM: 9.3 ppb 2,3-pentanedione) and then roasting (GM: 4.7 ppb diacetyl; GM: 4.1 ppb diacetyl). 8-h time-weighted average (TWA) diacetyl exposures exceeded the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Recommended Exposure Limit (REL) of 5 ppb for Roaster/Packager (GM: 6.6 ppb) and Grinder (GM: 5.3 ppb). 8-h TWA concentrations were below the NIOSH REL of 9.3 ppb for 2,3-pentanedione (Roaster/Packager, GM: 5.7 ppb; Grinder, GM: 4.6 ppb). Workers reported nose, eye symptoms and systemic symptoms (flu-like illness or achy joints, fever or chills, or unusual tiredness or fatigue).

The results indicated that exposure was highest for tasks involving ground coffee beans and that coffee processing workers can be exposed to alpha-diketones above the NIOSH RELs. Further research into alpha-diketone exposure and health effects, and control measures to minimise exposure are recommended.

Te Pā: A wellbeing initiative on a major roading construction project.

Hemi Heta — 2024-04-27

Purpose. Due to the significant challenges to employee wellbeing in the construction industry, a major roading project in New Zealand implemented a wellbeing programme based on holistic health frameworks. A description, rationale and outline of the wellbeing programme are presented. An independent evaluation of the wellbeing programme took place in 2023.

Design. Data from interviews, a focus group, surveys, and the OnLocation app were analysed to examine participants’ perspectives on the programme, and to establish whether the programme was effective and how it could be improved.

Findings. The majority of staff reported that they had experienced enhanced wellbeing since joining the project, and spoke positively about the programme. A small number of participants felt the project still had elements of the ‘old’ construction culture including a focus on productivity over people, but most felt the wellbeing programme had made substantial progress toward changing the construction culture. Suggested improvements included a perceived need for more resources, for members of the wellbeing team to be present onsite more often, and more training for onsite managers in workplace wellbeing.

Originality. A holistic approach to wellbeing has rarely been taken in the construction industry. This project was based on indigenous New Zealand Māori perspectives on wellbeing. Evaluation showed that it was positively valued by both Māori and non-Māori participants. This indicates that, although some details are specific to New Zealand, the model itself, its supporting framework and approach can be generalised to other contexts.

Integrating management systems in the energy sector: the case of the electricity industry in New Zealand

Christopher Peace — 2024-04-27

The New Zealand Electricity Engineers Association (EEA) asked for advice about development of a guide for a public safety management system (PSMS) for electricity distribution networks based on ISO45001 Occupational health and safety management systems. This would help eliminate overlap between legislation and standards while maintaining compliance with legal requirements. At Victoria University of Wellington we have been working on such an integrated approach and this article reports on the project and suggests how the results can be extended to include other areas of management while retaining the ability for appropriate elements to be audited and certified in accordance with systems required by legislation.

The project reviewed an earlier report and literature review on PSMS for the Electricity Networks Association. Development of the legal requirements for a PSMS were reviewed and use of the International Standards Organization (ISO) framework for all management system standards proposed to encompass ISO45001 and similar standards. Relevant management content was incorporated in the high-level structure and key stakeholders contributed technical content.

Use of the ISO Annex SL as a template enabled development of an integrated management system incorporating other management system standards, that would still support legal compliance while enabling elimination of duplication and clutter, and waste of resources at a time of technology change.

The work was carried out in New Zealand (NZ) and may not apply in other countries with different legal requirements. Auditors may resist integrated management systems although this may not be a limitation if documentation is appropriately written.

The electricity networks businesses in NZ may move to implementation of the PSMS guide but this will be an internal decision and results may take some years to declutter documentation and reduce overlapping audits under management system standards.

Over the next decade the context of the New Zealand electricity industry will undergo major shifts with the need to adapt to increasing expectations for occupational health and safety and public safety, adaptation to climate change and accelerated implementation of new technologies. The electricity industry will need to apply its resources to those changes while avoiding duplicated efforts to implement multiple management systems.

Developing an integrated management system that incorporates several management systems and public safety may aid protection of non-workers who cannot otherwise be “controlled” by a business.

A Multidisciplinary Approach to Health and Safety Leadership in New Zealand: An "All of Person" Approach

Nicola Knobel — 2024-04-27

This article explores a comprehensive approach to Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) leadership in New Zealand. It delves into the integration of inclusivity, vulnerability, Safety II principles, and Te Ao Māori values into WHS practices. The holistic vision presented emphasises proactive leadership, education, and cultural responsiveness to create a paradigm shift in WHS. By prioritising well-being and inclusivity, this approach aims to transcend compliance-driven WHS models, fostering a culture where safety is everyone's responsibility. The article calls for action, inviting organisations to embrace this transformative leadership model for a safer, more empathetic future in New Zealand workplaces.

Workplace Health and Safety, Leadership, Holistic Approach, New Zealand, Te Ao Māori

Cultural Intelligence: A critical capability for health and safety professionals in building interpersonal trust?

Greg Dearsly — 2024-04-27

This literature review was conducted as part of the authors submission in attaining a Master’s In Advanced Leadership Practices through Massey University (2018 – 2019). The literature review was supported with research which included focus groups, the aim of which was to explore the theories and beliefs of senior executives from the New Zealand business community about the impact of building trust where their health and safety advisor has cultural intelligence capability. It is intended that the results of the focus groups will be published in future issues of this publication.

The Whakaari/White Island disaster. An analysis informed by sociological theories of risk

Silvia Zanini — 2024-04-27

On December 9, 2019, the volcano on Whakaari/White Island, a popular New Zealand (NZ) tourist destination, erupted. Twenty-two people died. Drawing on sociological theories of risk, most particularly on systems-thinking, this qualitative analysis describes the origins of the disaster, formulates questions for the authorities and suggests actions to reduce the chances of a repeat. It is concluded that the safety culture of NZ’s adventure tourism (AT) industry requires attention. It is also concluded that bureaucratic devices such as the adventure tourism insurance cover provided by NZ’s Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) may have encouraged, through a risk-compensation dynamic, greater risk-taking. It is suggested that improved oversight will deliver a safer adventure tourism industry. It is recommended that the authorities investigate to what extent insurance cover influences business practices.

Operational Risk Profiling

Dan Davis — 2024-04-27

Those in governance roles must understand the operational, context-dependent risk profile of their organisation and its workgroups. They must apply due diligence and ensure that resources and processes remain purpose-driven, focused on what matters, socially defensible and aligned to work as done. Risk profiles must be set against risk appetite, and where there is a mismatch, the risk profile must be modified or reduced. This paper outlines an operationally focused and context-sensitive approach to risk profiling, and how construct validity was developed through iterative field-testing, as well as evaluation of early-stage descriptive and predictive utility.

Whaowhia te kete mātauranga | Fill the basket with knowledge

robyn Bennett — 2024-04-27

From the Journal Editor

Christopher Peace — 2024-04-27

Haere mai! Welcome to volume 1, edition 1 of the New Zealand Journal of Health and Safety Practice!

The Journal is open access and online and subscriptions are free. Although published in New Zealand we hope it will be read by workers everywhere who work in the field of health, safety and wellbeing. This edition is published at the time of International Workers' Memorial Day and the 29^th anniversary of the New Zealand Cave Creek tragedy. I hope the Journal will grow to share practical, research-based knowledge that will help every worker (and visitors to workplaces) to go home physically and mentally unharmed.

Much work went into the development of the Journal and I thank:

the authors who spent time writing and revising the articles
our anonymous reviewers who spent their time reading the submissions and making comments: you have helped set the standard for the Journal.
Nik Crombie and Max Sullivan in the Victoria University of Wellington Library who helped with the backroom work and technology making the Journal free to publish.

The editorial team also thanks HASANZ, Engineering New Zealand, Faculty of Asbestos Management of Australia & New Zealand, Human Factors and Ergonomics Society of New Zealand, Institute of Organisational Psychology, New Zealand Institute of Safety Management, New Zealand Occupational Health Nurses Association, New Zealand Occupational Hygiene Society, New Zealand Safety Council, AVID Plus Limited and Risk Management Ltd for financial and other support to help establish the Journal.

Terje Aven, a Norwegian academic, wrote that “safety science is multidisciplinary. Its contributors and its audience range from psychologists to chemical engineers”; that safety science “covers the physics and engineering of safety; its social, policy and organisational aspects; the management of risks; the effectiveness of control techniques for safety; standardization, legislation, inspection, insurance, costing aspects, human behaviour and safety and the like.” The founding organisations of NZJHSP are similarly drawn from those disciplines.

A call for papers for the July 2024 edition will go out shortly. I look forward to submissions for future editions of this Journal those focused on the practice of workplace health and safety through implementing the broad subject area of safety science to help protect workers and others and achieve good work conditions.

References

Aven, T. (2014). What is safety science? Safety Science, 67, 15-20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2013.07.026