Massey Documents by Type

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Start date: 2020Subject: search.filters.subject.350505 Occupational and workplace health and safety

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    Essays on corporate social responsibility : a thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Finance, School of Accountancy, Economics and Finance, Massey University
    (Massey University, 2025-09-18) Zhang, Xiaochi
    This thesis comprises three essays advancing the literature on workplace safety, an important component of corporate social responsibility. The first essay examines how generalist CEOs with transferable managerial skills enhance workplace safety. These executives improve safety by optimizing labor investments, reducing employee workloads, and ensuring higher information quality. The relation is more pronounced among firms facing financing constraints or intense market competition. The study also shows that workplace injuries and illnesses reduce innovation, productivity, and firm value. The second essay explores the impact of shareholder distraction on workplace safety. Distracted shareholders are linked to higher rates of work-related injuries, especially in firms with weak governance and high competition risks. Our findings suggest that reduced monitoring by distracted shareholders leads to lower safety investments, increased workloads, and greater earnings management, resulting in a poorer safety environment. The third essay investigates how the inclusion of general counsel in top management improves employee safety. Firms with general counsel in senior leadership are associated with lower injury and illness rates. The relation is more pronounced for firms with better information quality, more efficient labor investment, leadership by lawyer CEOs, weaker governance structures, and heightened agency problems. Overall, these essays provide new insights into how corporate leadership and governance influence workplace safety. The thesis offers contributions to the literature on workplace safety by addressing critical gaps in existing research. This work extends theoretical frameworks such as upper echelon theory by applying it to the domain of workplace safety. It also underscores the practical implications of aligning leadership capabilities and governance mechanisms to safeguard human capital, ultimately driving sustainable firm performance.
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    Promoting safety culture in vertical construction : an empirical framework tailored to New Zealand : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, School Built Environment, Massey University, Albany, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2025-09-25) Ortega, Natalia
    While the construction industry contributes to the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employment, it faces persistent challenges in workplace safety, where injury rates have shown a general upward trend, particularly in New Zealand pronounced in vertical construction projects. Safety Culture (SC) is recognised for its relevant role in injury prevention, risk mitigation, and hazard identification, contributing to fewer accidents, and better safety performance. This thesis addresses the urgent need to promote SC in construction projects by developing a practical framework tailored to New Zealand, yet adaptable for global application. The framework is designed to support safety practitioners in implementing safety interventions and facilitating informed decision-making. This research followed a structured design comprising four distinct phases: Identify, Categorise, Visualise, and Operationalise employing a mixed-methods methodology. The initial phase employed a Modified Delphi study to achieve consensus among a panel of 32 experts regarding the factors that define SC, and factors and tools influencing its promotion, complemented by a comprehensive literature review to provide additional depth. The second phase categorised tools and influential factors identified in Phase 1 using a Causal Loop Diagram (CLD), thematic analysis, syllogistic reasoning, representing relationships and dynamic interactions. Phase 3 involved the development of a prototype framework through a flow-based diagram, accompanied by an informational report integrating Quick Response (QR) codes and video materials for enhanced usability. In Phase 4, the framework was operationalised its usability through case studies focused on vertical construction projects in New Zealand. Methodological triangulation was employed by integrating qualitative and quantitative data, from site visits inductions, interviews and the survey System Usability Scale (SUS). This integration allows cross-case analysis and enables analytic generalisation and demonstrates its potential usability for widespread adoption by safety practitioners. This research advances the theoretical development of frameworks by introducing a structured and replicable methodological approach through its four distinct phases, making it applicable across various domains. On a practical level, it delivers a practical framework, to promote SC in vertical construction projects tailored to New Zealand, presented as an informational report, serving as a decision-making guide for safety practitioners, providing actionable tools meeting specific project challenges, ultimately enhancing workplace safety, reducing inequalities, and contributing to sustainable economic growth. While the framework demonstrates potential, limitations include geographic specificity, sectoral focus on vertical construction, and lack of longitudinal validation. Future research should expand the framework’s application across diverse contexts and construction types to ensure broader relevance and adaptability.
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    The role of supervisors and human resource management in mitigating stress : bus driving in a pandemic context : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Human Resource Management at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2025) Irai, Pari
    This thesis examines the occupational stress of bus drivers in New Zealand (NZ), particularly within the context of the Covid-19 pandemic. Urban bus driver is recognised as a high-risk occupation with elevated stress associated with adverse well-being outcomes. The nature of this occupation, along with its working conditions, which include strict schedules, traffic congestion, hostile passengers and low pay, has contributed to concerns about well-being and industrial disputes. The pandemic further intensified these challenges, creating a unique context for exploring the work experiences of bus drivers who were categorised as essential workers during the pandemic. The study employs the job demand-resource (JD-R) model in conjunction with the psychological contract theory to explore how working conditions and the pandemic influenced the well-being of drivers and employment relations climate within the NZ bus sector, as well as what measures were taken to address them. The study is guided by two research questions: 1) What job stressors impact the well-being of NZ bus drivers? and 2) What have bus companies (including the Auckland Transport) done to mitigate stress to safeguard their bus drivers’ well-being and improve the employment relations climate? The findings of this study are informed by 62 semi-structured interviews with drivers, supervisors, managers, and trade union representatives. Thematic analysis of the interviews revealed that pandemic-specific stressors, such as anxiety about Covid-19 contagion, hostile passengers' behaviour, work disruption, job insecurity, and financial strain, compounded pre-existing stressors, including low pay, long working hours, split shifts and traffic congestion. The lack of organisational and supervisory support further exacerbated these stressors and undermined drivers' perceptions of the organisation's commitment to their well-being. The findings are presented in two parts. The first area of findings highlights how increased job demands and limited resources influenced drivers' stress and coping ability during the pandemic. Second, the psychological contract lens demonstrates how perceptions of fulfilment or breach, mediated by perceived organisational support (POS), perceived supervisor support (PSS), and peer support, influenced both drivers' well-being and the broader employment relations. Theoretically, this study contributes to the refinement and development of organisational psychology theories from an integrated perspective of the JD-R and psychological contract frameworks through a qualitative, interpretive approach. Unlike the predominant quantitative focus of prior research, this study captures rich, content-specific narratives and provides a more nuanced understanding of how POS, PSS, peer networks, and person-job fit (PJ fit) influence employee well-being and employment relations. This integrative perspective advances both theory and methodology by demonstrating the value of qualitative inquiry in refining established frameworks. Practically, the findings inform managers and human resource (HR) practitioners by emphasising the importance of supervisory training and support in enhancing frontline leadership competence, communication and trust to foster relational human resource management (HRM) as well as more systematic engagement with employee representatives. Given the physical remoteness of bus drivers, the supervisory relationship is potentially problematic, but no less critical. This highlights the importance of effective supervisor and organisational support in influencing drivers' well-being as well as their perceptions of fairness, recognition and commitment to their well-being and positive employment relationships.
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    The precarity of platform capitalism : how collective mobilisation changes as the sex work industry shifts to online marketplaces : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology at Massey University, Manawatu Campus, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2024-08-31) Palatchie, Brittany
    This research sought to understand how the commercial sex work industry operates within platform capitalism and to analyse how platform capitalist models of labour impact the working, social, and political lives of online sex workers (adult content creators). This is an interpretive, qualitative study with data collected from a content analysis of online forums utilised by online sex workers globally and from semi-structured interviews with eight online sex workers based in New Zealand. Findings highlight the covert forms of structural violence inflicted on workers through algorithmic bias, exploitative platform practices demanding unpaid emotional, moral, and affective labour, punitive deplatforming measures, and economically precarious third-party payment platforms. Additionally, transnational laws imposed on workers and the monopolisation of the online sex work industry limit workers' ability to publicly mobilise against platforms due to fear of retaliation. Given these forms of structural violence, it is critical to understand how workers are politically advocating for themselves within the platform economy, where they are classed as independent contractors without traditional employment protections. This research found that workers are restaging their collective mobilisation from public spaces to private spaces such as Discord and online forums. Workers have created private communities of care where they can support one another, offer advice, share resources, and come together in solidarity over their troubles. They also engage in what I term “imagined resistance”, a form of resistance that is planned but is yet to transpire. This thesis thus offers insights into broader understandings of prefigurative politics being undertaken within the platform economy of online sex work through covert forms of resistance.
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    Exploring health, safety, and wellbeing : perceptions and experiences of workers of refugee background in New Zealand : a thesis presented in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Occupational Health and Safety at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2024) Mohamed, Abdulkadir
    Introduction: New Zealand is acknowledged as among the most diverse nations in the world, distinguished for its acceptance of individuals from an array of backgrounds as citizens and permanent residents. Refugees have sought safety and security in New Zealand since before World War I, adding to the rich tapestry and culture of the nation. Over time, the nation has proudly endorsed the United Nations Refugee Quota Programme, actively resettling refugees from across the world. Despite this long history of refugee resettlement, there is limited knowledge about the experiences of refugee workers in New Zealand, particularly from an occupational health and safety perspective. Aim: This thesis explores the perceptions and experiences of refugee background workers in New Zealand, aiming to present in depth the complex challenges and circumstances they encounter in the workforce. Method: The research utilises a qualitative approach, integrating semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis to draw out a pattern in the rich narratives of 13 refugee participants. Results: Key themes examined are self-perception, overworking, workplace injury, lack of health and safety at the workplace, discrimination, lack of government support, community support, coping mechanisms and language barrier. Conclusion: The findings reveal that while refugee background workers bring valuable skills and experiences to the New Zealand workforce, they often face significant obstacles, such a discrimination, overrepresentation in injury, perceive a lack of support from the Government and overall face difficulty fully integrating into the workforce. Furthermore, the study underscores the critical need for targeted research for the refugee community’s occupational health and wellbeing. Additionally, we suggest interventions such as the provision of vocational training and supportive mechanisms to address occupational injury rates of this population.
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    A study on the health and safety of Chinese migrant workers in the New Zealand construction industry : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in School of Built Environment at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2024-10-17) Guan, Zechen
    The construction sector is a labour-intensive industry with high risks, where workers frequently face a variety of safety hazards on site. The continued advancement of globalisation has led to a rise in overseas migration, making migrant workers an increasingly important part of the construction industry's labour force. New Zealand (NZ) has experienced a rise in demand for skilled construction workers, a trend that has become even more pronounced in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Migrant construction workers are characterised by their high mobility, easy recruitment, and lower wages, which meet the dual needs of construction companies for human resources and cost control. However, migrant construction workers face challenges to safety management on construction sites due to factors such as language barriers, limited safety awareness, and unfamiliarity with safety policies. Chinese migrant construction workers (CMCWs) play a vital role in the global construction workforce. However, like other migrant workers, they face greater vulnerabilities on overseas construction sites compared to local workers. Given their significant contribution to the industry, the existing research on the health and safety of CMCWs should be expanded, with a deeper focus on addressing these challenges. This thesis explores the influencing factors affecting the health and safety of CMCWs and investigates effective solutions for improvement. This study used qualitative and quantitative methods to achieve the research objectives, including a systematic literature review, partial least squares structure equational modelling (PLS-SEM), and the development of a web prototype platform. The study outlines the definition of CMCWs and identifies various safety-influencing factors. Incentive strategies, particularly financial incentives, are seen as effective in improving CMCWs' safety compliance. However, key factors influencing their safety outcomes include their understanding of safety policies and personal variables such as safety awareness, education, and compliance. This research reports that the impact of language barriers and cultural differences on communication at New Zealand construction sites among CMCWs is not a major health and safety influence. This finding can be attributed to the preference of Chinese migrant workers to select construction sites with the same language environment, thereby mitigating the impact of language barriers and cultural differences on their safety communication. However, language barriers and personal factors contribute to the ineffectiveness of safety training when not tailored or targeted for subsets of the workforce. To address the needs of Chinese migrant construction workers, a novel safety web platform was developed to evaluate the effectiveness of this solution in improving CMCWs' health and safety standards. This thesis offers theoretical guidance and practical data to support research in the realm of health and safety concerning migrant construction workers. Furthermore, the in-depth research on the health and safety of CMCWs also provides both practical and theoretical guidance for other researchers who are pursuing closely related research topics. The practical results and experimental data can contribute to New Zealand construction groups’ comprehension of the requirements of and challenges facing migrant construction workers in safety-related domains. The NZ government and construction societies can develop effective safety management strategies to improve the health and safety of CMCWs.
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    Exposure to fumigants and residual chemicals in workers handling cargo from shipping containers and export logs : a study of exposure determinants and neuropsychological symptoms : a thesis by publications presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Public Health (Epidemiology) at Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2022) Hinz, Ruth
    Fumigants are widely used in shipping containers and on export logs for biosecurity reasons. This thesis aimed to: (i) assess concentrations of fumigants and off-gassed chemicals in closed containers; (ii) identify container characteristics associated with high concentrations; (iii) assess personal exposure levels of workers exposed to these chemicals; and (iv) assess whether exposed workers report more neuropsychological symptoms. Air samples were collected from 490 sealed containers and at opening of 46 containers, and 193 personal full-shift air samples were collected for 133 container handlers, 15 retail workers, 40 workers loading export logs, and 5 fumigators. Samples were analysed by Selected Ion Flow Tube Mass Spectrometry for several common fumigants and harmful chemicals frequently found in shipping containers. Levels were compared to the New Zealand Work Exposure Standard (WES) and the Threshold Limit Value (TLV). A neuropsychological symptom questionnaire was completed by 274 container handlers, 38 retail workers, 35 fumigators, 18 log workers, and a reference group of 206 construction workers. Fumigants were detected in 11.4% of sealed containers (ethylene oxide 4.7%; methyl bromide 3.5%). Chemicals other than fumigants were detected more frequently, particularly formaldehyde (84.7%). Some cargo types (e.g. rubber products) and countries of origin (e.g. China) were associated with higher chemical concentrations. Fumigants were detected in both fumigated and non-fumigated containers. Ambient chemical concentrations in closed and just opened containers regularly exceeded the NZ WES and TLV. Personal exposure measurements never exceeded the NZ WES, although for 26.2% of samples the TLV for formaldehyde was exceeded. Duration spent unloading containers was associated with higher levels of ethylene oxide, C2-alkylbenzenes and acetaldehyde. Exposed workers were more likely to report ≥10 symptoms, and particularly for the fatigue domain. Longer cumulative duration of unloading containers was associated with more symptoms (Odds Ratio (OR) 7.5, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.7-32.8), and specifically for symptoms in the memory/-concentration domain (OR 6.8, 95%CI 1.5-30.3), when comparing the highest exposure duration tertile to the lowest. In conclusion, while workers’ full-shift exposure levels to container chemicals are lower than previously expected (based on the high levels measured in closed containers), they may nonetheless cause long-term health effects.  
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    Worker voice and the health and safety regulatory system in New Zealand : an interpretivist case study inquiry in the commercial construction industry : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Management at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2021) Farr, Deirdre
    The importance of involving workers in effective management of workplace health and safety (WHS) risks is well established. Transforming this rhetoric into sustainable practice continues to be a global problem. The siloed nature of industrial relations, WHS, human resource management and organisational behaviour debates has resulted in researchers talking past each other. Consequently, there is a dearth of literature drawing WHS research into contemporary debates exploring a broad range of direct and indirect forms of ‘worker voice’. The purpose of this thesis is to determine how and why the current statutory framework is contributing to enhancing workers’ involvement in workplace decisions that affect their WHS outcomes. This interpretivist constructivist multiple-case study applies a Multidisciplinary Analytical Model of Worker Voice to demonstrate how a multidisciplinary approach bridges divides and facilitates rich understanding of a contemporary phenomenon. The thesis clarifies the ambiguity and misunderstanding of terms that influence the interpretation and enactment of duties in the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (HSWA). It identifies and maps the different forms of worker engagement, participation and representation (EP&R) that exist under the current statutory provisions in New Zealand, and more importantly, the influence of worker voice. This research enables us to understand how and under what conditions worker EP&R can thrive. The two-phase study involved semi-structured interviews with 14 key stakeholders at the macro and industry levels, and 31 case study participants in three large commercial construction organisations at the meso level. Secondary qualitative data sources included 12 observations, and public and organisational documents. Hermeneutic analysis and interpretation revealed how the current HSWA stimulated improvements in leadership and risk management. The characteristics of effective worker voice systems were co-constructed with the key stakeholders and developed into an EP&R Compliance Maturity Model of Worker Voice. This model highlighted proactive and reactive responses to the HSWA in the organisations operating in a low-union, high-risk context. The overarching perceptions of the HSWA reinvigorating interest in worker voice underpinned improvements in macro level tripartism and meso level engagement. However, traditional representation structures have been eroded rather than strengthened.