| The main purpose of this study was to use a model to examine whether, over a nine-year period, the presence of an employee involvement program known as the Labor Management Positive Change Process (LMPCP) was associated with a lower total injury incidence rate across seven underground bituminous coal mines located in a state in the southeastern US. Six additional variables were examined in the model to identify further relationships with injury incidence rate. These were health and safety grievances, arbitrations, productivity, noncontractual absenteeism, average number of employees, and average mine age.; Seven case histories are included to show the unique evolution of the LMPCP for each coal mine. In addition tables describe basic geological, equipment, worker, and safety attributes for each mine. These may possibly have had an affect on the LMPCP.; A regression analysis produced a final model with three statistically significant variables of the original seven. In decreasing order of significance these were noncontractual absenteeism, productivity, and health and safety grievances. The main hypothesis, that the presence of an employee involvement program would lead to lower incidence rates, was bolstered but received insufficient support for inclusion in the model.; The study showed that employee involvement may be a work environment catalyst for reducing injuries. It concluded by stating that additional study was needed to explore the potential of behavioral health and safety approaches such as employee involvement to decrease accidents. |
