Master's Theses

Document Type

Thesis - campus only access

Date of Award

Spring 1988

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Social Work

Advisor

Bill Daley

Abstract

Certain weather components have been linked with altered work performance and accidents. The researcher sought explanations of how weather components affect occurrence of accidents. Suggestions were revealed in the related literature regarding selection of weather components that had the most significant association with accidents. The independent variables for the present study were average daily barometric pressure, average daily temperature, average daily wind velocity, and total minutes of sunshine per day. The dependent variable was type of accident for the given day (“No Accident,” “Minor Accident,” and “Major Accident”). The purpose of the researcher was to examine the association between selected weather components and days on which injuries were reported for employees of a psychiatric hospital. The sample was the total number of days on which accidents were recorded in a 33 month interval. The design of the study was Post Facto. Four null hypotheses were tested. For each null hypothesis a chi square test was employed under four sampling arrangements. The results of the present study indicated that for two sampling arrangements the difference between the obtained distribution of frequencies for days of injuries and the expected distribution of frequencies for days of injuries according to barometric pressure was statistically significant. An association was found to exist between the level of barometric pressure and days of reported accidents that occurred to employees of a psychiatric hospital. The results of the present study may be useful for individuals wanting to know when employees of a psychiatric hospital are at greatest risk of injury. The present study has practical application to the reduction of accidents in the workplace.

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Rights

© 1988 John A. Hansen

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