Awareness of occupational hazards in learning organizations. Knowledge sharing behavior and sense of spirituality perspective
| Pages | 17-32 |
| Published date | 04 February 2019 |
| Date | 04 February 2019 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/GKMC-01-2018-0007 |
| Author | Muhammad Sabbir Rahman,Mahafuz Mannan,Md. Afnan Hossain,AAhad M. Osman Gani |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science,Information behaviour & retrieval,Information in society,Information literacy,Library & information services |
Awareness of occupational
hazards in learning organizations
Knowledge sharing behavior and sense of
spirituality perspective
Muhammad Sabbir Rahman,Mahafuz Mannan and
Md. Afnan Hossain
Department of Marketing and International Business,
North South University, Dhaka, Bangladesh, and
AAhad M. Osman Gani
Department of Business Administration, International Islamic University,
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of thisresearch is to investigate the significant antecedentsthat influence students’
awareness of occupational hazards (AOHs) in their respective institutions. The researchers proposed a
theoreticalmodel consisting of three dimensions: knowledge sharingbehavior (KSB), sense of spirituality (SS)
and awarenessof occupational hazards (AOHs).
Design/methodology/approach –This study targets students of different public and private higher
learning institutions in Bangladeshwith a total of 260 respondents, utilizing a survey questionnaire as the
data collection instrumentto test the proposed conceptual model. The structural equation modelingapproach
was used to test the proposedmodel.
Findings –The results show that SS has a mediating effect on KSB and AOHs at higher learning
institutions.
Originality/value –The study contributes for first time to the theoretical novelty of the body of the
existing literature in the domainsof students’KSB, SS and AOHs. The study also provides insighton future
research directionsby helping in identifying gaps in literature in this field and higher learning institutionsin
Bangladesh.
Keywords Spirituality, Bangladesh, Awareness, Higher learning institutions,
Knowledge sharing behavior, Least developing country, Occupational hazards
Paper type Research paper
1. Introduction
Occupational hazard has been an area of intense investigation both by academicians and
practitioners across a variety of industry (Brenner et al., 2016;Jordan, 1997;Margolis et al.,
1974;Szymanska, 2007). Previous studies on occupational hazard have mainly focused on the
prevalence of occupational voice disorder, stress, burnout in context of educational institutions
(Angelillo et al., 2009;Hamann and Gordon, 2000;Russ et al., 2002). However, most studies have
focused on the issues of occupational hazards with regard to employees and academic staff of
educational institutions. Very few studies have concentrated on occupational hazard from
students’perspective. Moreover, studies are inadequate that focused on students’awareness of
occupational hazards (AOH) in the context of higher learning institutions. This study aims to
fill that gap taking Bangladesh –a typical developing country –as a unit of analysis.
Awareness of
occupational
hazards
17
Received23 January 2018
Revised30 April 2018
Accepted10 July 2018
GlobalKnowledge, Memory and
Communication
Vol.68 No. 1/2, 2019
pp. 17-32
© Emerald Publishing Limited
2514-9342
DOI 10.1108/GKMC-01-2018-0007
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
www.emeraldinsight.com/2514-9342.htm
Members of educational institutions are mostly affected by a substantial amount of
occupational stress-related problem (Kinman, 2001). However, owing to the overwhelming
pressure of high standards in meeting the challenges of being world-class higher learning
institutions in all aspects, the stakeholders such as students need to aware about
occupational-related health and safety measures which were not considered by previous
research. For example,the core laws related to occupational health and safety in Bangladesh
is the “Bangladesh Labor Act 2006”. There aresome other laws and regulations which also
have some provisions related to occupational health and safety. The Ministry of Education
has already shown their concern regarding the higher learning institutions’role in
supporting occupational safety and health (OSH) efforts by means of conducting various
education and training programsfor the students and staff of higher learning institutions in
Bangladesh.
According to Quinlan and Bohle (2009), occupational health and safety are cross-
disciplinary subjects that focus on the safeguarding of health and welfare of individuals
who are engaged in work or employment. The aim of all occupational health and safety
awareness programs is to promote a safe working environment. The research report from
Hossain et al. (2015) explored that institutional and collaborative initiatives on OSH
issues in Bangladesh are focused on the formal sector. In fact, the systematic research
and empirical investigation in a context OSH study in context of Bangladesh is still in the
stage of infancy. However, research, training, education, disesteem management, civil
defense, medical institutions, higher learning institutions, rehabilitation centers,
laboratories and testing institutes are scattered and act individually in handling and
developing awareness with regard to OSH. The report also suggests that public
universities consider introducing separate OSH faculty. In addition, private universities
must need to consider the quality of OSH education, awareness and availability in their
respective campus (Hossain et al., 2015). Thus, higher learning institutions in Bangladesh
require to take preventive measures and organize numerous promotional programs
regarding AOHs among students. They need to enrich the level of awareness with regard
to occupational hazards among students of higher learning institutions that are well
embedded in Bangladesh strategies of the long-term Economic Transformation Plan.
As students are the future work force and play a significant role in a country’srapid
economic growth. One of the crucial elements for policymakers and related parties
concerning occupational hazard is awareness among students. Thus, increasing awareness
concerning occupational hazard among students of higher learning institutions should be
embeddedinto the related developmentprograms of policymakers.
Subsequently, to influence awareness of students regarding occupational hazard, in-
depth understanding of the significantantecedents of consciousness is indispensable for the
researchers and policymakers. However, to mitigate this research gap, this study will
investigate the influence of two crucial precursors of AOHs among the students of higher
learning institutions. The antecedents under focus are knowledge sharing behavior (KSB)
and sense of spirituality (SS). This research will be a part of a handful contribution to
structure the AOHs issuesamong the students of higher learning institutions.
The outcomes of this research will be a significant contribution to the policymakers,
institutions of higher learningregarding providing them a clear picture of incorporating the
awareness development of occupationalhazards through KSB and employing an SS culture
among the students.
Also, the youngadults who are currentlystudying in different higherlearning institutions
need to understand and be aware of the occupational hazard issue, which will ultimately
benefit them in the long run when they are pursuing a career. Furthermore, at the national
GKMC
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