The Sun Coast employees face health and physical threats daily when visiting sites that are affected by toxic air, which cause vision and hearing problems. This research is, therefore, focusing on the relationship between workplace injuries and compensation costs as the company tries to find a balance. Studies, however, reveal that companies that invested in promoting safety register lower levels of injuries and health effects while encountering impractical health claims ( Duan, Wang, Y., Wang, Z., & Wang, T, 2019) . The following sections, therefore, include a comprehensive literature review and consequently developed research questions and hypotheses that will be answered and tested during the study.
Literature Review
A survey conducted by Tompa et al. (2016) revealed legislative procedures had a significant impact on worker exposure to health injuries. The study was conducted using a systematic review which quantitatively found supporting evidence in three out of the nine articles reviewed. The authors aimed at determining the registered effectiveness with regards to the implementation of legislative actions on employee injuries and compensation claims associated with the same. The research design further involved the selection of nine articles from a total of thirteen peer-reviewed databases hence the conclusion that there exist some legislative levers contributing to workplace safety and reduced complex claims from injured workers (Tompa et al., 2016). Other forms of studies by Mph, K., Tompa, Fisher, Baró n, Mph, L, and Diguiseppi (2018) emphasize the role of safety training to minimize workplace injuries as there is a significant correlation between lack of training and susceptibility to fractures.
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According to Driscoll (2018), occupational workers face hazards depending on their industry and relative involvement. The author, therefore, conducted research to determine the Global Burden of Disease in relation to occupational health risks acquired from exposure to particulate matter and toxic gases. The study incorporated a population attributable fraction method, which was then used to determine the relative estimates. The results concluded that there was a global burden due to the increased mortality rates attributed to the occupational hazards above.
A study conducted by Stimpfel, Brewer, and Kovner (2015), investigated the relationship between safety, employee inexperience, and risks to health injuries. The article explores potential injuries faced by new inexperienced nurses to evaluate newly licensed nurses, their appointed schedules, and nurse injury. The research used a secondary analysis technique to investigate with further incorporation of a cross-sectional design. The participants selected for the study included 1744 newly licensed nurses from a variety of areas hence the use of descriptive analysis ( Stimpfel et al., 2015) . Variate Poisson regression was further incorporated to determine the relationship between experience and nurse injuries and thus the conclusion that newly licensed nurses who worked overtime and during night time shifts were more likely to encounter injuries.
Similarly, Ophir, Shai, Alkalay, Israeli, Korenstein, Kramer and Fireman (2016) conducted a quantitative study using statistical analysis to determine the effective measures required to monitor workers working in hazardous conditions for more extended periods. The participants of the study included 116 volunteer individuals who had worked at stone mines for twenty years or more, and hence, the use of an occupational questionnaire (Ophir et al., 2016). Additionally, pulmonary function tests were conducted as well as particle analyses; therefore, the conclusion that the quantification of mineral content using specialized equipment was beneficial in maintaining employee health, thus reducing compensation costs.
Other scholars have investigated the effects of excessive heat on worker performance (Kjellstrom, Briggs, Freyberg, Lemke, Otto & Hyatt, 2016). Moreover, numerous health problems have been reported as associated with the same such as heat exhaustion. The authors incorporated various methods to quantify the potential health risks of excessive heat, including the evaluation of a customized health assessment strategy hence concluding that ambient temperature had significant effects on employee performance and overall physical health. Consequently, another research was conducted by a group of scholars to investigate the impact of age on occupational injuries such as falls ( Anderson & Oakman, 2016) . The methods involved include the use of a cross-sectional study that estimated the effects of the same based on age, gender, and type of industry.
The results concluded that there is a distinct link between age, gender, and the same level falls and thus recommended the use of the intervention. Due to the complexity of musculoskeletal injuries, studies were conducted to determine the forms of risk management to be implemented ( Anderson & Oakman, 2016) . The study, therefore, involved a systematic review of literature hence the conclusion that there are various risk factors for Allied Health Professionals in developing the issues. In conclusion, the articles mentioned above relate to the Sun Coast problem as they evaluate possible prevention measures as well as the strategies through which the company can avoid lawsuits.
Scholarly Activity
The Sun Coast firm has experienced various problems related to possible occupational injuries resulting from the workplace environment and atmosphere. Exposure to materials such as particulate matter and lead exposure have registered significant health effects over time hence the desire for the company to avoid the same. The research objectives and Hypotheses therefore include:
R01: Identifying the relationship between particulate matter size and employee health.
RO2: Determine the effectiveness of training in reducing lost time hours.
RO3: Incorporate historical data in predicting the decibel levels of the work environment.
RO4: Evaluate the significance of new employee training in preventing health hazards.
RO5: Determine the effects of lead levels on worker's blood.
RO6: Identifying differences in return on investment.
Research Questions and Hypotheses
The research problems identified above demand the formulation of research questions, hypothesis, and alternative hypothesis to conduct relevant research. Past studies have identified a permanent link between the workplace environment and overall employee health as well as the risks of exposure of the same ( Anderson & Oakman, 2016) . The Sun Coast employees face numerous risks when visiting work sites and hence the need to determine the possible effects of the minerals present at such places such as particulate matter and lead while identifying ways to minimize lawsuits based on health. The research questions and hypotheses therefore include:
RO1: Is there a relationship between particulate matter size and the exposed employee's health?
HO1: There is a distinct relationship between particulate matter size and the exposed employee's health.
HA1: There is no positive relationship between particulate matter size and the exposed employee's health.
RO2: What is the effectiveness of training in reducing lost time hours?
HO1: Training is significant in reducing lost time hours.
HA2: Training does not contribute to reducing lost time hours.
RO3: Can historical employee data be incorporated in predicting decibel levels?
HO3: Historical data is essential in predicting decibel levels.
HA3: There is no correlation between historical data and decibel level prediction.
RO4: What is the role of employee safety training in reducing health risks?
HO4: Employee safety training plays a crucial role in preventing and reducing health risks.
HA4: Employee training does not play a role in preventing or reducing health risks.
RO5: Are there effects of high lead levels on employee blood?
HO5: There are no effects of high lead levels on employee blood.
HA5: There are severe effects of high lead levels on employee blood.
RO6: Are there differences in return on investment?
HO6: There are no differences in return on investment.
HA6: There are significant differences in return on investment.
In conclusion, occupational hazards are a potential threat to reduced workforce, health lawsuits, and increased mortality. Identifying effective preventive and management strategies is thus crucial in ensuring the lack of the incidences mentioned. This literature review has evaluated existing literature in regards to the Sun Coast issue with further development of research questions and hypotheses.
References
Anderson, S. P., & Oakman, J. (2016). Allied health professionals and work-related musculoskeletal disorders: a systematic review. Safety and health at work , 7 (4), 259-267. Scott, K. A., Fisher, G. G., Baró n, A. E., Tompa, E., Stallones, L., & DiGuiseppi, C. (2018). Same ‐ level fall injuries in US workplaces by age group, gender, and industry. American journal of industrial medicine , 61 (2), 111-119.
Driscoll, T. (2018). The 2016 global burden of disease arising from occupational exposures.
Duan, H., Wang, Y., Wang, Z., & Wang, T. (2019). O3C. 5 Reduced serum Clara cell protein (CC16) as an early pulmonary injury marker for fine particulate matter exposure in the occupational population.
Kjellstrom, T., Briggs, D., Freyberg, C., Lemke, B., Otto, M., & Hyatt, O. (2016). Heat, human performance, and occupational health: a key issue for the assessment of global climate change impacts. Annual review of public health , 37 , 97-112.
Mph, K. A. S., Tompa, E., Fisher, G. G., Barón, A. E., Mph, L. S., & Diguiseppi, C. (2018). Same-level fall injuries in US workplaces by age group, gender, and industry.
Ophir, N., Shai, A. B., Alkalay, Y., Israeli, S., Korenstein, R., Kramer, M. R., & Fireman, E. (2016). Artificial stone dust-induced functional and inflammatory abnormalities in exposed workers monitored quantitatively by biometrics. ERJ Open Research , 2 (1), 00086-2015.
Stimpfel, A. W., Brewer, C. S., & Kovner, C. T. (2015). Scheduling and shift work characteristics associated with risk for occupational injury in newly licensed registered nurses: an observational study. International journal of nursing studies , 52 (11), 1686-1693.
Tompa, E., Kalcevich, C., Foley, M., McLeod, C., Hogg ‐ Johnson, S., Cullen, K., ... & Irvin, E. (2016). A systematic literature review of the effectiveness of occupational health and safety regulatory enforcement. American journal of industrial medicine , 59 (11), 919-933.
