This study conducted a questionnaire-based survey to 121 residents living close to a chemical facility in order to investigate the characteristics of perceptions of the physical hazards: fires and toxic-gas releases. The survey revealed that those who did not directly detect the hazards by the senses did not evacuate from their houses. Respondents in this study judged that perceived risks associated with toxic-gas release accidents are higher than those associated with fire accidents. The investigation also demonstrated that the presence of children in households has significant effects on perceived risks concerning toxic-gas release accidents. The results given in the present study provide a clue to understanding the characteristics of perception of risks associated with physical hazards-fire and toxic chemical release-, to improving risk/crisis communication strategies, and to designing mitigation management.

In hospitals, various measures are taken to prevent medical accidents. At the same time, attempting to foster a medical safety culture has not been quite effective. This study investigated a change in the safety awareness among hospital staff through two questionnaire surveys at an interval of four years. By analyzing the results with factor analysis and covariance structure analysis, factors necessary for fostering medical safety culture were extracted. In addition, through an interview survey, the hospital staff was enquired about their safety awareness by asking them to select the answers to the questionnaire. It was suggested that the fostering of a medical safety culture is important for “safety involvement of managers,” “safety education,” and “human relations in the workplace.” Moreover, as a result of open coding the interview results, several staffs in hospitals told about “efforts to prevent mistakes,” “maintenance and management of equipment and instruments,” “feedback of safety education,” and “relationship with boss.” The staff whose questionnaires had a good score indicated the importance of “safety involvement of the manager.” From the viewpoint of quantitative survey and qualitative investigation, it is suggested that “safety involvement of managers” is particularly important for fostering medical safety culture. Based on this, strong leadership at the top manager is considered indispensable for fostering medical safety culture.