Impacts of health and safety education: comparison of worker activities before and after training.
BACKGROUND
The International Chemical Workers Union Council (ICWUC) Center for Worker Health and Safety Education in Cincinnati, Ohio, trains workers to protect themselves from hazards due to chemical spills and other chemical exposures. We evaluated whether the ICWUC Hazardous Waste Worker Training Program affects the attitudes and post-training activities, of trained union workers.


METHODS
Detailed survey questionnaires were administered to 55 workers prior to and 14-18 months following training. Surveys queried trainees' interest and involvement in safety and health, use of information resources, training activities at their worksite, and their attempts and successes at making worksite improvements.


RESULTS
Post-training, the study population showed an increase in training of other workers, use of resources, attempts at improvements, success rates for those attempting change, and overall success at making improvements. Self-reported interest decreased, and self reported involvement in health and safety did not significantly change.


CONCLUSIONS
The study demonstrates that workers are more willing to attempt to change worksite conditions following training, and that their efficacy at making changes is substantially greater than before they were trained. The study confirms earlier work and strengthens these conclusions by using statistically tested comparisons of impact measures pre- and post-training.
Becker
Paul
P
Extension and Public Service, West Virginia University, West Virginia 26506-6031, USA. Paul.Becker@mail.wvu.edu
Morawetz
John
J
D000328:Adult; D002617:Chemical Industry; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006256:Hazardous Waste; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000379:methods*; D007750:Labor Unions; D008875:Middle Aged; D016272:Occupational Health; D009820:Ohio; D015397:Program Evaluation; D017751:Safety Management / Q000379:methods*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000078329:Workforce
D006256:Hazardous Waste