title: Effect of STOP technique on safety climate in a construction company.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Safety programs are a core part of safety management in workplaces that can reduce incidents and injuries. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of Safety Training Observation Program (STOP) technique as a behavior modification program on safety climate in a construction company.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study was carried out on workers of the Petrochemical Construction Company, western Iran. In order to improve safety climate, an unsafe behavior modification program entitled STOP was launched among workers of project during 12 months from April 2013 and April 2014. The STOP technique effectiveness in creating a positive safety climate was evaluated using the Safety Climate Assessment Toolkit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  76.78% of total behaviors were unsafe. 54.76% of total unsafe acts/ at-risk behaviors were related to the fall hazard. The most cause of unsafe behaviors was associated with habit and unavailability of safety equipment. After 12 month of continuous implementation the STOP technique, 55.8% of unsafe behaviors reduced among workers. The average score of safety climate evaluated using of the Toolkit, before and after the implementation of the STOP technique was 5.77 and 7.24, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The STOP technique can be considered as effective approach for eliminating at-risk behavior, reinforcing safe work practices, and creating a positive safety climate in order to reduction incidents/injuries.
authors.affiliation: Kurdistan Environmental Health Research Center, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran.
authors.forename: Ebrahim
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Darvishi
authors.affiliation: Kurdistan Environmental Health Research Center, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran. maleki43@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Afshin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maleki
authors.affiliation: Kurdistan Environmental Health Research Center, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran.
authors.forename: Saeed
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dehestaniathar
authors.affiliation: Kurdistan Environmental Health Research Center, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran.
authors.forename: Mehrzad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ebrahemzadih
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls; D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000328:Adult; D002617:Chemical Industry; D060389:Construction Industry; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D016272:Occupational Health; D015279:Organizational Culture; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012309:Risk-Taking; D017751:Safety Management / Q000379:methods*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017132:Workplace
keywords: Construction Company; Project; Safety Climate