title: Improving safety climate through a communication and recognition program for construction: a mixed methods study.
abstract: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a safety communication and recognition program (B-SAFE), designed to encourage improvement of physical working conditions and hazard reduction in construction.
  
  
  
  A matched pair cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted on eight worksites (four received the B-SAFE intervention, four served as control sites) for approximately five months per site. Pre- and post-exposure worker surveys were collected at all sites (N=615, pre-exposure response rate of 74%, post-exposure response rate of 88%). Multi-level mixed effect regression models evaluated the effect of B-SAFE on safety climate as assessed from surveys. Focus groups (N=6-8 workers/site) were conducted following data collection. Transcripts were coded and analyzed for thematic content using Atlas.ti (version 6).
  
  
  
  The mean safety climate score at intervention sites, as measured on a 0-50 point scale, increased 0.5 points (1%) between pre- and post-B-SAFE exposure, compared to control sites that decreased 0.8 points (1.6%). The intervention effect size was 1.64 (3.28%) (P-value=0.01) when adjusted for month the worker started on-site, total length of time on-site, as well as individual characteristics (trade, title, age, and race/ethnicity). At intervention sites, workers noted increased levels of safety awareness, communication, and teamwork compared to control sites.
  
  
  
  B-SAFE led to many positive changes, including an improvement in safety climate, awareness, teambuilding, and communication. B-SAFE was a simple intervention that engaged workers through effective communication infrastructures and had a significant, positive effect on worksite safety.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Movement, and Rehabilitation Sciences, Bouvé College of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, 301 Robinson Hall, 360 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA. j.dennerlein@northeastern.edu.
authors.forename: Emily H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Sparer
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Catalano
authors.forename: Robert F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Herrick
authors.forename: Jack T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Dennerlein
mesh_terms: D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000328:Adult; D003142:Communication; D060389:Construction Industry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012201:Reward; D017751:Safety Management / Q000379:methods*; D017132:Workplace