A behavioral approach: motivational/financial impact.

Details

• Corporate Authors:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Description:
  The motivational and financial impact of a behavioral approach to workplace safety practices was studied. Specified safety practices for a poultry processing facility were introduced under two different conditions, and activities were observed and scored for safety three times a week for 46 weeks. In the antecedent control condition, safety rules were explained, illustrated, and a new rule was posted three times a week, and rules were discussed at a weekly meeting. In the consequent condition, a feedback graph was explained, interpreted, and displayed, feedback was posted three times a week, and feedback was discussed at a weekly meeting. For evaluation of long term effects of feedback, the study was continued for 29 additional weeks. Assessment of the direct and indirect costs of workplace accidents also was attempted. Use of safe practices increased only slightly over baseline during the antecedent condition, but performances improved significantly in all groups during the consequent condition. The majority of employees reported that they preferred the consequent condition and particularly liked obtaining information following their performance. Safety performance was maintained for an extended period of time with thrice weekly feedback combined with a weekly meeting and posted safety rules. Performance declined and was variable with once a week feedback, but improved again when feedback was returned to thrice weekly. A methodology was devised for assessing the financial impact of workplace accidents but no conclusions about the cost savings of the behavioral safety program were drawn because the site did not experience serious safety problems. The author concludes that thrice weekly employee feedback is more effective in sustaining safe workplace practices and is better received by workers than rules and reminders without feedback. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Mental Health Occupational Health Safety Safety Management
• Keywords:
  NIOSH-Grant; Positive-feedback; Safety-programs; Psychological-effects
• Series:
  Grant Final Reports
• Publisher:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Final Grant Report
• Place as Subject:
  Georgia ; OSHA Region 4
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  OEP - Office of Extramural Programs
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1-61
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00115420
• Citation:
  Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, R01-OH-000777, 1980 Jun; :1-61
• Contact Point Address:
  Technology and Development LAb Georgia Inst of Technology Engr Experiment Station Atlanta, GA 30332
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1980
• Performing Organization:
  Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  19790101
• Source Full Name:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• End Date:
  19840630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:7dc847c09aedf140bc731323e8446b4703641ae07d6ad9e7b7238120dab30b8f7dcaa9b938d34d035f87873a0fe7fec262d5d13dcaf290925445e82b6de3b57d
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/246053/cdc_246053_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 168.02 KB ]