Citation

Eckerman DA, Abrahamson K, Ammerman T, Fercho H, Rohlman DS, Anger WK. J. Saf. Res. 2004; 35(3): 317-327.

Affiliation

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004, U.S. National Safety Council, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jsr.2003.11.008

PMID

15288565

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Interactive computer-based safety instruction (CBI) was given to 73 workers in the food services department of an urban hospital. RESULTS: Post-test accuracy (95%) improved significantly (p < or = 0.0001) from the pre-test (74.5 %), d = 1.09. Generalization was confirmed by increased accuracy in answering questions, posed on-the-job, that required application of knowledge to the work setting (from 46% to 79%; p < 0.0001). Problematic kitchen conditions such as puddles increased slightly after training, but adjustment for increasing production/workload revealed an overall post-training decline in problems from 0.58 to 0.32 (p = 0.0001, d = 0.89). Work practice improvement was seen in 79% of workers (p < 0.0001, d = 1.00). Effect sizes (d) of knowledge, location, and work practice improvements are large and demonstrate that the benefits of CBI extend to the workplace floor. Further, the decrease between knowledge and behavior change (d = 0.09-0.2) is less than reported following other forms of training.