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Citation |
Brosseau LM, Bejan A, Parker DL, Skan M, Xi M. J. Occup. Env. Hyg. 2014; 11(6): 354-365. |
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Affiliation |
University of Minnesota, School of Public Health , 420 Delaware St SE , Minneapolis , MN , 55455. |
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Copyright |
(Copyright © 2014, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group) |
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DOI |
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PMID |
24274827 |
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Abstract |
This paper describes the results of a pre-intervention safety assessment conducted in forty-nine auto collision repair businesses and owners' commitments to specific improvements. A 92-item standardized audit tool employed interviews, record reviews and observations to assess safety and health programs, training and workplace conditions. Owners were asked to improve at least one-third of incorrect, deficient or missing (not in compliance with regulations or not meeting best practice) items, of which a majority were critical or highly important for ensuring workplace safety. Two-thirds of all items were present, with the highest fraction related to electrical safety, machine safety and lockout/tagout. One-half of shops did not have written safety programs and had not conducted recent training. Many had deficiencies in respiratory protection programs and practices. Thirteen businesses with a current or past relationship with a safety consultant had a significantly higher fraction of correct items, in particular related to safety programs, up to date training, paint booth and mixing room conditions, electrical safety and respiratory protection. Owners selected an average of 58% of recommended improvements; they were most likely to select items related to employee Right-to-Know training, emergency exits, fire extinguishers and respiratory protection. They were least likely to say they would improve written safety programs, stop routine spraying outside the booth or provide adequate fire protection for spray areas outside the booth. These baseline results suggest that it may be possible to bring about workplace improvements using targeted assistance from occupational health and safety professionals. Language: en |