Occupational Safety:

Abstract

After a feedback condition, assigned (foreman-selected) and participative (worker-selected) goal-setting were examined to determine how they might augment the safety performance of 150 workers in 17 rooms of a paper mill. A statistical comparison of performance under assigned goal-setting, with that under baseline conditions of feedback-alone demonstrated a significant increase in the percentage of nonhazardous conditions but not of safe practices. Goal-setting by workers did not produce significant increases for either practices or conditions, and rates of injuries remained at the same reduced level as during feedback-alone. A visual analysis of a graphic plot of repeated performance measures suggested that trends established during feedback alone could account, in part, for the improvements. Possibly ceiling effects and the stated opinions of workers about various attributes of goal-setting may have been related to the outcomes.