Improving Occupational Safety in a Large Industrial Plant

Abstract

A replication of the injury prevention model developed by Sulzer-Azaroff and her colleagues was conducted in a large industrial plant to assess its generality and to measure the effect of targeting safety behaviors on accidents and lost time injuries. Approximately 225 employees in three departments participated. Safety behaviors were determined for each subunit and the dependent variable was the percent of safety achievements. A combined changing criterion and multiple baseline across groups design was used. The intervention consisted of feedback, reinforcement, and goal setting, with successively higher goals set for 4-5 week periods. Employees received weekly graphed feedback and praise, low-cost rewards following the first goal attainment and special rewards thereafter. Major celebrations followed 100% goal attainment. Safety performance improved steadily, generally matching or exceeding the increasing goals. Safety scores of 90%, 99% and 100% were achieved and accompanied by sigificant decreases in accidents and lost time injuries. Conservative estimates indicated a net annual savings of $55,500.