Evaluation of Safety Management and Leadership Training Using Mobile Technologies among Logging Supervisors

ABSTRACT

Background: Logging is recognized as one of the most dangerous industries in the United States (US), ranking among those with the highest occupational injury and fatality rates. Although logging operations in the Southeastern US have lower rates of injuries and fatalities compared to other regions of the US, due in part to the use of large machinery to fell timber as opposed to chainsaw felling, safety hazards continue to persist. The hazards present in the logging cut sites in which loggers operate may result in worker injury, illness, or fatality. Our objective was to develop, deliver, and evaluate a safety management and leadership training among logging contractors and supervisors using mobile tablets as a personal learning environment.

Methods: A safety leadership and management training vignette was developed based on previously collected focus group needs assessment data. A non-random sample of 31 male logging supervisors received the safety leadership and management training on a mobile tablet. Kirkpatrick Levels 1, 2, and 3 training effectiveness evaluations were performed.

Results: A statistically significant large effect size suggests safety knowledge was gained among training participants when comparing post-test scores to pre-test scores (Level-2). Participants rated their training experience favorably (Level-1), and applied knowledge gained from the training throughout their weekly work activities three months after training (Level-3).

Conclusion: Our findings suggest the utilization of mobile learning techniques can be an effective means to deliver safety management and leadership training content to logging contractors and supervisors. Future trainings should be linguistically and literacy-level appropriate, as well as comprehensive in nature, including meaningful and relevant content. Our observations support the use of mobile devices as just one component of a more comprehensive health and safety management program for workers in the logging industry.

KEYWORDS:

• Logging
• safety
• leadership
• management
• mobile learning

Author Contributions Statement

All authors attest that they have made substantial contributions to this manuscript including (1) the conception of the design of the study, (2) data acquisition, analysis and interpretation of work, (3) drafting the manuscript including revision for intellectual content, and (4), approving the submitted version of the manuscript. Authors agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to express their appreciation to the dairy owners and workers who were willing to participate in this safety training project.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health under grant number U01OH010815-03. The contents of this report are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services or NIOSH.