| This quantitative study sought to examine the relationship between 1-hour classroom safety training and incidence of workplace injury. The research conducted sought to examine the following question: Are there measurable relationships between 1-hour classroom safety training, gender, job task, time in position, and incidence of injury? The study examined 233 occupational injury self-reports and associated worker training records for the calendar years 2005-2006. A statistically significant relationship was observed between 1-hour classroom safety training and workplace injury. A statistically significant relationship was not observed between the demographic variables of gender, job task, time in position, and incidence of injury. However, during further exploratory analysis, a difference was observed among worker data considering the demographic features under study, the presence of role-specific 1-hour classroom safety training, and the occurrence of workplace injury. Specifically, subsequent linear analysis of the data provided a final model of the generating class employee type and presence or absence of 1-hour classroom safety training. This model suggested that manufacturing associates and manufacturing technicians were the most likely to be injured without 1-hour safety training. The findings for this study also revealed a statistical significance between workplace injury and 1-hour classroom safety training. Of similar importance, this study supports the suggestion that role specific safety training may reduce the probability of injury and suggests training design solutions that may reduce injuries in the workplace. Recommendations for future research based on the outcomes of this study include psychological issues related to role-specific safety training, job task hazard analysis, safety training effectiveness, and studies with similar demographics conducted across industries. Gaps in peer-reviewed literature include the psychological influences of method of delivery for safety training, the competence and presentation style of the safety training instructor, the specificity of safety training for a given job task, and the most effective subject matter for safety training regarding front-line and entry-level employees. The professional safety trainer, human resource professional and I/O psychologist need to be cognizant of these identified gaps when designing safety and employee management systems. The observance and mitigation of these identified gaps will provide for an effective approach to safety training and enable positive safety management outcomes regarding the reduction of worker injury. |
