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Safety training 'reduces risks in hazardous roles'

31 January 2011

Those in highly hazardous jobs are most likely to engage in safe work behaviour if they undergo hands-on training.

Findings published in the Journal of Applied Psychology indicate interactive forms of education assist those in such roles in avoiding accidents.

In addition, the study, which looks at almost 40 years worth of research, claims those in less hazardous workplaces also benefit from training that is not so engaging.

A team of psychologists looked at how deadly mistakes can be avoided by analyzing the results of 113 studies and found interactive training is most effective in jobs where the likelihood of injury or death is highest.

"In a more interactive training environment, the trainees are faced more acutely with the possible dangers of their job," Dr Michael Burke of Tulane University noted, adding this may provide greater motivation to learn how to avoid them.

In related news, the Occupational Safety Adviser from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, Roger Bibbings, recently asserted not enough is being done to learn from incidents and accidents taking place in the workplace.