Evaluating a training-for-action job health and safety program

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health and Safety
• Action Research Methodology
• Workplace Training Evaluation

Background:

• Worker training programs aim to improve workplace health and safety.
• Evaluating the effectiveness of such training is crucial for continuous improvement.
• Existing evaluation methods may not fully capture the practical impact of training on problem-solving.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe an action research evaluation method for a worker training program.
• To assess the program's effectiveness in enabling trainees to correct health and safety problems.
• To explore the advantages and limitations of the developed evaluation method.

Main Methods:

• Action research evaluation involving trainees from the same workplace.
• Utilizing a 'Risk Chart' tool for collective identification of problem areas.
• Employing an 'Action Plan' for prioritizing issues.
• Conducting follow-up interviews with trainees to gauge training impact.

Main Results:

• Preliminary results indicate the method's potential for practical application in workplace safety.
• The action research approach facilitated trainee engagement in problem-solving.
• Trainee interviews provided insights into the training's influence on their approach to safety issues.

Conclusions:

• The action research evaluation method offers a practical framework for assessing worker training effectiveness.
• The Risk Chart and Action Plan tools are valuable for collaborative problem identification and prioritization.
• Further research is needed to fully validate the method and explore its broader applicability.