[Effectiveness trial for prevention of occupational injuries in the wood processing industry]

Training is a key tool to improve prevention and safety management at the workplace. Few studies have aimed at assessing quality of training and its outcomes.

This paper describes the rationale, design, content, and evaluation of an ongoing randomized controlled trial aimed at assessing the effectiveness of a training programme designed to reduce the risk of occupational injuries among employees of the wood processing industry.

Well designed, targeted training programmes could represent a feasible means of reducing work injuries by improving employers' behaviour and attitudes towards safety; nevertheless, these kinds of interventions have a considerable impact both in terms of human resources and in terms of cost. For these reasons, assessment of effectiveness and knowledge-sharing should be considered as essential phases of injury prevention programmes.