Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 6, 2026

Collection and Extraction of Occupational Air Samples for Analysis of Fungal DNA

Collection and Extraction of Occupational Air Samples for Analysis of Fungal DNA

Published on: May 2, 2018

Evaluating the readability and suitability of construction occupational safety and health materials designed for

Clayton Sinyai¹, Brenda MacArthur², Thomas Roccotagliata³

¹CPWR-The Center for Construction Research and Training, Silver Spring, Maryland.

American Journal of Industrial Medicine

|August 28, 2018

Abstract

Introduction:

Printed materials for training and hazard communication are an essential part of occupational safety and health programs, but must be understood by their intended audience.

Methods:

Researchers collected 103 safety training handouts, brochures, and Safety Data Sheets and scored them for readability and suitability using four standard health communication instruments: the SMOG test, the Flesch-Kincaid Reading Ease Assessment, the SAM (Suitability Assessment of Materials), and CCI (the CDC Clear Communication Index).

Results:

Some of the materials used unfamiliar and technical terms. The SAM and CCI checklists revealed several elements of design and layout known to facilitate communication and comprehension, but missing from most of the materials scored.

Conclusion:

Occupational safety and health professionals preparing curricula and handouts for distribution to workers should incorporate some form of readability and suitability assessment to help ensure their written materials are clear and comprehensible to all segments of their audience.

Keywords:

Safety Data Sheets construction hazard communication health communication health literacy occupational health occupational safety training

More Related Videos

Design and Construction of an Urban Runoff Research Facility

Design and Construction of an Urban Runoff Research Facility

Published on: August 8, 2014

An Assessment Method and Toolkit to Evaluate Keyboard Design on Smartphones

An Assessment Method and Toolkit to Evaluate Keyboard Design on Smartphones

Published on: October 5, 2020

Related Concept Videos

Design Example: Dimensioning of Concrete Masonry Construction

Design Example: Dimensioning of Concrete Masonry Construction

For the construction of a storeroom using concrete masonry units, it's essential to align the dimensions of the structure with the actual sizes of the blocks and the intended mortar joints. On the site in question, there's a stockpile of concrete masonry blocks with a nominal size of eight by eight by sixteen inches, which are to be used in the construction of the storeroom.
The site engineer has laid out a plan for the storeroom with external dimensions of twelve feet in length and...

Survey Safety

Survey Safety

Surveying near highways, rough terrain, or power lines involves significant risks. Working along highways is particularly dangerous and requires the use of warning signs and flagmen. It is safest to avoid working directly on roads and use offsets whenever possible. When highway work is unavoidable, it must follow all safety guidelines. Surveyors should wear bright clothing, such as orange reflective vests, to ensure visibility to motorists, coworkers, and hunters. In construction zones, wearing...

Group Design

Group Design

The most basic experimental design involves two groups: the experimental group and the control group. The two groups are designed to be the same except for one difference— experimental manipulation. The experimental group gets the experimental manipulation—that is, the treatment or variable being tested—and the control group does not. Since experimental manipulation is the only difference between the experimental and control groups, we can be sure that any differences between...

Household Wiring And Electrical Safety

Household Wiring And Electrical Safety

Companies that supply power to most modern households use three conductors, typically called a three-wire line. While one is neutral, the other two are both at 120 V but with opposite polarity, giving a voltage of 240 V between them. With a three-wire line, high-power appliances that require 240 V, such as electric stoves and clothes dryers, are linked between the two hot lines. 120 V appliances can be connected between the neutral and either of the hot lines. The neutral side, which is always...

Health Literacy

Health Literacy

Health literacy is an individual's or a community's capacity to comprehend, receive, read, and use relevant healthcare information and services. The World Health Organization (WHO, 2018) defines health literacy as the cognitive and social skills that determine the ability of individuals to gain access to, understand, and use information in ways that promote and maintain good health. As a result, the WHO helps individuals manage long-term health concerns, participate in preventative...

Factorial Design

Factorial Design

Factorial Analysis is an experimental design that applies Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) statistical procedures to examine a change in a dependent variable due to more than one independent variable, also known as factors. Changes in worker productivity can be reasoned, for example, to be influenced by salary and other conditions, such as skill level. One way to test this hypothesis is by categorizing salary into three levels (low, moderate, and high) and skills sets into two levels (entry level...

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

"I Don't Want to Be an Ostrich": Managing Mothers' Uncertainty during BRCA1/2 Genetic Counseling.

Journal of genetic counseling·2016

See all related articles