Evaluation of a safety training program in three food service companies

Problem: Outcome measures for safety training effectiveness research often do not include measures such as occupational injury experience. Effectiveness mediators also receive sparse attention. Method: A new safety training curriculum was delivered to workers in a stratified random sample of food service facilities across three companies. A similar group of facilities received usual training. We collected post-test measures of demographic variables, safety knowledge, perceptions of transfer of training climate, and workers' compensation claim data for one year after the initial training activities. Results: Knowledge test scores were apparently higher in the new-training units than in the usual-training units. Some demographic variables were inconsistently associated with these differences. Evidence for reduction of the injury rate associated with the new training was observed from two companies but only approached significance for one company. A second company revealed a similar but non-significant trend. Knowledge scores were not significantly associated with lower injury rates. Discussion: We found evidence that safety training increases knowledge and reduces injuries. We found almost no evidence of effects of training effectiveness mediators, including no relationship between safety knowledge and injury experience. Methodological issues related to conducting a large study may have influenced these results. Impact on Industry: Although safety training leads to greater knowledge and, in some cases, reduced occupational injuries, the influence of mediating variables remains to be fully explained.     

Using ultraviolet light to investigate petroleum-contaminated soil

Ultraviolet (UV) light can aid in the investigation of petroleum-contaminated soil and sediment. The visible fluorescence of many petroleum products under UV illumination often results in a striking contrast when compared with surrounding, uncontaminated media. This contrast can be used in a variety of applications, including delineating the extent of petroleum in excavations, locating seeps along shorelines, and selecting sample intervals in sediment cores. In another application, a field screening test using UV light combined with solvent extraction was developed to detect low levels of petroleum in soil. The test rapidly screens soil samples for the presence and relative concentration of petroleum hydrocarbons. The test was used to screen samples for laboratory analysis and identify residual petroleum product in boring samples.