Teaching older kids about workplace safety pays dividends, study shows

Denver — Young people who participated in an introductory workplace safety and health training session significantly boosted their knowledge of and attitude toward the topic, results of a recent study show.

As part of a pilot project with 283 youth in Colorado, researchers conducted the study to gauge the effectiveness of Safety Matters – a free, hour-long educational module developed by NIOSH and the American Industrial Hygiene Association for students in grades seven through 12 and young adults. Trained volunteers conducted the sessions and collected pre- and post-test evaluation forms.

Results show increases in knowledge scores, to 85.3% correct from 62%, and importance of workplace safety and health (attitude) scores, to 4.8 from 4.5 on a five-point scale. The scores improved across all ages, sexes, races, ethnicities and previous work experience groups.

The training module – made up of an instructor’s guide, a PowerPoint presentation and two short videos – is a “promising, community-based model” for young people who might never receive training on the topic, the study’s abstract states. It adds that the module provides information on workplace safety and health careers as well as a basis on which future, job-specific safety training can be built.

The study was published online in the National Safety Council’s Journal of Safety Research.