Back to Annual Meeting

Back to Annual Meeting

Abstract #150233

Lisa M. Brosseau, ScD¹, David L. Parker, MD, MPH², Kaizad Munshi, MS², and Yogindra Samant, MBBS². (1) School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, MMC 807, 420 Delaware St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, (612) 624-3143, brosseau@umn.edu, (2) HealthSource and Occupational Medicine, Park Nicollet Institute and Park Nicollet Health Services, 3800 Park Nicollet Blvd, St Louis Park, MN 55416

Tools for systematic evaluation of machine-related hazards are lacking for the metal fabrication industry, which has one of the highest rates of non-fatal injury in the U.S. Here we describe the development and pilot evaluation of machine safety scorecards for an intervention study in small metal fabrication businesses. We developed 23 machine safety scorecards with items for point of operation guarding, guarding of moving parts, labelling of safe work practices, operation of emergency controls, lockout/tagout disconnects, and environmental conditions. Three trained raters used the scorecards to assess 179 machines in four pilot businesses ranging in size from 18 to 97 employees. At least five machines in eight categories were evaluated by all three raters (total of 59 machines). The mean score in the four shops for all machines ranged from 69.4-74.5 on a 100-pt scale. The score for individual machine types ranged from 34-72. Hydraulic power presses received the highest scores (71-72) while full-revolution mechanical presses (hands in die) had the lowest scores (34-45). The kappa statistic for all items ranged from 0.4-0.75, demonstrating fair to good inter-rater reliability. Medium priority items were generally scored with the highest reliability (kappa>0.8). Full-revolution presses (hands in die) were the most difficult to assess (kappa ranged from 0.5 to 0.63). Scorecards can be used to reliably and consistently assess safety for a range of metal fabrication machines. Our pilot study results emphasize that training is important to the reliable application of these scorecards.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify methods for assessing machine safety in metal fabrication shops.
• Describe a method for evaluating inter-rater reliability of machine safety audits.

Keywords: Occupational Health, Injury Prevention

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.