The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #71157

Darren A. Linker, BS, Center for Ecogenetics and Environmental Health, University of Washington, 4225 Roosevelt Way NE #100, Seattle, WA 98105-6099, (206)616-7566, dlinker@u.washington.edu

In Washington state over $1.4 million dollars in liability claims have been paid due to injuries resulting from injury incidents in high school vocational shops over a 5-year period. Of these incidents the majority occurred in school wood shop settings. Although shop teachers are responsible for the safety of students in their classes, many lack sufficient occupational health and safety training. As many shop teachers come into the teaching field direct from industry, they have limited teaching experience and lack necessary materials to teach shop safety.

In an effort to reduce the number of incidents and help wood shop teachers with age-appropriate health and safety curriculum materials, a new electronic tool has been developed. This interactive web site allows students to learn about general shop safety and specific equipment safety. For teachers this resource pulls together a variety of resources into one location. Learn how this site was designed in cooperation with shop teachers and see how students, teachers, and vocational programs in your own state can use it.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the features of a shop safety web site that can be used to teach health and safety to students in a wood shop setting.
• Learn how to get access to this electronic resource from other states.
• Describe the factors that supported the development and use of this curriculum resource by shop teachers.

Keywords: Youth at Work, Safety Training Materials

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Employment