An evaluation of the SmartMark safety training for construction workers: Changes in safety knowledge and attitudes

Background: Construction workers experience high rates of traumatic occupational injury. This pilot project was conducted with union roofers and pipefitters to evaluate the effect of a safety training program (SmartMark) on safety knowledge, attitude, self-reported practice, climate, and workplace injury experience. KAP assessment focused on fall and electrical safety training modules given as part of an OSHA ten hour hazard awareness program. Methods: English-only and English-Spanish questionnaires were self-completed immediately prior to safety training. Telephone follow-up questionnaires were administered by bilingual interviewers three months later. Electrical knowledge was assessed for a subset of the original questions that distinguished high scorers from low scorers, determined using the D-test. The differences in pre-intervention and post-intervention responses were tested using the Wilcoxon signed rank test. Results: More roofers were born in Mexico [n=38 (26%) vs. 0 pipefitters] and have less than a high school education [n=16 (11%) vs. 0 pipefitters]. After exclusions, 175 workers responded before the training and 92 (53%) responded to the follow-up questionnaire [76 roofers, 16 pipefitters] . Fall safety knowledge improved for roofers and pipefitters [Roofers: mean increase=7%, p<0.011; Pipefitters: mean increase=35%, p<0.0001] Electrical safety knowledge only improved in roofers. [Mean increase=10%, p<0.0005]. Baseline safety attitudes were quite positive [for 6 questions, range of means: 3.1-3.9 on a 4 point scale]. Improvement was found for questions on the value of safety (fall p<0.0005; electrical p<0.004). Self-reported injuries were infrequent [6 (3%) pre-training]. Conclusion: Training measurably improved fall and electrical safety knowledge and some safety attitudes at three months.