A comparison of union and non-union construction workers responses based on the Don't Fall For It ladder safety intervention project

Falls are the leading cause of work-related injury and death among construction workers. A total of 917 construction workers in NJ and MN participated in a training intervention on ladder safety and fall prevention. A baseline assessment of knowledge, attitudes and self reported behavior was obtained from 477 Union construction workers in NJ and 440 non-union workers in MN. Following the preliminary survey workers were shown a 10 minute fall prevention DVD containing information on ladders safety including information on set up, ascending and descending, housekeeping, and inspection. Following the training workers were again surveyed on knowledge, attitude and self-reported behavior. Overall, even though the responses were different from pre to post training for both union and non-union workers, union workers consistently had more correct knowledge responses, attitudes towards safe work practices, and self-reported behaviors than their non-union counterparts. The results from this training intervention suggest that union workers were more knowledgeable than the non-union counterparts on fall prevention regulations, had more postive attitudes about safe work practices, and safer self-reported worksite behaviors than their non-union counterparts. Details of the baseline survey, training intervention and post-test will be presented.