Judith A. Clarke

A systematic review of the effectiveness of occupational health and safety training

OBJECTIVES Training is regarded as an important component of occupational health and safety (OHS) programs. This paper primarily addresses whether OHS training has a beneficial effect on workers. The paper also examines whether higher engagement OHS training has a greater effect than lower engagement training. METHODS Ten bibliographic databases were searched for pre-post randomized trial studies published in journals between 1996 and November 2007. Training interventions were included if they were delivered to workers and were concerned with primary prevention of occupational illness or injury. The methodological quality of each relevant study was assessed and data was extracted. The impacts of OHS training in each study were summarized by calculating the standardized mean differences. The strength of the evidence on trainings effectiveness was assessed for (i) knowledge, (ii) attitudes and beliefs, (iIi) behaviors, and (iv) health using the US Centers for Disease Control and Preventions Guide to Community Preventive Services, a qualitative evidence synthesis method. RESULTS Twenty-two studies met the relevance criteria of the review. They involved a variety of study populations, occupational hazards, and types of training. Strong evidence was found for the effectiveness of training on worker OHS behaviors, but insufficient evidence was found of its effectiveness on health (ie, symptoms, injuries, illnesses). CONCLUSIONS The review team recommends that workplaces continue to deliver OHS training to employees because training positively affects worker practices. However, large impacts of training on health cannot be expected, based on research evidence.

Overview of Injury on New Zealand Farms

This article provides a descriptive overview of the mortality and morbidity associated with injuries on farms in New Zealand. The study utilized New Zealand’s comprehensive national injury databases. All injuries which occurred on a farm and resulted in death, hospitalization, or a compensated insurance claim were included. There were 274 injury deaths on farms between 1986 and 1991 (an average of 46 per year), 1,377 injury hospitalizations in 1989, and 15,287 compensated claims for injury in the 1989/1990 financial year. The most significant injury events on farms were incidents involving agricultural machinery (in particular tractors), motorcycle/ATV crashes, and horses. Tractors were particularly significant in terms of fatal injury while the most common events resulting in hospitalization were those involving horses and motorcycles/ATVs. The overall rate of on-farm injury per 1,000 person-years was 0.09 for fatalities (95% CI: 0.08 to 0.10), 2.7 for hospitalizations (95% CI: 2.6 to 2.9), and 28.5 for compensated insurance claims (95% CI: 28.0 to 29.1). The injury rates in males were markedly higher than those in females and the fatality rate in males increased during later life (40 years of age and over).

Tractor Fatalities and Injury on New Zealand Farms

The aim of the research was to describe the epidemiology of tractor incidents on New Zealand farms which resulted in death or hospital inpatient treatment. Fatalities were identified from three independent data files for the period 1986-1991. Hospitalizations were selected from national hospital inpatient files for the period 1980-1989. There were 51 deaths, an average of 8.5 per year, or an estimated rate of 1 per 100,000 rural residents per year. Only 47% of the cases were recorded on all three databases. Those in the 60+ age group had the highest number and rates of fatal injury. There were 1,151 incidents requiring inpatient treatment, an average of 115 per year, or an estimated rate of 22 per 100,000 rural residents per year. Males in the 15 to 19 age group had the highest gender specific rate. At least 23% of the fatalities and 45% of the non-fatal injuries occurred to persons whose primary occupation was other than farming. When specific events were examined as a proportion of all events, there had been a significant decline in non fatal overturns. Our analyses also show that this was not due to other types of crash increasing over time. While overturns were an important cause of fatalities and non-fatal injury, the non-fatal injury analyses highlights the fact that the majority of tractor incidents did not appear to involve overturns. Efforts to reduce mortality and morbidity associated with tractors would be greatly facilitated by: an enhancement of national surveillance systems; in-depth studies into specific classes of events with priority being given to ?overturns?; and consideration of the elderly, children, and those whose primary occupation is not related to farming. In addition, existing and proposed legislation needs to be reviewed to ensure that it comprehensively addresses protection for all tractor users and roll over protection.

Barriers to the reduction of domestic hot water temperatures

Abstract Studies have shown that domestic hot water temperatures in New Zealand homes are dangerously high, leading to an increased risk of sustaining a serious burn when contact with the hot water is made. The reduction of household hot water temperatures is a key preventive measure for reducing the risk of injury. This study examined barriers which potentially hinder or prevent the householder from reducing their household hot water temperature. Fifty-eight householders were interviewed regarding hot water usage, knowledge of their hot water system, and attitudes and beliefs about hot water. Concurrent with this interview, a registered plumber performed an assessment of the household hot water system looking especially for the existence of any technological or mechanical barriers which existed. Inadequate thermostat technology and economic factors appeared to be the major barriers to the achievement of a safe and adequate supply of domestic hot water. Compounding this, many people held beliefs about hot water and safety which limited the likelihood of meaningful behaviour change. Ensuring prevention is practical and affordable for consumers emerged as the most important recommendation.