Safety Training Terminology a Problem to Many

Two new studies question whether Hispanic construction workers and those new to the industry understand the "jargon and acronyms" used in OSHA's 10-hour safety training course.

The studies were conducted by West Lafayette, IN-based Purdue University researchers and presented this week at NIOSH's National Occupational Injury Research Symposium.

One study involving student interns in the construction industry revealed that, even after OSHA training, study participants often did not understand terms such as PTO (power takeoff), lockout/tagout and bird caging – all of which are used in the training materials.

The second study examined Hispanic construction workers and their perceptions of construction safety, levels of safety training and familiarity with construction terms. Less than 20 percent of Hispanic workers understood any of the terms used in OSHA training, with some terms being understood by as little as 3 percent, researchers reported.

Why were studies needed? And why has no one noticed this before?

The answer is that it has been noticed. Through a quirk of human nature we are uncomfortable with opposing ideas, beliefs or behaviors.

We all have a variety of ways of dealing with the problem.

People who smoke know that it is bad for their health. So they look at the viewpoint that it helps control their weight which is a good thing.

"We present this training program with big words that are not understood because this training is required by our home office to protect the company."

See “Communication by Design” in the Box of Tools category. Cowboy Safety programs are geared to solving problems and achieving a mission. If a tactic does not achieve that goal it is replaced with something that will. Cowboy Safety takes worker literacy, culture and generation as an important part of controlling human and property losses.

Comments

[Martin Gerardo]

OSHA certified safety program is excellent. Implementing this program will help to make sure the workplace safety. Safety plans must be prepared before work begins, as this will avoid preventing accidents or disasters from occurring.