Evaluating the Efficacy of Safety Liaisons and Worker Training
Michele Ochsner, PhD Rutgers University, The State University of New Jersey
New Brunswick, NJ
Ph: 732-932-9245
Email: ochsner@smlr.rutgers.edu
Abstract:
An Evaluation of the Efficacy of Safety Liaisons and Worker Training among Vulnerable Workers in Residential Construction.
This project will test the transfer of an innovative and successful program (safety liaisons) from a traditional union setting to the more fluid, multi-faceted residential construction environment. It will respond to a series of questions—most importantly—can safety liaisons effectively improve knowledge, work practices and safety climate at residential construction worksites? The project builds on the partnership between Rutgers OTEC and New Labor, a community based center for immigrant workers. OTEC and New Labor will partner with LIUNA-NJ Local 55, a new union local chartered to organize residential construction in New Jersey. The major setting for this project is the densely populated Newark area where LIUNA-NJ Local 55 will be opening new offices.
Project objectives of this study include the following:
- Training and developing a core group of union and non-union (New Labor and LIUNA Local 55) Safety Liaisons who will conduct informal, safety audits of common hazards (e.g. falls risks, trenching, and dry cutting), communicate with supervisors and employers about hazardous conditions and serve as peer mentors on residential construction sites;
- Offering a 10 hour residential construction health and safety training program facilitated by the Safety Liaisons to an additional 200 co-workers recruited by Safety Liaisons; - Evaluating the individual and combined impact of Safety Liaisons and worker training on knowledge, attitudes, work practices, and worksite safety climate;
- Evaluating the dissemination of our curriculum, findings, and project methods.
