USING SUPERVISORY FEEDBACK AND PUBLIC POSTING OF FEEDBACK TO INCREASE SAFETY IN A MANUFACTURING SETTING

Abstract

The effects of safety-related and behaviorally relevant verbal and posted feedback from supervisors in a manufacturing plant were evaluated using a multiple baseline across behaviors design. During baseline, plant safety averaged 35.3% for the behaviors and conditions on Checklist 1, and 35.0% for the behaviors and conditions on Checklist 2. When verbal supervisory feedback was implemented, the plant safety average increased to 50.6% for Checklist 1, and 75.7% for Checklist 2. When posted supervisory feedback was added to the intervention package, the plant safety average further increased to 58.0% for Checklist 1, and 83.3% for Checklist 2. These results are consistent with previous findings that performance feedback can increase critical work behaviors.Key words: health, injury prevention, behavior-based safety, feedback, accidents.