Long-term evaluation of a behavior-based method for improving safety performance: a meta-analysis of 73 interrupted time-series replications

摘要

Research and applications of behavioral principles have established behavior-based safety initiatives as potentially effective solutions to certain occupational health and safety challenges. The present study adds to the existing literature alongitudinal evaluation of an employee-driven behavior-based accident prevention initiative implemented in industrial settings. Up to 5 years of injury data from 73 companies drawn from a target population of 229 companies who implemented behavior-basedsafety, were examined. Comparisons of pre- to post-initiative incident levels across groups revealed a significant decrease in incidents following the behavior based safety implementation. Effect sizes were estimated from the average percentage reductionfrom baseline. The average reduction from baseline amounted to 26% in the first year increasing to 69% by the fifth. These findings are critically examined in terms of both internal and external validity. Future research will focus on differential effects of specific elements of the behavior-based safety initiative described herein.