Prevention of epoxy eczema at a wind turbine factory Dep. Of Occupational Medicine, Herning, Denmark Dep. Of Occupational and Enviromental Dermatology,

Changes in safety climate and accidents in 2 identical manufactoring plants.

Kurt Rasmussen , Kent Nielsen et al.Dep. of occupational medicine, Herning HospitalHerning, Denmark

Aim and designAim and design Aim:Aim: 1) To study the level of safety climate and 1) To study the level of safety climate and

accident occurrence at two ”twin” plants.accident occurrence at two ”twin” plants. 2) To evaluate the effect on safety climate 2) To evaluate the effect on safety climate

and accident occurence, of knowledge transfer and accident occurence, of knowledge transfer from Plant A to B, as a ”natural” intervention. from Plant A to B, as a ”natural” intervention.

Design: Design: A longitudinal study during 1 year, with A longitudinal study during 1 year, with comparison between twin plants.comparison between twin plants.

Natural interventionNatural intervention

Knowledge transfer from plant A B: Knowledge transfer from plant A B:

New safety instructionNew safety instruction Education and learningEducation and learning Safety audits – walk throughsSafety audits – walk throughs Self-governing groups: Self-governing groups: 8 persons per group, 8 persons per group,

one responsible for work environment.one responsible for work environment.

Questionnaire dataQuestionnaire data

Plant A N rate of particip.Plant A N rate of particip. tt00 338 88% 338 88% tt11 443 78% 443 78% both rounds 290 67%both rounds 290 67%

Plant B Plant B tt0 0 364 94% 364 94% tt11 293 86% 293 86% both rounds 227 70% both rounds 227 70%

resultsresults Leadership factorsLeadership factors General Leadership tGeneral Leadership t00 t t11 dif.A-B,t dif.A-B,t00 dif.A-B, t dif.A-B, t11

plant A………………………………………………… 3.68 3.60 plant A………………………………………………… 3.68 3.60 0.23** 0.13(*)0.23** 0.13(*)

plant B…………………………………………………. 3.45 3.47 - - plant B…………………………………………………. 3.45 3.47 - -

Safety leadershipSafety leadership plant A……………………………………………………3.68 plant A……………………………………………………3.68 3.56 3.56 0.26* -0.010.26* -0.01

plant B……………………………………………………3.42 3.57 - -plant B……………………………………………………3.42 3.57 - -

Organisational factorsOrganisational factors safety instructionssafety instructions

plant A………………………………………………..3.79 3.78 plant A………………………………………………..3.79 3.78 -0.02 -0.08-0.02 -0.08

plant B…………………………………………………3.81 3.86 - -plant B…………………………………………………3.81 3.86 - -

resultsresults Worker factorsWorker factors convenience violations tconvenience violations t00 t t11 dif.A-B,t dif.A-B,t0 0 dif. A-B,t dif. A-B,t11

plant A…………………………………… 3.30 3.17 plant A…………………………………… 3.30 3.17 0.15(*) -0.060.15(*) -0.06

plant B ……………………………………..3.15 3.23 - - plant B ……………………………………..3.15 3.23 - -

safety oversightssafety oversights plant A……………………………………4.00 3.92 plant A……………………………………4.00 3.92 0.18** 0.20.18** 0.2

plant B……………………………………3.82 3.90 - -plant B……………………………………3.82 3.90 - -

commitment to workplacecommitment to workplace

plant A…………………………………..3.61 3.46 plant A…………………………………..3.61 3.46 0.35** 0.31**0.35** 0.31**

plant B………………………………… 3.26 3.16 - - plant B………………………………… 3.26 3.16 - -

Mean number of self-reported Mean number of self-reported accidents per participant / plant / accidents per participant / plant /

yearyear

1.191.10

2.29

0.91

0.00

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

2.50

2003 2004

Plant A Plant B

Company registered LTA`s per Company registered LTA`s per million working hoursmillion working hours

5250

47

26 26

74

6561

51

14

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

T-1 T-½ T0 T½ T1

Plant A Plant B

Summary and resultsSummary and results

The 2 plants had many commenThe 2 plants had many commen conditions, but conditions, but differences in safety climate scores and accident-differences in safety climate scores and accident-rates at Trates at T0 . 0 .

After one year there was a convergence in safety After one year there was a convergence in safety climate scores.climate scores.

Plant B reduced self-reported accidents by 77% Plant B reduced self-reported accidents by 77% and company-LTA`s by 52%.and company-LTA`s by 52%.

ConclusionsConclusions

This study supports a relationship This study supports a relationship between improvements in a between improvements in a questionnaire measures of safety questionnaire measures of safety climate and a reduction in rates of climate and a reduction in rates of self-reported accidents as well as self-reported accidents as well as company registered accidents company registered accidents (LTA`s)(LTA`s)

Thank you for your attentionThank you for your attention

[email protected]@ringamt.dk