Julie Tisdale-Pardi from the NIOSH Science Blog contacted us to bring attention to a recent blog post titled “The Effectiveness of Workplace Training“, which outlines some of the work they’ve been putting in recently to help companies justify the cost of workplace safety training.

From the article :

This report shows that investment in training results in positive changes in worker knowledge and skills, attitudes, and behavior. These results are encouraging given that a primary purpose for workplace training is to impart new skills/behaviors that are transferred into the workplace. However, this research revealed that training as a lone intervention has not been demonstrated to have an impact on reducing injuries or symptoms. The fact that the study did not show an effect of training on health outcomes was, in part, an indication that training alone is not sufficient to result in reduced morbidity, mortality, or injury. For training to be effective in preventing occupational injuries and illness, it also requires management commitment and investment and worker involvement in a comprehensive hazard identification and risk management program.

– Carol Merry Stephenson, Ph.D.

The article can be found here, and is an excellent read.  Thanks Julie!