RESUMEN
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health researchers conducted a study to investigate the human response issues related to wearing a self-contained self-rescuer (SCSR). The goal was to develop training to educate miners on what they could expect from their units during an escape. Subjects included miners who had experience wearing SCSRs, manufacturers, and researchers. Results identified nine key areas of concern: (1) starting the unit, (2) unit heat, (3) induction of coughing, (4) unit taste, (5) difficulty in breathing while wearing the unit, (6) quality of the air supplied, (7) nose clips, (8) goggles, and (9) the behavior of the breathing bag. In addition, researchers reviewed the literature on human response under duress. This article describes the expectations training program, which comprises the findings of the SCSR study and what is known about the normal human response in an emergency. The authors present background on SCSRs and the SCSR switchover procedure mandated in the recent federal Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act of 2006, which provided the impetus for the expectations training.
Asunto(s)
Minas de Carbón/educación , Salud Laboral , Dispositivos de Protección Respiratoria , Diseño de Equipo , Humanos , National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, U.S. , Oxígeno/administración & dosificación , Estados UnidosRESUMEN
PROBLEM: The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health's [NIOSH] National Occupational Research Agenda (DHHS Publication No. 96-115) reports that approximately 50% of miners will experience hearing loss by age 50, compared to only 9% of the general population. The present investigation examines three antecedents believed to be associated with miner's use of hearing protection. METHOD: A posttest-delayed-posttest-control group field research design was employed to assess antecedents toward wearing hearing protection. RESULTS: Following the initial posttest, miners' attitudes and subjective norms were antecedents to intentions to wear hearing protection devices. Also, intentions toward wearing hearing protection predicted hearing protection behaviors. Approximately six weeks later, miners' attitudes and perceived behavioral control were each significant predictors of intentions to wear hearing protection and again, intentions were positively associated with hearing protection behaviors. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: Our results indicate that appeals to normative influences may be the most effective antecedent to employ when persuading coal miners to wear hearing protection. However, messages designed to impact attitudes and perceived behavioral control were also effective.
Asunto(s)
Minas de Carbón , Dispositivos de Protección de los Oídos/estadística & datos numéricos , Pérdida Auditiva Provocada por Ruido/prevención & control , Salud Laboral , Conducta de Reducción del Riesgo , Adulto , Actitud , Estudios Transversales , Humanos , Intención , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Enfermedades Profesionales/prevención & control , Pennsylvania , Administración de la Seguridad , West VirginiaRESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: This longitudinal field study was designed to encourage Appalachian coal miners in West Virginia and Pennsylvania to engage in hearing-protection behaviors. METHOD: Participants were mailed postcards that featured either a positive, negative, or neutral message on the outside of the postcard and a message encouraging hearing protection behaviors on the inside. The first posttest measurement of the effectiveness of the persuasive messages was conducted about a week after the postcards were mailed. The delayed posttest measurement was conducted six weeks later. RESULTS: Responses from 307 coal miners revealed that the positive or neutral messages generated significantly more self-reported hearing protection behaviors than the negative message. Identical results were obtained in a delayed posttest assessment of miners' self-reported hearing protection behaviors. The positive message was also more effective than either the neutral or negative message in preventing defensive mechanisms from emerging over time. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: Positive and neutral messages were convincingly more successful than negative messages in facilitating self-reported hearing protection behaviors among coal miners. Similarly, the positive messages kept defensive processes at bay.
Asunto(s)
Minas de Carbón , Pérdida Auditiva/prevención & control , Salud Laboral , Comunicación Persuasiva , Adulto , Recolección de Datos , Dispositivos de Protección de los Oídos , Promoción de la Salud/métodos , Humanos , Masculino , Motivación , Pennsylvania , Proyectos Piloto , West VirginiaRESUMEN
Developing positive attitudes and behaviors toward hearing loss prevention is more effective the earlier it begins. This study evaluated two training techniques for educating young children about noise and hearing loss. Third grade students from seven Pennsylvania elementary schools received either no intervention between the pre-tests and post-tests, a lecture about hearing loss, or an informational bookmark along with the same lecture. A 10 item quiz was administered as a pre-test and post-test to assess changes in knowledge. Scores on the quiz improved the most for the lecture intervention groups regardless of whether they received the bookmark. Adding the bookmark did not have a significant effect on knowledge gain. The findings reinforce the value of providing an educational foundation along with communication products.