1. Prevention of epoxy eczema at a wind turbine factory Dep. Of Occupational Medicine, Herning, Denmark Dep. Of Occupational and Enviromental Dermatology, Malmø Sweden Changes in safety climate and accidents in 2 identical manufactoring plants. Kurt Rasmussen, Kent Nielsen et al. Dep. of occupational medicine, Herning Hospital Herning, Denmark

5. Aim and design Aim: Aim: 1) To study the level of safety climate and accident occurrence at two twin plants. 1) To study the level of safety climate and accident occurrence at two twin plants. 2) To evaluate the effect on safety climate and accident occurence, of knowledge transfer from Plant A to B, as a natural intervention. 2) To evaluate the effect on safety climate and accident occurence, of knowledge transfer from Plant A to B, as a natural intervention. Design: A longitudinal study during 1 year, with comparison between twin plants. Design: A longitudinal study during 1 year, with comparison between twin plants.

6. Natural intervention Knowledge transfer from plant A B: New safety instruction New safety instruction Education and learning Education and learning Safety audits – walk throughs Safety audits – walk throughs Self-governing groups: 8 persons per group, one responsible for work environment. Self-governing groups: 8 persons per group, one responsible for work environment.

7. Questionnaire data Plant A N rate of particip. Plant A N rate of particip. t 0 338 88% t 0 338 88% t 1 443 78% t 1 443 78% both rounds 290 67% both rounds 290 67% Plant B Plant B t 0 364 94% t 0 364 94% t 1 293 86% t 1 293 86% both rounds 227 70% both rounds 227 70%

8. results Leadership factors Leadership factors General Leadership t 0 t 1 dif.A-B,t 0 dif.A-B, t 1 General Leadership t 0 t 1 dif.A-B,t 0 dif.A-B, t 1 plant A………………………………………………… 3.68 3.60 0.23** 0.13(*) plant A………………………………………………… 3.68 3.60 0.23** 0.13(*) plant B…………………………………………………. 3.45 3.47 - - plant B…………………………………………………. 3.45 3.47 - - Safety leadership Safety leadership plant A……………………………………………………3.68 3.56 0.26* -0.01 plant A……………………………………………………3.68 3.56 0.26* -0.01 plant B……………………………………………………3.42 3.57 - - plant B……………………………………………………3.42 3.57 - - Organisational factors Organisational factors safety instructions safety instructions plant A………………………………………………..3.79 3.78 -0.02 -0.08 plant A………………………………………………..3.79 3.78 -0.02 -0.08 plant B…………………………………………………3.81 3.86 - - plant B…………………………………………………3.81 3.86 - -

9. results Worker factors Worker factors convenience violations t 0 t 1 dif.A-B,t 0 dif. A-B,t 1 convenience violations t 0 t 1 dif.A-B,t 0 dif. A-B,t 1 plant A…………………………………… 3.30 3.17 0.15(*) -0.06 plant A…………………………………… 3.30 3.17 0.15(*) -0.06 plant B ……………………………………..3.15 3.23 - - plant B ……………………………………..3.15 3.23 - - safety oversights safety oversights plant A……………………………………4.00 3.92 0.18** 0.2 plant A……………………………………4.00 3.92 0.18** 0.2 plant B……………………………………3.82 3.90 - - plant B……………………………………3.82 3.90 - - commitment to workplace commitment to workplace plant A…………………………………..3.61 3.46 0.35** 0.31** plant A…………………………………..3.61 3.46 0.35** 0.31** plant B………………………………… 3.26 3.16 - - plant B………………………………… 3.26 3.16 - -

10. Mean number of self-reported accidents per participant / plant / year

11. Company registered LTA`s per million working hours

12. Work injuries per mill. work hours ( companies own registration system, LTI`s )

13. Summary and results The 2 plants had many commen conditions, but differences in safety climate scores and accident- rates at T 0. The 2 plants had many commen conditions, but differences in safety climate scores and accident- rates at T 0. After one year there was a convergence in safety climate scores. After one year there was a convergence in safety climate scores. Plant B reduced self-reported accidents by 77% and company-LTA`s by 52%. Plant B reduced self-reported accidents by 77% and company-LTA`s by 52%.

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

15. Thank you for your attention heckra@ringamt.dk heckra@ringamt.dk