Md. Cooper et al., REDUCING ACCIDENTS USING GOAL-SETTING AND FEEDBACK - A FIELD-STUDY, Journal of occupational and organizational psychology, 67, 1994, pp. 219-240
Goal-setting and feedback techniques, previously used in a study to im
prove safety in the UK construction industry, were applied to a three-
shift production plant, employing approximately 540 people. Critical s
afety behaviours were identified using accident records and 'in-depth'
interviews. Checklists of critical behaviours were developed for each
of 14 departments in the factory. Forty-eight observers were trained
to observe their colleagues' safety performance and complete the check
lists. 'Baseline' measures were taken over a four- to six-week period.
Participative goal setting was used to set safety improvement 'goals'
for the critical behaviours, within each department. Performance feed
back was presented graphically in each department on a weekly basis. T
he results indicate significant improvements in safety performance, wi
th a corresponding reduction in the plant's accident rate. Paradoxical
ly, a statistical inverse relationship was not obtained between safety
performance and accident rates, although the importance of non-safety
variables in accident causation was demonstrated.