Citation

Moonen IPP, van der Rijt GAJ, van Koppen KFCJ, van der Gulden JWJ. Safety Sci. 1995; 21(2): 131-144.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1995, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

An information campaign, organised in the Netherlands to foster safer working conditions for those who find themselves exposed to carcinogenic substances, has been evaluated. Posters, leaflets, and booklets had been distributed to those who are liable to run a risk while at work, managers as well as workmen. To assess the impact and the effects of the campaign, a panel study was carried out among those employees who actually handle carcinogenic substances. A random sample of this target group (N = 548) was interviewed by telephone a short while before the start of the campaign (pretest) and then again three months after its inception (posttest). In addition, a similar sample from the target group (N = 550) was approached for a posttest only, to control for potential measurement effects. The reach and respondents' opinion of the campaign materials, was charted as well. By means of covariance and loglinear analysis an inventory was made of the resulting changes in knowledge, attitude, behavioural intentions and interpersonal communication concerning work involving carcinogens.It was found that people who had the opportunity to study the information ended up being more alive to the risks of working with carcinogenic substances and were better able to take preventive action. A further positive effect is that the campaign appears to have encouraged people to communicate on the subject with colleagues, with management and with others (including the occupational health officer).