Self-control skills as applied to accupational safety

Abstract

We present an applied intervention model to improve workers skills in self control that contribute to industrial safety based on self management and self protective behaviors. This model had four steps a) risk behavior in self identification;  b) self observation of at least one such conducts; c) intervention based on applied behavior analysis; d) target.

In an exploratory study at a copper foundry plant, we found that 81% of workers, as an average, were capable of fulfilling a self contract. This experience was positively value by the participants and their training in self control skills was applied in other issues, such as excessive food and alcohol consumption. An external validity of this model was attained: a drop in work accident rates, and an improved position in national ranking relative to equal industrial settings. For the first time the plant reached over a million men-hours work without work accidents.