XXIX. An Exploratory Study of the Attitudes of Laboratory Workers Toward Accident Prevention JOE E. ALLEN, Project Coordinator, Greene County-City
of Soringfield Air Pollufion Control Authority, Springfield, Mo.
Appmaches to accident prevention have included many disciplines and engineering, education, and enforcement have all heen applied singly and in various combinations to oeeupat,ional settings in an attempt to minimize employee accidents. Many of these safety endeavors have been suecessful; obhers have failed. Unfortunately, it is not within the scope of this paper t o determine why program failures occur, but as one examines the accident research literature, it becomes apparent that employee behavior and attitudes toward safety can be one reason ( 1 ) . This study tried to explore the attitudes of clinics1 laboratory personnel and graduate chemistry students toward accident prevent,ion. Since the target groups' attitudes toward safety are a determining factor in the ultimate effectiveness of accident prevention programs, assessment of these attitudes should prove valuable when initiating a laboratory safety program which meets with individual a p proval, improves personnel participation, and thus has a better chance for success. A questionnaire was devised t o survey the lahoratory worker's attitude toward safety. Realizing the multitude of hazards affiliated with laboratory work, it wa5 also hoped that m y previauly nnrecognized needs or deficiencies could he discovered. Scientific laboratories present a rather unique situation in relation to the establishment of accident prevention programs since t,hese involve groups with different degrees of competence. One end of the scale is represented by teaching labor* tories where students are exposed to an rulfamiliar array of insbroments and equipment and are introduced to new proeedwes and materials which e m he hazardom At the other extreme are the professional and research laboratories, generally staffed by technicians who have aoquired a high degree of competence within their occnpational specialty. Since t.hese laboratories are by nature a locale for experimentation and development, it must he considered that a hazard potential exists. Professional and research laboratories also have routine procedures which can produce accidents. Although a procedure may he well understood, accidents can occtir when a procedure becomes so rout,ine that illdividudls relax their precautions.
The Influence of Human Behavior on Accident Occurrence Chapman has described the accident
phenomenon by saying "8ccidents don't, I~:tl~pzn: r l q .IIV r.nn.nl: I hcy xrr I - I I I ~ ~ I + n.hxr pr.
