The use of actor-based immersive health and safety inductions: Lessons from the Thames Tideway Tunnel megaproject

Eleanor J Harvey; James A Pinder; Roger A Haslam; Andrew R J Dainty; Alistair G Gibb

doi:10.1016/j.apergo.2019.102955

The use of actor-based immersive health and safety inductions: Lessons from the Thames Tideway Tunnel megaproject

Appl Ergon. 2020 Jan:82:102955. doi: 10.1016/j.apergo.2019.102955. Epub 2019 Oct 9.

Authors

Eleanor J Harvey¹, James A Pinder², Roger A Haslam³, Andrew R J Dainty⁴, Alistair G Gibb⁵

Affiliations

¹ School of Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 3TU, UK. Electronic address: E.J.Harvey@lboro.ac.uk.
² School of Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 3TU, UK. Electronic address: J.A.Pinder@lboro.ac.uk.
³ School of Design and Creative Arts, Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 3TU, UK. Electronic address: R.A.Haslam@lboro.ac.uk.
⁴ School of Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 3TU, UK. Electronic address: A.R.J.Dainty@lboro.ac.uk.
⁵ School of Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 3TU, UK. Electronic address: A.G.Gibb@lboro.ac.uk.

PMID: 31605829
DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2019.102955

Abstract

Health and safety inductions are ubiquitous in construction but tend to be poorly designed and suffer low levels of worker engagement. In this paper we report on the evaluation of an innovative, full day, actor-based health and safety induction called EPIC, currently being used on London's Thames Tideway Tunnel megaproject. As of March 2019, more than 14,000 individuals had attended EPIC. This evaluation examines the impact of EPIC from the perspective of participants and other stakeholders, and considers the utility of actor-based immersive health and safety inductions for use more widely, in both construction and other sectors. Using a mixed-method, longitudinal approach to data collection, EPIC is evaluated against Kirkpatrick's (1959) 'four levels' framework of reactions, learning, behaviour change and results. This paper discusses factors which support and hinder actor-based inductions, and the challenges involved in assessing the impact of inductions on subsequent behaviour and health and safety outcomes.

Keywords: Construction; Health and safety; Onboarding; Sociotechnical systems; Training evaluation.

MeSH terms

Adult
Construction Industry*
Female
Humans
Learning
London
Male
Occupational Diseases / prevention & control
Occupational Health / education*
Occupational Injuries / prevention & control
Organizational Culture