BACKGROUND: Residential and commercial painters disturb lead paint on older buildings, exposing workers and potentially building occupants. An intervention strategy was evaluated for improving lead safety in these small businesses. METHODS: Twenty-one painting contractors received 32 hr of training, technical assistance, and a safety manual; their employees attended an 8-hr training session. Impact evaluation involved interviewing participants at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and 1 year later, and conducting contractor focus groups post-intervention. RESULTS: Employers met 15 of 27 target objectives and workers met 3 of 12; however, even in areas where objectives were not met, both groups made improvements. CONCLUSIONS: Motivated contractors and their employees can make moderate improvements in lead-safe practices if provided with extensive training and technical assistance. Changes that are costly, unfamiliar, or perceived as a threat to work quality are more difficult to implement.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: Residential and commercial painters disturb lead paint on older buildings, exposing workers and potentially building occupants. An intervention strategy was evaluated for improving lead safety in these small businesses. METHODS: Twenty-one painting contractors received 32 hr of training, technical assistance, and a safety manual; their employees attended an 8-hr training session. Impact evaluation involved interviewing participants at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and 1 year later, and conducting contractor focus groups post-intervention. RESULTS: Employers met 15 of 27 target objectives and workers met 3 of 12; however, even in areas where objectives were not met, both groups made improvements. CONCLUSIONS: Motivated contractors and their employees can make moderate improvements in lead-safe practices if provided with extensive training and technical assistance. Changes that are costly, unfamiliar, or perceived as a threat to work quality are more difficult to implement.
Authors: Michael J Burke; Sue Ann Sarpy; Kristin Smith-Crowe; Suzanne Chan-Serafin; Rommel O Salvador; Gazi Islam Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2005-12-27 Impact factor: 9.308