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Evaluating the readability and suitability of construction occupational safety and health materials designed for workers
Author(s) -
Sinyai Clayton,
MacArthur Brenda,
Roccotagliata Thomas
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/ajim.22901
Subject(s) - readability , medicine , occupational safety and health , comprehension , reading (process) , medical education , curriculum , test (biology) , applied psychology , computer science , psychology , pedagogy , pathology , paleontology , political science , law , biology , programming language
Printed materials for training and hazard communication are an essential part of occupational safety and health programs, but must be understood by their intended audience. Methods Researchers collected 103 safety training handouts, brochures, and Safety Data Sheets and scored them for readability and suitability using four standard health communication instruments: the SMOG test, the Flesch‐Kincaid Reading Ease Assessment, the SAM (Suitability Assessment of Materials), and CCI (the CDC Clear Communication Index). Results Some of the materials used unfamiliar and technical terms. The SAM and CCI checklists revealed several elements of design and layout known to facilitate communication and comprehension, but missing from most of the materials scored. Conclusion Occupational safety and health professionals preparing curricula and handouts for distribution to workers should incorporate some form of readability and suitability assessment to help ensure their written materials are clear and comprehensible to all segments of their audience.