A mixed methods study of the training transfer and outcomes of safety training for low-skilled workers in construction

Safety training, especially when based on the active participation of trainees and aiming for transfer of learning into the workplace, is an important tool to prevent accidents and promote occupational safety, and may be particularly powerful among vulnerable groups, such as migrant workers. The present study, employing a mixed methods, before-and-after study design, evaluated a training programme aimed at promoting the learning and transfer of technical and non-technical safety skills to the construction site among migrant and native workers. We explored outcomes at four levels and found: (a) trainees’ positive reactions to the training itself; (b) improvements in technical safety skills, but the non-technical skills reduced significantly; (c) application of these skills in the workplace; and (d) changes in site safety climate and assertiveness. Results showed that trained workers found the training easy to translate into the workplace and that peers and supervisors were supportive of training transfer. Our study has important implications for how to evaluate safety training of migrant workers and how the context may facilitate training outcomes, e.g. ensuring that peers and supervisors encourage trained workers to transfer their learned skills and knowledge.