EFFECTIVENESS OF EDUCATIONAL AND BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTIONS TO REDUCE ISOCYANATE EXPOSURE IN THE AUTO BODY REPAIR AND REFINISHING INDUSTRY: A CLUSTER-RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL

Purpose: To better control isocyanate exposure and prevent occupational asthma in the auto body repair and refinishing industry, improved exposure control strategies are needed. We conducted a cluster-randomized controlled trial in this industry. The main objectives were to assess the effectiveness of educational and behavioral interventions on worker knowledge, attitudes, and self-reported and observed behaviors with regard to isocyanate exposures. Methods: 103 workers from 14 auto body shops were selected and randomly assigned into the intervention and control groups. The intervention group received both educational training and behavioral feedback process throughout the first 6 months. Original surveys of exposure-related knowledge and attitudes and self-reported behavior were administered and actual behaviors were observed at baseline, 6, and 12 months. Data were analyzed using the Chi-square test and linear modeling, and statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. Results: Worker knowledge and attitudes improved significantly (p Conclusions: Educational training and behavioral feedback improve knowledge, attitudes, and self reported and observed behaviors in auto body workers exposed to isocyanates. Knowledge and attitude survey is a potentially useful tool to characterize auto body worker exposure risk and readiness for behavior change. In this setting training with behavioral feedback did add more benefit beyond the educational intervention. This study identified effective intervention components in improving worker safety knowledge, attitudes and self-reported behaviors in the auto body repair and refinishing industry. The findings can help increase use of safe work practices.