Background
Subject | Scientific mental model | Employee mental model |
---|---|---|
Properties | PM is usually invisible | It is unclear whether PM is visible or not |
It is not possible to smell PM | It may be possible to smell PM | |
Black carbon, metals, silicium and rubber are important constituents of PM | – | |
Particle size is most often defined in terms of PM10, PM2.5 and PM0.1 | – | |
PM mostly consists of solid particles, but may also include liquid particles or semi-volatile compounds. | – | |
Sources | – | Sand and dirt roads cause PM |
There are natural sources of PM, such as sea salt, which don’t cause adverse health effects. | – | |
Effects | – | PM exposure may cause headaches and nausea |
PM exposure is associated with cardiovascular disease, even more so than with respiratory disease | (Almost) no mention of cardiovascular disease; only attention for respiratory diseases | |
PM causes about 800,000 annual premature deaths worldwide. | – | |
PM is also an environmental risk (for example due to acid rain or nutrient depletion). | – | |
Prevention | There is an occupational hygiene strategy that involves a four-level hierarchical model, which should be followed to reduce PM exposure. | There are a large number of prevention methods (sprinkling water, respirators, …) that could be used to reduce PM exposure. |
Education and empowerment | A viable education system improves safety culture and willingness to protect against (exposure) risks. | The current education system could be improved; it is often too ritualistic and repetitive, and not everyone is involved with the process. |
Methods
Materials
Procedure
Participants
# | Area of work | Level of education | Region | Age group | Gender |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Logistics | High | North Holland | 60–64 | Male |
2 | Logistics | Low | Gelderland | 65+ | Male |
3 | Construction | Medium | Utrecht | 30–34 | Male |
4 | Construction | Medium | Gelderland | 60–64 | Male |
5 | Agriculture | Low | Overijssel | 55–59 | Female |
6 | Construction | Medium | South Holland | 35–39 | Male |
Analyses and follow-up
Suggested change: | aMultiple experts suggest? | Disagreement among experts? | Led to change in folder? |
---|---|---|---|
CONTENT | |||
Clarify that not all types of PM may cause cancer | N | N | Y |
Smoking is a source of PM, but should not be in the folder, since it is not work-related | Y | N | Y |
Exhaust gases are a source of PM, but should not be in the folder, since it is not work-related | N | N | N |
Legal exposure limits should be included | N | Y | N |
Mention that not only peak exposure, but also overall exposure is important | N | N | Y |
Maintain the calculation that shows ‘3000 people dying as a result of PM’, but make sure it does not cause confusion | Y | N | Y |
LITERACY DEMAND | |||
Use simple language and remove complicated idioms | Y | N | Y |
Use nuanced and objective language | Y | N | Y |
GRAPHICS | |||
Remove the ‘X in 100’ array | N | Y | N |
LAYOUT | |||
The order of the folder should start with the measures against PM | N | N | N |
Have an introduction section and a conclusion | N | N | N |
LEARNING STIMULATION | |||
Clarify that there are various types of respirators, not all of which are effective against PM | N | N | Y |
‘Process automatization’ should be mentioned as a measure against PM | N | N | N |
‘Vacuum cleaning instead of sweeping or using compressed air’ should be included as a measure against PM | N | N | Y |
Sweeping the floor should be mentioned as a cause of PM | N | N | N |
Provide a reference to a common VEM system (Video Exposure Monitoring) at the back of the folderb | N | N | Y |
Remake the folder into a collection of separate elements which can be combined by a professional, to be more tethered to a specific target group | N | N | N |
CULTURE | |||
Show types of jobs with high PM exposure, instead of just tasks | N | N | N |
Criteria | Folder | Presentation | Movie | E-learning | Game | Assignment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Appropriateness for target audience (‘Students’) | + | – | + | – | – | + |
Ease of use | + | + | + | – | – | – |
Costs | + | + | – | – | – | – |
Appropriateness for the learning goals (‘Teaching’) | – | – | + | + | – | + |
Interactivity | – | + | – | – | + | + |
Organizational issues for implementation | + | + | + | – | – | – |
Novelty | – | – | – | + | + | + |
Speed of development & revision | + | + | – | + | – | + |
Results
Recommendations from expert interviews
Recommendations from worker interviews
Content
For how long can you use a respirator? It is never stated on the thing itself. I always wait until it looks dirty, [ … ] but then I am too late already. [worker 3]
Literacy demand
Graphics
One of my colleagues died in 2014, lung cancer due to asbestos.[ … ] If you look at the hospital bed, you are reminded of that thing [company name] gave us [because it shows a dying man due to pneumoconiosis]. [ … ] I do not like what they are doing; they should not do that. [ … ] You should not see someone die like that. I find this much more appealing and a better explanation. [worker 4]
Layout
Learning stimulation
It is just fine. No more is needed. [ … ] You can give a lot more information, if you are sawing than you need to do this, but [everything you need] is in here. [Company name] gives way too much information, that is their down side. [worker 4]
Culture
Will it also be in other languages? Because there are always a lot of Polish guys working there. [worker 1]
Foreigners, they do not know anything about this. So you should translate this into ten different languages. [worker 2]