Introduction: 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.
Keywords: Safety Data Sheets; construction; hazard communication; health communication; health literacy; occupational health; occupational safety; training.
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