Promoting the quarry workers’ hazard identification through formal and informal safety training

Abstract Background The surface mining industry has one of the highest fatality rates among private industries in the United States (US). Despite recent decreases in the fatality rates of comparable industries, the fatality rate in the surface mining industry has increased. Meanwhile, a lack of safety research in surface mining has hindered efforts to improve safety strategies in the surface mining workplace. Method This study examined quarry workers’ hazard identification skills by conducting a case study of a surface mining facility in the Mid-Atlantic region of the US. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight quarry workers who were employed at the mine facility. In addition to the interviews, data were collected through field notes, notes from an expert meeting with safety managers, and site photographs to explore quarry workers’ safety behaviors in the workplace. Results The results showed that quarry workers identified hazards and improved their safety performance by translating safety knowledge learned from training into practice, acquiring hands-on work experience, learning from coworkers, and sharing responsibilities among team members. Conclusion This study contributes to understanding quarry workers’ safe performance beyond what they have learned in safety training to include their interaction with other workers and hand-on experience in the workplace. This study informs practitioners in the surface mining industry to build a safe work environment as they design effective safety programs for employees.