Using an Adapted LOSA to Assess Safety Conditions of an Undergraduate Construction Course

Abstract

Students working in agricultural mechanics laboratories acquire essential career-building skills but are also exposed to hazardous environments, leading to frequent injuries (Chumbley et al., 2018; Perry et al., 2012; Saucier et al., 2014; Utah Department of Health, 2007). Upon entering the workforce, safety challenges persist, with an increase in workplace fatalities in recent years (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2021). Currently, agricultural mechanics teachers address these safety issues individually due to a lack of standardized methods for teaching and assessing safety. This creates a gap between safety practices learned in school and those required in the workplace. A potential solution is implementing industry safety models like the Line Operation Safety Audit (LOSA) used in commercial aviation (Klinect et al., 2003), emphasizing continuous safety monitoring and improvement. In this study, LOSA data revealed that personal protective equipment (PPE) violations, particularly the lack of hearing protection, were the most frequent safety threats. Student interventions to address these issues were largely ineffective, with error recognition declining over time, suggesting that more effective intervention strategies are needed. Future research should explore how to better support students in identifying and addressing safety risks. The study concludes that an adapted LOSA model is a promising tool for agricultural mechanics labs, offering continuous safety assessments while promoting a blame-free environment and collaboration. As LOSA evolves, its capacity to enhance safety culture in educational settings will likely grow.