The transfer problem: examining the direct and interactive effects of safety training transfer climate and work locus of control on the transfer of safety training

Abstract

Occupational safety training is an integral part of those jobs in which workplace safety is a concern. Unfortunately, few studies have examined the predictors of whether the knowledge and skills learned in safety training are transferred back to the workplace. The purpose of the current study was to investigate whether person (i.e., work locus of control) and work environment (i.e., safety training transfer climate) variables predicted transfer of safety training. It was hypothesized that work locus of control (with higher scores representing externality) would be negatively associated with transfer of safety training and safety training transfer climate defined at the organizational level would be positively associated with transfer of safety training. Furthermore, a cross-level interaction was hypothesized between safety training transfer climate and work locus of control to predict transfer of safety training such that the relationship between safety training transfer climate and transfer of safety training would be stronger for those with external locus of control when compared to those with internal locus of control Union construction workers employed by nine different contractors provided information about the constructs of interest. The study's hypotheses were examined using correlation and hierarchical linear modeling. While work locus of control did not possess a significant relationship with transfer of safety training, safety training transfer climate was positively associated with transfer of safety training when defined at both the individual and organizational levels. Furthermore, the interaction between safety training transfer climate and work locus of control was not significant, although the observed interaction pattern showed similarities with what was expected (e.g., stronger relationship between safety training transfer climate and transfer of safety training for those with external locus of control). Practical and theoretical implications such as how to foster high safety training transfer climate as well as suggestions for future research that strengthen the current study's limitations are discussed.