Evaluation of a secondary school cosmetology safety and health training's effectiveness after implementation of a hierarchy of controls “pyramid game” using the “salon safety quiz”

Abstract

In 2012–2013 school year (SY), New Jersey Safe Schools (NJSS) Program developed a 25 question Salon Safety Quiz (SSQ) to assess baseline safety and health (S&H) knowledge of young cosmetology students. The SSQ was used as a teaching pre-/post- assessment tool to evaluate relatively immediate gains of S&H knowledge, awareness and attitudes (KAAs) in the Young Worker Safety and Health Training for the Cosmetology Industry at various NJ career-technical-vocational school districts and comprehensive high schools during three (2012–2015) SYs. NJSS added a Pyramid Game to supplement training starting in SY 2013–2014 to reinforce various hazard control methods and potentially increase post-test scores and overall KAAs. Pre- and post- aggregate test data were analyzed to compare grade-levels within SYs 2013–2015 combined, as well as post- aggregate test data comparing SY 2012–2013 to SYs 2013–2015, to determine if implementing the Pyramid Game had an effect on post- scores. There were statistically significant differences in pre- and post- scores across grade levels combined during SYs 2013–2015, including a significant difference in 11th and 12th grader pre- and post- scores (p