Research to evaluate reaction to a food safety and health and safety training package for restaurant personnel and to investigate factors influencing attendance

An action research project based upon the design, development, delivery andpreliminary evaluation of a combined Food Safety and Health and Safety TrainingPackage targeted at a specific group of small food businesses was conducted in aCity Challenge area. Factors which influenced the decision of restaurant personnel toattend this training programme in view of the previously low uptake of trainingopportunities presented to them by the Local Authority were also investigated.The study comprised part of an overall funded research project to provide foodhygiene and health and safety training to restaurateurs and their staff in the BethnalGreen City Challenge Area, London Borough of Tower Hamlets.Review of relevant literature indicates reluctance by the proprietors of smallbusinesses to participate in training activities. Studies relating to the effectiveness offood hygiene and health and safety education highlight the lack of clear evidence tosupport the assumption that provision of knowledge translates into improved hygieneand safety practices in the workplace. The importance of tailoring service provisionto the needs of the target audience is emphasised in order to promote uptake and toensure that expressed needs are met.Information gained from a needs assessment exercise conducted in 1996 was used toguide the design and development of the training programme, and it's subsequentdelivery in February 1997. Self complete questionnaires were used to evaluate course reaction. The design, development and delivery process was also reviewed usingmultiple data sources.The findings of the evaluation in terms of attendance figures and data relating tocourse reaction provide evidence of the acceptability of the training programme tothe target audience, and suggest that training initiatives can be made acceptable to thesmall business sector if they are appropriately tailored to their needs. Evaluation ofthe design, development and delivery process highlighted the relative strengths andweaknesses of the training programme, enabling recommendations to be formulatedin respect of modifications required to improve the programme for future delivery,and also with regard to further research to evaluate the effectiveness of the trainingprogramme in terms of improved practices.

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

Master's Level (Level 7)

Year dc:date.issued

1998

Author dc:creator

• Green, L

Language dc:language

en

Identifier

oai:salford-repository.worktribe.com:1339770

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:salford-repository.worktribe.com:1339770