This document describes a proposed behavioral intervention to increase the use of hard hats among workers at a tree service company. It analyzes the current contingencies that discourage hard hat usage and lack of supervision. The intervention would provide smoke breaks contingent on workers wearing hard hats, with monitoring by foremen and self-monitoring. An evaluation graph shows hard hat usage increasing from baseline levels during the intervention. A hypothetical recycle would involve stricter monitoring and loss of bonuses for non-compliance.

1. Tree Service: A Behavioral
Perspective
Ryan Morey
PSY 460
Fall 2011
Lauren Cavalli

2. Setting and Participant Description
• Settings / participants mentioned are through
my family’s business
• The intervention however, is not real =(

3. Reason to Intervene
• Workers tend to ignore hard hat usage
– Big safety issue
– Bad company image
Even Bush wears his hard hat!

4. Analyze the Natural Contingencies
• Wearing a hard hat has a small, potentially
improbable outcome
– Infinitesimally greater level of appreciation from
boss

5. Analyze the Natural Contingencies
Ineffective Natural Contingency
Wears hard
Given level of Infinitesimally
hat for entire
appreciation greater level of
duration while
from boss appreciation
working
from boss

6. Analyze the Natural Contingencies
Natural Competing Contingency
Wears hard
No feelings of hat for entire Feelings of
discomfort duration while discomfort
working

7. Baseline Graph
Baseline - Action Tree
70
Percentage of hard hat usage
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
1 2 3 4 5
Sessions

8. Baseline Graph Description
• Baseline percentages are fairly low
– Considering the risk involved
– May be because of lack of supervision + sizable
competing outcomes

9. Specify the Performance Objectives
• To increase percentage of time of hard hat
usage
• To decrease probability of potential dangers

10. Design the Intervention
• Assessment made to determine outcome
• Outcome used:
– Opportunity for smoke breaks
• Foreman Monitoring + Self-Monitoring
– Bucket truck & Before signing timecard out

11. Design the Intervention
Performance Management Contingency
Wears hard
Will lose Will not lose
hat for entire
opportunity opportunity
duration while
for smoke for smoke
working
breaks breaks
tomorrow tomorrow

12. Implement the Intervention
• Involves all levels within the business
– Grounds man
– Foreman
– CEO
• Contingencies placed within all levels

13. Evaluate the Intervention
Action Tree
120
Baseline Intervention
100
Percentage of hard hat usage
80
60
40
20
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Sessions

14. Evaluate the Intervention
• Desired levels were achieved through
intervention
• No recycling necessary
– Smoke breaks are quite effective among tree
service

15. Recycle - Hypothetical
• If I were to recycle..
– More strict and consistent monitoring
– Loss of opportunity for bonus + smoke break

16. Evaluate the Recycle
Action Tree
120
Baseline Intervention Recycle
100
Percentage of hard hat usage
80
60
40
20
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Sessions

17. Evaluate the Recycle
• Results indicate positive outcomes
– Hard hat usage near 100%
– Positive business image

18. Questions or Comments???