Introduction and method: Participants' perceptions of the safety-related aspects of their organization's recruitment processes were examined, as were their perceptions of safety aspects associated with new recruits.
Results: One hundred and fifty-four professional fire fighters indicated the trust they held in the safety-related aspects of their organizations' selection and pre-start training. Perceived trust in pre-start training was negatively correlated (r=-.24, p<.01) with the risk associated with new recruits, and positively correlated (r=.50, p<.01) with ratings of trust in recruits to immediately work safely. Furthermore, trust in recruits to immediately work safely was negatively correlated (r=-.21, p<.01) with crews' safety behavior toward recruits.
Conclusions: These results are interpreted as particularly dangerous for workers, as new recruits lack familiarity with aspects of their new workplace that cannot be addressed by either selection or pre-start training, making them a risk.
Impact on industry: Organizations should actively identify new recruits, and encourage existing team members not to immediately trust new recruits to work safely.