MNOSHA stakeholder-survey results – 2003

Employees

In MNOSHA’s fiscal-year 1999 through 2003 strategic plan, "Strategic Goal 3" states: “Secure public confidence
through excellence in the development and delivery of MNOSHA’s programs and services.” Further, "Outcome
Goal 3.2" proposes to: “Foster organizational excellence and increase collaboration between MNOSHA and its
stakeholders.” In addressing this goal, a survey of employees was conducted to assess their perceptions of
MNOSHA’s impact on worker safety and health. During January 2003, MNOSHA inspectors provided surveys to
employees interviewed during the course of an inspection. Each employee was asked to complete and return the
survey. Neither the employee nor the business for which they worked was identifiable on the returned survey.
The survey asked the employees to rate their level of agreement about several issues: 1) important safety and
health issues were inspected; 2) inspector’s answers to questions were satisfactory; 3) employee’s rights and
duties were explained; 4) inspector’s conduct was professional; and 5) workplace safety would improve after the
inspection. In addition, the employee was asked to identify why an inspection of the workplace was conducted.

The estimated survey return-rate was approximately 10 percent. Overall, the employee’s responses were
overwhelmingly favorable. A closer look at the individual issues reveals: 93.4 percent of respondents indicated
the MNOSHA inspector looked at the important safety and health issues during the course of the inspection; 85.6
percent of respondents were satisfied with the inspector’s answers to his or her questions; 75 percent of
respondents believed their rights and duties as an employee were explained; and 65.8 percent of respondents
believed the workplace would be safer after the inspection. The survey results are remarkably positive regarding
the professionalism of MNOSHA inspectors. Ninety-five percent of respondents indicated the inspector acted
professionally during the inspection; the remaining five percent were “neutral” about this issue. (See pie charts
below for complete survey results.)

One area of apparent confusion among employees surveyed is the reason an inspection was conducted at his or
her workplace. Seventy-nine percent of respondents indicated they either “just came up on the list” or they didn’t
know why their workplace was scheduled for an inspection. These results are consistent with a survey of
employers involved in a MNOSHA inspection conducted in 2001, in which 53 percent of the respondents
indicated similar reasons for the MNOSHA inspection. The results of this survey will be used to improve
communication and cooperation during MNOSHA inspections.

MNOSHA
2003 employee-survey results

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 The MNOSHA inspector looked at the important safety
and health issues here.

7% 0%

Agree
Neutral
Disagree

93%

I was satisfied with the MNOSHA inspector's answers

to my questions.

13% 1%

Agree
Neutral
Disagree
86%

The MNOSHA inspector explained my rights and

duties as an employee.

4%
21%
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
75%

MNOSHA
2003 employee-survey results
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 The MNOSHA inspector acted professionally during
the inspection.

5% 0%

Agree
Neutral
Disagree

95%

I believe the workplace will be safer after the

inspection.

5%
29% Agree
Neutral
Disagree
66%

Why was a MNOSHA inspection conducted at your

workplace?

unsure
37% High illness/injury rate
44%
complaint
referral
11% "on the list"
5% 3%

MNOSHA
2003 employee-survey results

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