Knowledge Transfer in Occupational Safety and Health : the influence of practitioner skills

The use of knowledge transfer methodologies in safety and health has been limited. This paper reports on a larger project which examined sources of knowledge available, knowledge transfer and the skills required for knowledge transfer. Using a mixed-methods approach including review, a questionnaire survey of practitioners and twelve organisational based case studies; the project identified a number of key skills that influence the success of knowledge transfer interventions. Key skills identified within the research include being able to identify authoritative sources of knowledge, the ability to translate knowledge into local language and finding the best way of communicating knowledge and information.