Pathfinder Networks: Evaluating Injury and Safety Using Restaurant Workers’ Mental Models

Abstract

Safety is essential in the fast-paced and potentially hazardous environments of restaurant kitchens. This study explored the mental models that chefs and managers have regarding safety protocols. Pathfinder networking was employed to analyze participants’ perceptions of safety. The findings suggest a positive correlation between expertise and the quality of mental models: individuals with more skills or experience demonstrated superior mental models. The study also confirmed that greater skills or experience correlated with increased network coherence, similarity, and mental models. Notable differences in network coherence between chefs and managers were revealed, highlighting diverse expertise levels within these groups. The study underscores the critical role of comprehensive safety training and continual skill development in enhancing kitchen safety and efficiency. Understanding mental models and network coherence can enable restaurant workers to effectively manage complex tasks and uphold safety standards in dynamic environments.