Improving Working Conditions to Promote Worker Safety, Health, and Wellbeing for Low-Wage Workers: The Workplace Organizational Health Study

Details

• Personal Author:
  Burke L ; Dennerlein, Jack T. ; Karapanos M ; Nagler E ; Nielsen K ; Peters S ; Sorensen, Glorian ; Wagner, Gregory R. ; Wallace L
• Description:
  This paper addresses a significant gap in the literature by describing a study that tests the feasibility and efficacy of an organizational intervention to improve working conditions, safety, and wellbeing for low-wage food service workers. The Workplace Organizational Health Study tests the hypothesis that an intervention targeting the work organization and environment will result in improvements in workers' musculoskeletal disorders and wellbeing. This ongoing study is being conducted in collaboration with a large food service company. Formative evaluation was used to prioritize outcomes, assess working conditions, and define essential intervention elements. The theory-driven intervention is being evaluated in a proof-of-concept trial, conducted to demonstrate feasibility and potential efficacy using a cluster randomized design. Ten worksites were randomly assigned to intervention or control conditions. The 13-month intervention uses a comprehensive systems approach to improve workplace policies and practices. Using principles of participatory engagement, the intervention targets safety and ergonomics; work intensity; and job enrichment. The evaluation will provide a preliminary assessment of estimates of the intervention effect on targeted outcomes and inform understanding of the intervention implementation across worksites. This study is expected to provide insights on methods to improve working conditions in support of the safety and wellbeing of low-wage workers. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Ergonomics Food-Processing Industry Food Handling Food Industry Health Promotion Musculoskeletal Diseases Occupational Health Safety Stress, Psychological Workplace
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Occupational Safety And Health Feasibility Studies Food Handlers Food Processing Industry Food Processing Workers Food Services Health Promotion Injury Prevention Intervention Intervention Effectiveness Job Stress MSD Musculoskeletal Disorders Policy Prevention And Protection Protective Measures Psychological Factors Psychological Wellbeing Safety Climate Safety Culture Safety Measures Work Environment Worker Health Worker Safety Work Operations Work Organization Workplace Studies Work Practices

  More +
• ISSN:
  1660-4601
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Massachusetts ; OSHA Region 1
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  16
• Issue:
  8
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20055618
• Citation:
  Int J Environ Res Public Health 2019 Apr; 16(8):1449
• Contact Point Address:
  Glorian Sorensen, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
• Email:
  Glorian_Sorensen@dfci.harvard.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2019
• NORA Priority Area:
  Services
• Performing Organization:
  Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20160801
• Source Full Name:
  International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
• End Date:
  20200731
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:24248b653663f8c849d59e39e2ea1529576b4bb54adeba66629f5228159c696c888ab66d3d47873728b12bcc958c918314db15ac94b66723dc91f62b7781c43a
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/213428/cdc_213428_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 933.91 KB ]