Implementation guidelines for integrated approaches to work, health and well-being.

Details

• Personal Author:
  McLellan D
• Description:
  Problem Total Worker Health® (TWH) is defined by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health as "policies, programs, and practices that integrate protection from work-related safety and health hazards with promotion of injury and illness prevention efforts to advance worker well-being." Growing evidence supports the benefits of these approaches in improving both worker and employer outcomes. Resources and assistance for implementing these integrated worksite initiatives are limited, however, and effective implementation models for worksites to use are needed. Procedures/approach Recognizing this need, the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Center for Work, Health, and Well-being (Center) published implementation guidelines (Guidelines) to provide direction for worksites to consider on how to plan, implement, and evaluate integrated policies, programs, and practices addressing working conditions. The Guidelines include a framework, processes, case studies, tips, tools, and resources. Our Center's research-based conceptual model serves as the basis and overarching framework for the Guidelines. We focus on using policies and practices to impact the working conditions that are often the root causes of both worker and employer outcomes. These working conditions can include hazards in the physical environment, the pace and amount of work, and psychosocial factors like harassment and supervisor support. Using this framework, the Guidelines articulate a process enterprises can use as they identify, implement, and evaluate policies and practices to impact the specific working conditions and outcomes relevant to their worksites. This process is based on Plan, Do, Study, Act cycles that are inherent in management and safety improvement initiatives. Specific examples, case studies, tips, and tools are provided to further assist worksites in implementing integrated approaches. Subsequent to their distribution, the Center is providing training and obtaining feedback on the Guidelines. As a result, we are learning how the Guidelines are being used and adapted in practice. This presentation will provide: an introduction to the Center's integrated approach to work, health, and well-being to serve as the springboard for the other symposium presentations; descriptions and examples from each phase of the Guidelines- leadership and building collaboration, planning, implementing, and evaluating; lessons learned-input on research-to-practice experiences in implementing the Guidelines. Methods/Analyses To obtain information on lessons learned, we used qualitative analyses of verbal and written evaluations gathered in key informant interviews, meetings, and trainings on Guideline use. Interview scripts were used in discussions with key informants, and written transcriptions developed from the interviews. Notes are developed from meetings with collaborators. Training evaluation forms were circulated to and requested from training participants. Analyses entail intensive reading and group discussion of the data by the research team and collaborators. Results Preliminary results indicate that: the Guidelines can provide direction to organizations implementing integrated approaches to worker safety, health, and well-being; additional tools, technical assistance and training are desired by those implementing the Guidelines; calls for simplifying and reducing the amount of information provided were also made; end users may adapt the Guidelines depending on worksite context; and specific tools and examples are valued. Practical Implications The Center for Work, Health, and Well-being's Guidelines are useful for enterprises implementing integrated approaches focused on working conditions, and users report the specific tools and case examples provided are especially valuable. Conclusions The Center for Work, Health, and Well-being's Guidelines to worksite safety, health, and well-being may be used by enterprises implementing integrated approaches that focus on changing working conditions. Additional tools, training, and technical assistance to accompany the Guidelines were recommended, but requests for simplifying and reducing the amount of information were also received. There is a tension between providing enough and too much documentation and information that warrants further study. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Health Promotion Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  TWH; Total Worker Health; Work organization; Worker safety; Injury prevention; Health promotion
• Publisher:
  American Psychological Association
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Abstract or Summary
• Place as Subject:
  Massachusetts ; OSHA Region 1 ; OSHA Region 3 ; Pennsylvania
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  222-223
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20065680
• Citation:
  Work, Stress and Health 2019, November 6-9, 2019, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, 2019 Nov; :222-223
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2020
• Performing Organization:
  Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20070901
• Source Full Name:
  Work, Stress and Health 2019, November 6-9, 2019, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• End Date:
  20260831
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:2a97de08849a55f818bdc43a371034f3abe86689c1ce9f03c0905dd74f1f559621d71045c4257230d9ef9c58c812d57b025afd0ab07fe68861c87e3ff67657a7
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/249506/cdc_249506_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 112.55 KB ]