Many blue-collar workers are at increased risk for cancer because of both job risks and life risks. Integrating occupational health and health promotion interventions may be an effective strategy for addressing this problem. Using a randomized, controlled design, the WellWorks-2 project tested the effectiveness of integrating health promotion with occupational health protection in 15 large manufacturing worksites. The intervention and evaluation followed an ecological framework, assessing outcomes at the levels of the worker (health behaviors), the organization (occupational safety and health [OSH] programs), and the physical work environment (exposures to chemical hazards). OSH program and chemical hazard assessments served dual purposes as intervention needs assessment and intervention effectiveness evaluation tools.
OSH programs were assessed using an instrument adapted from OSHA’s 1995 Program Evaluation Profile. At baseline, there was considerable variation in OSH program scores, particularly in the area of management commitment and employee involvement. Most worksites scored in the 60-80% range using an adaptation of OSHA’s 1995 100-point scoring scheme. Chemical exposures were assessed using a new walk-through occupational health assessment (OHA) instrument developed for this study. The OHA instrument assesses the potential for and protection from exposures for a given process or work area. Protection either matched or exceeded potential in most of the 129 areas assessed at baseline, but provided important intervention guidance in others. This paper will provide an overview of Wellworks-2 OSH program and chemical hazard measurement strategies, baseline assessment scores, and changes in scores associated with the integrated intervention.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to: 1. Articulate the need for intervention research tools that serve both needs assessment and evaluative functions; 2. Describe Wellworks-2 strategies for assessing OSH programs and chemical hazards; 3. Apply Wellworks-2 strategies to other intervention research contexts
Keywords: Evaluation, Occupational Health Programs
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.