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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Dorothy Wigmore, Labour Studies Programme, McMaster University, KTH 717, 1280 Main St. W., Hamilton, ON L8S4M4, Canada, 905 525 9140 x 27781, dorothyw@web.ca
More occupational health and safety practitioners and activists are using body and/or workplace maps in their work these days. These drawings bring order to chaos, help visualise and organise information, and provide a taking-off point for stories about life and issues in that space. But workplace maps often miss crucial information – the individuals involved, their relationships and the organisation of the work. So how can the maps be expanded to better understand the complex of relationships and exposures in a particular workspace, as well as relevant connections to other spaces? What makes it possible to "see" the whole picture so it is easier to propose more holistic and comprehensive solutions and strategies to reach them? Layering the maps is proving useful. Separate layers can include information about social relations (eg. individuals, formal and informal information paths, who "hangs out" with whom), more "visible" hazards or experiences (eg. chemical, physical ergonomic, traumatic injuries) and the work flow. Map-making participants can compare and contrast their experiences in the same space by age, gender, seniority, etc. Another innovation is a layer of brightly-coloured areas called "free zones" and "danger/hot zones". In a participatory process, the final product provides an in-depth overview of a workspace and a common language for occupational health practitioners and workers to discuss issues, solutions and strategies. Examples will be presented, along with discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of layered maps and their use for preventive and reactive activities.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Participatory Action Research, Stress
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.