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Susan Moir, ScD, Lenore Araroff, ScD, and Laura Punnett, ScD. Work Environment Dept, UMass Lowell, 1 University Ave, Lowell, MA 01854, 978-934-3258, Susan_Moir@uml.edu
Two participatory intervention research projects were conducted with construction workers. One used a labor/management approach on-site to identify and implement interventions. The second was conducted after work with construction tradeswomen to identify barriers to OHS change and strategies for overcoming these barriers. These studies revealed over forty organizational factors that influenced the adoption and dissemination of health and safety interventions. A social ecology approach was used to cluster the factors into four areas: (1) aspects of the technological or administrative controls (e.g., cost, comfort, maintenance needs, etc.); (2) factors related to construction owners and contractors (e.g., scope of job, safety policies, training provided, etc.); (3) factors related to workers and unions (e.g., stewards’ involvement with health and safety, cross-trade communication, union support for injury reporting, etc.); and (4) regional policy and economic factors (e.g., OSHA enforcement practices, regional employment rates, etc.). This resulted in a matrix of organizational determinants that should be described at least qualitatively when assessing intervention effectiveness. The matrix could also be a valuable tool for workers collecting data in participatory research. Despite unique aspects of the construction work environment, at least some elements are likely relevant to industries other than construction for collecting data on interventions and analyzing their effectiveness. The qualitative field methods used to identify the organizational determinants and the instrument for data collection and analysis will be presented.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participants will be able to
Keywords: Workplace Safety, Research
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.