Field tests of a toolkit for participatory healthy workplace programs

Background: Traditional workplace health promotion programs often lack attention to working conditions contributing to poor health and are often implemented without authentic involvement of front-line employees. Prior workplace studies demonstrated effectiveness of participatory interventions; however, the instruments and protocols were labor intensive, rendering them impractical in real world settings. Objective: Develop a practical toolkit for a participatory program and field test it in four varied employer organizations to assess feasibility, ease of use, and effectiveness for engaging front-line employees in designing integrated health protection/promotion interventions. Methods: Prototypes of program materials and short survey instruments were used at study sites by program facilitators with prior experience in worksite health promotion. Program start-up included evaluation of employee health/safety issues, program committee formation, and training activities. Facilitators used program tools with management and front-line employees to design interventions incorporating root causes analysis a business case approach. Process data were gathered continuously to assess needs for materials revisions and additional training. Surveys, interviews, and focus groups were collected one year after program start up. Results: Participants reported improved management health/safety awareness, communication, problem-solving, professional confidence, and accomplishment. Additional results will be shared regarding interventions developed, utility of materials, and barriers/promoters of program success. Conclusion: Field tests of a health and safety workplace participatory program toolkit demonstrated the program tools and protocols are feasible, acceptable, require modest time commitment, and can be adapted to a variety of site characteristics. Program materials were judged as useful for facilitating intervention planning and employee participation.