scholarly journals Evaluation of the HearWell Pilot Program: A Participatory Total Worker Health® Approach to Hearing Conservation

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (18) ◽  
pp. 9529
Author(s):  
Jennifer M. Cavallari ◽  
Adekemi O. Suleiman ◽  
Jennifer L. Garza ◽  
Sara Namazi ◽  
Alicia G. Dugan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Design Team ◽  
Hearing Conservation ◽  
Hazard Management ◽  
Training Video ◽  
Intention To Treat ◽  
Worker Health ◽  
Management Scheme ◽  
Pilot Intervention ◽  
Total Worker Health

Our objective was to pilot test HearWell, an intervention created to preserve hearing among highway maintainers, by using a participatory Total Worker Health® (TWH) approach to designing, implementing and evaluating interventions. Regional maintenance garages were randomized to control (n = 6); HearWell (n = 4) or HearWell Design Team (n = 2) arms. Maintainer representatives from the HearWell Design Team garages identified barriers to hearing health and collaborated to design interventions including a safety leadership training for managers, a noise hazard management scheme to identify noise levels and indicate the hearing protection device (HPD) needed, and a comprehensive HearWell training video and protocol. These worker-designed interventions, after manager input, were delivered to the HearWell Design Team and the HearWell garages. Control garages received standard industry hearing conservation training. Periodic surveys of workers in all 12 garages collected information on the frequency of HPD use and a new hearing climate measure to evaluate changes in behaviors and attitudes over the study period and following interventions. An intention-to-treat approach was utilized; differences and trends in group HPD use and hearing climate were analyzed using a mixed-effects model to account for repeated measures from individual participants. The HearWell Design Team maintainers reported the highest frequency of HPD use. Hearing climate improved in each group 6 months following intervention implementation, with the largest increase and highest value for the HearWell Design Team workers. The HearWell pilot intervention showed promising results in improving HPD use through a participatory TWH approach to hearing conservation. Furthermore, results suggest that employee participation in hearing conservation programs may be necessary for maximal effectiveness.

scholarly journals Impact of a Total Worker Health® Mentoring Program in a Correctional Workforce

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (16) ◽  
pp. 8436
Author(s):  
Rajashree Kotejoshyer ◽  
Declan O. Gilmer ◽  
Sara Namazi ◽  
Dana Farr ◽  
Robert A. Henning ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Participatory Design ◽  
Correctional Officers ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Mentoring Program ◽  
Worker Health ◽  
One Year ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Total Worker Health

(1) Background: Correctional Officers show signs of adverse health early in their careers. We evaluated the impact of a one-year peer health mentoring program for new officers based on a Total Worker Health® approach; (2) Methods: Cadets (n = 269) were randomly assigned to a mentored or control group. Cadets in this mixed methods design completed physical assessments, and surveys at three time points to assess demographics, health, mentoring, and workplace variables. Physical testing included several health markers. Surveys and physical data were analyzed as repeated measures. Regression analyses were used to analyze the relationship between mentoring characteristics and outcomes. A semi-structured interview of mentors was analyzed qualitatively. (3) Results: Higher mentoring frequency was associated with lower burnout. Although health outcomes and behaviors declined among all groups over time, declines in body mass index (BMI) and hypertension among mentees were less. (4) Conclusions: A continuous peer health mentoring program seemed protective to new officers in reducing burnout and also declines in BMI and hypertension. Short-term physical health markers in younger officers may not be an index of psycho-social effects. A participatory design approach is recommended for a long-term health mentoring program to be both effective and sustainable.

NIOSH total worker health program: Exploring new research horizons for workplace safety and health

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heidi Hudson ◽  
Kellie Pierson ◽  
Chia-Chia Chang ◽  
Steve Sauter ◽  
Jeanie Nigam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Program ◽  
Workplace Safety ◽  
Worker Health ◽  
Safety And Health ◽  
New Research ◽  
Total Worker Health

Where is work organization in total worker health?

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Schnall ◽  
Marnie Dobson ◽  
Paul Landsbergis
Keyword(s):  
Work Organization ◽  
Worker Health ◽  
Total Worker Health

Taking total worker health in new directions - contrasting general versus integrating approaches

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulrica von Thiele Schwarz ◽  
Henna Hasson ◽  
Katrine Skagert ◽  
Region Vastra Gotaland ◽  
Caroline Biron ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Worker Health ◽  
New Directions ◽  
Total Worker Health

The social value of Participatory Ergonomics from a practitioner’s perspective

2020 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. 919-923
Author(s):  
Kátia M. Costa-Black ◽  
Chris Arteberry
Keyword(s):  
Human Performance ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Participatory Approach ◽  
Performance Outcomes ◽  
Participatory Ergonomics ◽  
Worker Health ◽  
Healthy Working ◽  
The Social ◽  
Health And Well Being ◽  
Total Worker Health

Ergonomics applies a set of ambitious frameworks and robust body of evidence for integrating different practices to optimize worker health and well-being. One recognized framework is the participatory approach, which delves into sociotechnical workplace actions – developed from the ground up – to achieve improved human performance outcomes and acceptability across the organization. Much of what is known about the value of participatory ergonomics centers on return-on-investment analyses related to injury prevention. Outside this spectrum, little has been discussed. This paper imparts how a participatory approach can lead to various positive impacts beyond financial gains, mainly by focusing on continuous improvements at the management systems level and on proactively motivating people and organizations to embrace healthy working conditions and behaviors. Issues such as the social-ethical value of involving workers in work design and return-to-work solutions are discussed to illustrate the holistic value of participatory ergonomics in the context of Total Worker Health.

Total Worker Health

2020 ◽  
Vol 70 (8) ◽  
pp. 616-616
Author(s):  
Nerys Williams
Keyword(s):  
Worker Health ◽  
Total Worker Health

Total Worker Health®

2020 ◽  
pp. 55-72
Author(s):  
Sara L. Tamers ◽  
L. Casey Chosewood ◽  
Heidi Hudson ◽  
Chia-Chia Chang
Keyword(s):  
Worker Health ◽  
Total Worker Health

scholarly journals Ethics and Total Worker Health®: Constructs for Ethical Decision-Making and Competencies for Professional Practice

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (19) ◽  
pp. 10030
Author(s):  
Bonnie Rogers ◽  
Anita L. Schill
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Ethical Decision ◽  
Ethical Decision Making ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Ethical Dilemmas ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Work Hours ◽  
Worker Safety ◽  
Worker Health ◽  
Total Worker Health

Work has become increasingly technologically driven and fast paced, with long work hours, new/emerging hazards, and rising health care costs. Threats to worker safety, health, and well-being including non-traditional work arrangements and practices, precarious work, uncertain hazardous exposures, and work organization issues, such as heavy workloads, design of work, uneven work hours, and difficult interpersonal relationships among workers and managers are apparent. Furthermore, the relationship between personal health risk factors and workplace risks and exposures has drawn increased attention and concern. As employer economic pressures continue to build, it is anticipated that ethical dilemmas for practitioners will become increasingly complex. A review of relevant Total Worker Health (TWH) literature, related ethical constructs and competencies, an examination of codes of ethics for occupational safety and health and health promotion/education disciplines was conducted. A case study for TWH utilizing an ethical decision-making model for the analysis of key ethical issues and solutions was completed. TWH approaches to protecting safety, promoting health, and advancing well-being are increasingly being adopted. These approaches can reveal ethical dilemmas, and ethical constructs are needed to guide decision-making. A core set of proposed ethical competencies for TWH professionals are identified as a transdisciplinary framework to support workplace ethical culture.

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