What Could Total Worker Health® Look Like in Small Enterprises?

Diane S Rohlman; Shelly Campo; Jennifer Hall; Erin L Robinson; Kevin M Kelly

doi:10.1093/annweh/wxy008

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What Could Total Worker Health® Look Like in Small Enterprises?

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

What Could Total Worker Health® Look Like in Small Enterprises?

Diane S Rohlman, Shelly Campo, Jennifer Hall, Erin L Robinson and Kevin M Kelly

Annals of work exposures and health, Vol.62(suppl_1), pp.S34-S41

09/13/2018

DOI: 10.1093/annweh/wxy008

PMCID: PMC7286304

PMID: 30212887

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Abstract

Small enterprises have fewer resources, are more financially precarious, and have higher rates of occupational injury and illness compared with larger enterprises. Interventions that address the promotion of health and well-being in addition to traditional occupational safety and health hazards, a Total Worker Health® (TWH) approach, may be effective in reducing injuries and preventing illness. However, little research has examined the impact of TWH interventions in small enterprises. The aim of this research was to explore and characterize health and safety practices, policies, and programs in small Midwestern enterprises from a TWH perspective. Utilizing a case studies approach, site visits were conducted with small business, between 10 and 250 employees, from 2014 through 2016 and included workplace audits and interviews with multiple employees in varying roles within each organization. Both open and closed coding were used to identify specific themes. Eight themes emerged from the site visits: value and return on investment, organizational factors, program design, engaging employees, low-cost strategies, evaluation, and integration. These themes overlapped with both the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health's (NIOSH) Essential Elements of TWH and the NIOSH Fundamentals. Industry sector and enterprise size also affect resources and integration of these resources. As TWH expands to organizations of all sizes, it is necessary to address the unique needs of smaller enterprises.

Health Promotion - trends

Humans

Industry

Occupational Exposure - prevention & control

Occupational Health - standards

Occupational Health - trends

Small Business

United States

Workplace - standards

Details

Title: Subtitle: What Could Total Worker Health® Look Like in Small Enterprises?
Creators: Diane S Rohlman - Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA
Shelly Campo - Community and Behavioral Health, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA
Jennifer Hall - Health Promotion and Public Health, Lynchburg College, USA
Erin L Robinson - School of Social Work, University of Missouri, Columbia, USA
Kevin M Kelly - Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Annals of work exposures and health, Vol.62(suppl_1), pp.S34-S41
DOI: 10.1093/annweh/wxy008
PMID: 30212887
PMCID: PMC7286304
NLM abbreviation: Ann Work Expo Health
ISSN: 2398-7308
eISSN: 2398-7316
Grant note: U19 OH008868 / NIOSH CDC HHS
Language: English
Date published: 09/13/2018
Academic Unit: Graduate College Admin and Gen; Anthropology; Occupational and Environmental Health; International Programs; Injury Prevention Research Center; Communication Studies
Record Identifier: 9984214678002771

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