Case studies; single study; informal field studies; or similar reports and findings

Using workers’ compensation systems to improve workplace safety and health

November 13, 2021November 12, 2021

The mission of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Center for Workers’ Compensation Studies (CWCS) is to maximize the use of workers’ compensation (WC) claims data and systems to improve workplace safety and health through partnerships. This poster presentation will describe recent and ongoing CWCS surveillance and research studies to achieve several key goals (see https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/workercomp/cwcs/publications.html).

Working on the railroad during COVID-19: A case study analysis on employee perceptions of safety culture

November 13, 2021November 12, 2021

This mixed-methods case study analysis investigates employees? perceptions of their organization?s COVID-19 response, and seeks to examine how these perceptions relate to the organization?s safety culture. Qualitative and quantitative archival survey data collected from one large freight-carrying railroad with sites across the U.S. was utilized to conduct analyses. The top five themes extracted from a bottom-up qualitative analysis of employees? open-ended responses about their organization?s COVID-19 response are presented and discussed (n = 196). Initial quantitative analyses that examine these responses in relation to employees? perceptions of their organization?s safety culture suggest that an organization?s existing safety culture may relate to its handling of the pandemic; a finding that bolsters existing literature on the many benefits of a strong organizational safety culture. Additional analyses are currently being conducted to further explore how the top five themes that emerged from open-ended comments relate to more-specific indicators of safety culture. In this way, we may be able to more finely-tune the practical implications of this work.

NIOSH Chronic Disease Prevention Program: Expanding Partnerships to Prevent Occupational Disease

November 13, 2021November 12, 2021

This presentation provides information on the mission and function of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health?s (NIOSH?s) Cancer, Reproductive, Cardiovascular and Other Chronic Disease Prevention Program (CRC). The poster will describe current research priorities related to reducing and preventing occupational chronic diseases including cancer, cardiovascular disease, renal diseases, and neurological diseases as well as adverse reproductive outcomes. Collaboration with researchers, labor unions, professional and trade associations, and others is critical to the CRC and this poster will help to promote partnerships external to NIOSH.

Work, Stress, and Construction Industry’s Health: Pandemic squeeze on already fragile workforce

November 13, 2021November 12, 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has worsened the nation?s drug overdose epidemic with both forces significantly impacting the safety, health, and well-being of the construction workforce. Our program is engaged in developing strategies to stem the tide of overdose deaths and help the rising numbers of construction workers suffering from opioid misuse disorder and poor mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our findings informed a suite of communication and training interventions, communicating the big picture and systemic issues to construction decision-makers who can change conditions for the workforce. We are also reaching out to the people most affected, those who are struggling with mental health and substance misuse disorder.

The Healthy Work Survey: Tools and resources designed for use by labor unions and worker advocates in assessing work organization, and evaluating workplace improvements.

November 12, 2021November 12, 2021

Labor unions, worker health & safety advocacy group are in a unique position to address the risks of psychosocial work hazards and to implement enforceable work organization improvements. However, many of these efforts go without evaluation by occupational health researchers. We will show how the tools and resources developed by the Healthy Work Campaign, including the online Healthy Work Survey, can be used by labor organizations to better assess harmful work organization/stressors and evaluate improvements they make.

Facilitators and Barriers of Sustainability of the Healthy Workplace Participatory Program – A Qualitative Assessment

November 13, 2021November 12, 2021

The purpose of this project was to evaluate the barriers and facilitators of long-term sustainability of a HWPP during a period of significant organizational transition. Analysis of interviews with individuals closely involved with the project were qualitatively analyzed using grounded theory methods and thematic analysis. Results from the interviews showed universal support for the continuation of the existing HWPP, but significant concerns over the sustainability of the project due to lack of formalized policy and organizational resources. Practical implications for current and future HWPP include formalizing policy across multiple sites, enhancing training and recognition for all stakeholders, and minimizing project turnover.

Worker commitment to addressing burnout pre and post COVID-19.

November 13, 2021November 12, 2021

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, a multi-union, joint labor-management team of mental health staff prioritized burnout at their public-sector worksite. A comprehensive set of interventions to address root causes was in its implementation phase when the global pandemic both interrupted those plans and exacerbated burnout for all healthcare workers. This team is now exploring what changes to their original interventions might be needed to address the massive post-pandemic burnout which they and co-workers are experiencing. They plan to lead a series of focus groups at their facility, to better understand how their colleagues experienced the last year, and what efforts would be meaningful and feasible now.

Modeling social comparison in the stress process: an examination of nurses

November 12, 2021November 12, 2021

The present study focused on the potential impact of social comparison on workers? interpretations of demanding workplace events and their confidence in coping with stress. A sample of 139 healthcare workers provided personal data (via a self-report survey) in relation to five types of stressors common to the field of nursing, along with relevant information about how they perceive their coworkers? responses to said stressors. Support was found for the hypothesized model through path analysis. Workers reported higher levels of stress when they were 1) frequently exposed to demanding events, and 2) when they perceived high stress in their coworkers; workers felt more prepared to cope when they reported high familiarity with their coworkers? coping tactics; but workers also felt less confident in their coping when they personally felt greater stress.