Title: Participatory design of integrated safety and health interventions in the workplace: a case study using the Intervention Design and Analysis Scorecard (IDEAS) Tool

Authors: Michelle M. Robertson; Robert A. Henning; Nicholas Warren; Suzanne Nobrega; Megan Dove-Steinkamp; Lize Tibiriçá; Andrea Bizarro

Addresses: Center for Behavioral Sciences, Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety, 71 Frankland Road, Hopkinton, MA 01748, USA; Center for the Promotion of Health in the New England Workplace (CPH-NEW), University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA; University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA, USA ' Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, 406 Babbidge Road, Unit 1020, Storrs, CT 06269-1020, USA; Center for the Promotion of Health in the New England Workplace (CPH-NEW), University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA; University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA, USA ' Center for Promotion of Health in the New England Workplace (CPH-NEW), University of Connecticut Health Center, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT 06030-8077, USA; Center for the Promotion of Health in the New England Workplace (CPH-NEW), University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA; University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA, USA ' Center for Promotion of Health in the New England Workplace (CPH-NEW), University of Massachusetts Lowell, One University Avenue, 200 Kitson Hall, Lowell, MA 01854, USA; Center for the Promotion of Health in the New England Workplace (CPH-NEW), University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA; University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA, USA ' Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, 406 Babbidge Road, Unit 1020, Storrs, CT 06269-1020, USA; Center for the Promotion of Health in the New England Workplace (CPH-NEW), University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA; University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA, USA ' Center for Promotion of Health in the New England Workplace (CPHNEW), University of Massachusetts Lowell, One University Avenue, 200 Kitson Hall, Lowell, MA 01854, USA; Center for the Promotion of Health in the New England Workplace (CPH-NEW), University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA; University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA, USA ' Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, 406 Babbidge Road, Unit 1020, Storrs, CT 06269-1020, USA; Center for the Promotion of Health in the New England Workplace (CPH-NEW), University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA; University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA, USA

Abstract: Total Worker Health™ (TWH) interventions for improved employee safety, health and wellbeing depend on integrated approaches that involve changes to the workplace or work organisation as well as behavioural or lifestyle changes made by workers. Intervention Design and Analysis Scorecard (IDEAS) Tool to engage front-line employees in planning TWH interventions and obtaining needed management support. The IDEAS Tool consists of seven planning steps in a scorecard approach that helps front-line employees systematically examine root causes of health/safety problems/issues and develop intervention alternatives. A comprehensive business case is then developed for each proposed intervention through analysis of costs/benefits, resources and barriers, and scope of impact. A case study is presented in which maintenance technicians at a property management firm used the IDEAS Tool to plan and successfully implement multiple interventions to reduce work overload. A participatory systems taxonomy is used to help explain why such a structured approach to intervention planning is needed to create a sustainable program for the continuous improvement of employee safety, health and wellbeing for TWH.

Keywords: participatory ergonomics; workplace safety and health; workplace health promotion; prevention; sustainability; business case; total worker health; TWH; participatory design; safety and health interventions; case study; employee well-being; management support; intervention design; intervention analysis; maintenance technicians; property management; work overload; participatory systems taxonomy; intervention planning; continuous improvement.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHFE.2015.073008

International Journal of Human Factors and Ergonomics, 2015 Vol.3 No.3/4, pp.303 - 326

Received: 23 Jan 2015
Accepted: 08 Jul 2015
Published online: 11 Nov 2015 *

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