Social context for workplace health promotion

Feasibility considerations in Costa Rica, Finland, Germany, Spain and Sweden

Bibliographic Data

ID22945401
AuthorsPäivi Peltomäki (0000-0001-8819-2980, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, corresponding author), Mauri Johansson, Wolfgang Ahrens (0000-0003-3777-570X), María Sala (0000-0002-9955-8746), Catharina Wesseling (0000-0001-5523-9981), Freddy Brenes, Carme Font (0000-0003-1781-4329), Kaj Husman, Gemma Janer (0000-0001-6229-425X), Tarja Kallas-Tarpila, Tarja Kallas‐Tarpila, Manolis Kogevinas (0000-0002-9605-0461), Minna Loponen, Maria Dolors Solé, Jürgen Tempel, Kaisa Vasama-Neuvonen, Timo Partanen
Year2003
Volume18
Issue2
Pages115-126
Publication date2003-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueHealth Promotion International (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0957-4824 • E-ISSN: 1460-2245
PublisherOxford University Press (OUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1093/heapro/18.2.115
PMID12746383
OpenAlexW2053541574
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited31

We constructed a simple, flexible procedure that facilitates the pre-assessment of feasibility of workplace health promotion (WHP) programmes. It evaluates cancer hazards, workers' need for hazard reduction, acceptability of WHP, and social context. It was tested and applied in 16 workplace communities and among 1085 employees in industry, construction, transport, services, teaching and municipal works in Costa Rica, Finland, Germany, Spain and Sweden. Social context is inseparable from WHP. It covers workers' organizations and representatives, management, safety committees, occupational health services, health and safety enforcement agencies, general health services, non-government organizations, insurance systems, academic and other institutions, regulatory stipulations pertaining WHP, and material resources. Priorities, risk definitions, attitudes, hazard profiles, motivations and assessment methods were highly contextual. Management preferred passive interventions, helping cover expert costs, participating in planning and granting time. Trade unions, workers' representatives, safety committees and occupational health services appeared to be important operational partners. Occupational health services may however be loaded with curative and screening functions or be non-existent. We advocate participatory, multifaceted WHP based on the needs and empowerment of the workers themselves, integrating occupational and lifestyle hazards. Workforce in irregular and shift work, in agriculture, in small enterprises, in the informal sector, and immigrant, seasonal and temporary workers represent groups in need of particular strategies such as community health promotion. In a more general framework, social context itself may become a target for intervention.

Context (archaeology) · Economic growth · Environmental health · Geography · Health promotion · Political science · Politics · Promotion (chess) · Public health · Sociology · Workplace health promotion · Medicine · Nursing · Occupational Health and Safety Research · Stress and Burnout Research · Workplace Health and Well-being