Abstract
Types of low-cost improvements that can help reduce work-related risks and prevent stress at work are reviewed by examining simple improvements achieved by participatory action-oriented programs in different work settings. Programs reviewed include WISE (work improvement in small enterprises) projects in various industries, including POSITIVE (participation-oriented safety improvements by trade union initiative) activities by trade unions, and recent mental health interventions for work stress prevention. Participatory steps undertaken commonly comprise learning local good practices, group work on feasible improvement options and consensus building on immediate actions. These common steps are found effective for achieving multifaceted improvements at low cost in short periods. Typical low-cost improvements by work improvement programs cover materials handling, workstations, physical environment and work organization, whereas those by stress prevention programs additionally cover internal communication, restful schedules and social support measures. The planning and implementation of these improvements are usually facilitated by the use of action-oriented toolkits including good examples, action checklists listing practical low-cost improvements and group work sheets. Serial intervention studies confirm reductions in workplace risks, often with productivity increase, in both work improvement and stress prevention activities. Main contributing factors leading to these positive achievements are (a) simple procedures aimed at good practices in multifaceted risk management, (b) a clear focus on locally feasible improvements that have real impact on risk reduction, and (c) the use of locally adjusted action-oriented toolkits. These results demonstrate the importance of promoting participatory programs relying on multifaceted low-cost improvements in reducing the work-related risks and stress in varied work situations.
Highlights
An increasing emphasis is placed internationally on participatory action-oriented methods in improving ergonomic aspects of work and preventing stress at work
One of the notable merits of participatory methods is their direct contribution to realizing locally adjusted forms of good practices despite various constraints [5,6,7]. These participatory methods are extensively used in workplace improvement in association with proactive risk management processes being promoted as part of occupational safety and health management systems in both industrially developed and developing countries [8,9]
Participatory steps taken for building on local good practices The participatory programs reviewed are developing based on the extensive experiences gained in the application of the original WISE methodology [8,29]
Summary
An increasing emphasis is placed internationally on participatory action-oriented methods in improving ergonomic aspects of work and preventing stress at work The merits of these participatory methods are widely recognized as means of promoting the initiative of workers and managers applying workable solutions in diversifying work settings [1,2,3,4]. Wilson and Haines defined participatory ergonomics as the involvement of people in planning and controlling a significant amount of their own work activities, with sufficient knowledge and power to influence both processes and outcomes in order to achieve desirable goals [24] This definition is relevant to the spread use of participatory methods in workplace improvement and in stress prevention, as proven by many reports on participatory steps conducive to spreading locally workable. On the basis of the review results, main contributing factors for achieving actual risk and stress reduction at the targeted workplaces are discussed
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
