Lingard, H and Turner, M (2015) Improving the health of male, blue collar construction workers: A social ecological perspective. Construction Management and Economics, 33(1), pp. 18-34. ISSN 01446193
Abstract
Construction workers are a high risk group for poor health and occupational disability. A participatory action research (PAR) project was undertaken at construction sites in Queensland, Australia. Using the PAR framework, a needs-based health promotion planning model was implemented. Health promotion measures were designed to address the 'SNAPO' health risk factors (i.e. smoking, nutrition, alcohol consumption, insufficient physical exercise and overweight/obesity). At the largest site participating in the research, preliminary health assessments revealed levels of physical health that were comparable with those of the general Australian population. The construction workers' mental health was poorer than that of the general Australian population. A consultation workshop with a representative group of workers at the site identified healthy eating, smoking cessation and physical exercise as priority areas for intervention. Several health promotion measures addressing these issues were implemented, including a quit smoking programme, a 'healthy options' menu in the site canteen, healthy eating and cooking workshops and onsite yoga and stretching sessions. A subset of workers at the site reported their health behaviour in weekly 'logs'. The log data revealed fluctuations in health behaviour over a 14-week period. Evaluation interviews and a focus group revealed environmental impediments to the adoption of healthy lifestyle behaviours. Workers identified the need to provide a work environment that is supportive of healthy behaviour as critical to the effectiveness of specific health promotion measures.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | blue collar workers; job demands; occupational health; physical and psychosocial risk factors |
| Index terms: | exercise, workshop, onsite, lifestyle, Australia, overweight, risk factor, effectiveness, work environment, health behaviour, option, mental health, job demand, construction worker, action research, focus group, health risk, interview, occupational health, Queensland, programme, construction site, population, disability, health promotion, alcohol, obesity, consumption |
| Subjects: | health behaviours and lifestyles, practitioner, consumer economics, construction type, data collection methods, work location, psychology, Geography, performance management, public and environmental health, management, environmental hazards, environmental health, decision analysis, health conditions and diseases, building construction, occupational health and safety management, project controls, demography |
| Topics: | Sustainability, Construction Technology, Roles and Professions, Stakeholder Management, Risk Management, Geographical Context, Research Practice, Health and Safety, Organizational Design, Site Management, Time Control, Human Resources, Quality Management, Urban Studies |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCE |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here