Surveillance of working conditions and the work en

Authors: Rebbecca Lilley AnneMarie Feyer Hilda Firth Chris Cunningham Charlotte Paul

Publish Date: 2009/07/28

Volume: 55, Issue: 1, Pages: 49-57

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Abstract

Changes to work and the impact of these changes on worker health and safety have been significant A core surveillance data set is needed to understand the impact of working conditions and work environments Yet there is little harmony amongst international surveys and a critical lack of guidance identifying the best directions for surveillance efforts This paper describes the establishment of an instrument suitable for use as a hazard surveillance tool for New Zealand workersA robust New Zealand hazard surveillance questionnaire comprehensively covering the key measures of work organisation and work environments that impact upon worker health and safety outcomes was developed Recommended measures of work organisation work environment and health outcomes that should be captured in work environment surveillance are madeThe authors wish to acknowledge the input of the following participating investigators in the initial study proposal and the selection of questionnaire measures Dr Dorothy Broom and Professor Tord Kjellstrom Department of Population Health Australian National University Professor Peter Crampton Department of Public Health Wellington School of Medicine University of Otago and Professor Neil Pearce Centre for Public Health Research Massey University Associate Professor Peter Herbison is acknowledged as a participating investigator having input into the initial study proposal and for his statistical advice and support during the project Dr Lyndal Starazdins Department of Population Health Australian National University is acknowledged for her input in the selection of questionnaire measuresThis project was funded by the Health Research Council HRC of New Zealand HRC contract 02/264 Dr Lilley was also supported by HRC/ACC Early Career PhD and Post Doctoral Awards The Research Centre for Maori Health and Development is funded by a programme grant from the HRC

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