Engaging occupational safety and health professionals in bridging research and practice: evaluation of a participatory workshop program in the Danish construction industry

Publication type
Journal article
Authors
Brandt M, Wilstrup NM, Jakobsen MD, Van Eerd D, Andersen LL, Ajslev JZN
Date published
2021 Aug 01
Journal
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Volume
18
Issue
16
Pages
8498
Open Access?
Yes
Abstract

Engaging occupational safety and health (OSH) professionals has scarcely been evaluated as a means for transferring knowledge to practice about physical workload in the construction industry. The aim of this work was to examine how participants used and incorporate research-based knowledge from a three-day training course into practice. Twenty OSH professionals from the Danish construction industry participated in a workshop-training course. Researchers presented new knowledge and results about physically demanding work. The participants selected which themes they wanted to work with and developed an action plan. Evaluation was done using surveys and phone interviews. Analysis was based on how the OSH-professionals describe themselves, organizations, and the construction industry. Participant's average scores on the level of implementation of their chosen action plans were 3 (on a response scale from 1-5, where 1 is 'to a very low degree' and 5 is 'to a very high degree') immediately after the workshop program and 2.5 at follow-up. Qualitative evaluations showed that actions had been initiated, and some progress had been made. The participants were satisfied with the workshop course and the possibility to increase their knowledge through inputs from researchers and colleges and strongly believe that they would succeed with implementing their action plans in the future