Employers seeking a program that "works" are urged to consider their goals and whether they have an organizational culture that can facilitate success. Employers who choose to adopt a health promotion program should use best and promising practices to maximize the likelihood of achieving positive results.

We measured the relationship between earthquake concern and preparation in a community with high seismic risk. Five samples of approximately 800 people were interviewed by telephone about their earthquake concern, but this study focuses on the last two samples in which respondents reported their preparatory behaviors. The findings were consistent in showing greater likelihood of concern for those who had experienced an earthquake, were female, younger, and non‐Anglo and a greater likelihood of preparation for those who had more concern, were married, and had lived longer at their present address. In a nonrecursive causal model, no evidence was found for a reciprocal effect of preparation on concern. These results were discussed in terms of health belief models including the self‐efficacy and “stages of change” perspectives. Implications were drawn for interventions to increase preparation in ready‐to‐change groups and compensate for the resistance of those less willing or able to prepare.

Modifiable risk factors contribute substantially to overall health care expenditures. Health promotion programs that reduce these risks may be beneficial for employers in controlling health care costs.

Recent developments in time-series designs that may be useful in epidemiology are described. The hypothesis that increased employment affects the rate of accidental injuries per worker month among manufacturing workers is tested to demonstrate the methods. Results suggest that increased employment increased the monthly rate of accidental injuries in San Diego and Los Angeles Counties in the 11-year period 1974 through 1984.