Study Protocol for a Qualitative Research Project Exploring an Occupational Health Surveillance Model for Workers Exposed to Hand-Intensive Work

Abstract

The objective of this study protocol is to describe the development of a process model for occupational health surveillance for workers exposed to hand-intensive work (the HIW-model), and to describe the studies that will explore the model. The studies are designed to: (1) explore stakeholders’ experiences of the model, and (2) explore if, and how, the model affects actions for reduction of exposure to hand-intensive work. The study protocol presents a research project that is described as two studies. The first study will explore company representatives’ and ergonomists’ experiences of the execution of the HIW-model and its various components concerning feasibility and values. Semi-structured interviews will constitute the data source. The second study will explore whether the execution of the HIW-model leads to work environmental changes, such as actions for reduction of exposure to hand-intensive work, and whether these potential actions are based on the ergonomist’s feedback of the exposure assessment and the medical health checks. A mixed method approach will be applied, in which the data sources will be comprised of semi-structured interviews, questionnaires, and documents. The project is expected to generate knowledge regarding the values of the HIW-model. The project is anticipated to shed light on factors that facilitate or impede execution of the model from the different stakeholders’ perspectives; the employer’s as having the legal responsibility for the work environment, and the occupational health service consultants’, being the work environment experts supporting the employers.

Company Representatives’ Experiences of Occupational Health Surveillance for Workers Exposed to Hand-Intensive Work: A Qualitative Study

“…The sole purpose of this component was to ascertain whether the workers were (or were not) exposed to hand-intensive work. In fact, the identification should only render a yes/no answer to the question: “Are the workers, in their current work environmental conditions, exposed to hand-intensive work or not?” [ 31 ].…”

“…The objective of the exposure assessment was to assess, analyze, and quantify hazardous exposures to provide the information needed for deciding which workers were to be subjected to the medical health check (screening and clinical examination). The exposure assessment should be performed by the ergonomist [ 31 ].…”

“…The objective of the screening and clinical examination was to examine the neck and upper extremities, with the aim of identifying pain and disabilities among those workers who, according to the exposure assessment, were exposed to hazardous levels of hand-intensive work [ 31 ].…”

“…This study is part of a larger research project, which explores the stakeholders’ experiences of the HIW-model and if and how the process model has any impact on actions for the reduction of exposure to hand-intensive work in the workplace [ 31 ]. In the study presented in this paper, we used a qualitative exploratory design.…”

“…Figure 1 illustrates a newly developed model that describes the work process execution for occupational health surveillance of workers exposed to hand-intensive work, the (HIW-model). The development of the process model as well as the description of the different components of the model is presented by Eliasson et al [ 31 ]. The process model aims to guide the employer (as having the legal responsibility for the work environment) and the OHS provider (an independent expert supporting employers regarding the work environment and health-related issues) through the work process of occupational health surveillance.…”