The Total Worker Health® (TWH) approach: a systematic review of its application in different occupational settings

Author:

Leso Veruscka,Carugno Michele,Carrer Paolo,Fusco Fabio,Mendola Marco,Coppola Mariagaia,Zaffina Salvatore,Di Prinzio Reparata Rosa,Iavicoli Ivo

Abstract

Abstract Background The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), in 2011, developed the “Total Worker Health®” (TWH) as a holistic approach to protect and promote the workers’ safety, health, and well-being. After over ten years from the TWH development, the aim of the present systematic review is to provide a comprehensive overview of the worldwide TWH initiatives. Methods PubMed, Scopus and ISI Web of Science were searched for TWH studies published up to the 31st of July 2023, and 43 investigations could be included. The review was registered on the International prospective register of systematic reviews PROSPERO with the reference number CRD42023416972. Results Issues that emerged as relevant for the TWH operationalization were the awareness about the TWH approach and fundamentals, the leadership commitment, and a participatory engagement of the workforce: these aspects all contributed to acceptable and effective setting oriented TWH plans, specifically tailored on the peculiarities of the workplace, including small enterprises and multiemployer worksites. Evaluation and continual improvement were reported as fundamental for the successful implementation of TWH initiatives. Limited resources for safety and health initiatives, in terms of time, people, and funds, together with difficulties in the identification of safety and health priorities and a poor participatory culture were recognized as obstacles to the TWH application. Training resulted the core component of the TWH leadership and workforce preparedness, with beneficial results in terms of safety culture and adoption of preventive measures. Conclusions Although interesting aspects emerged from our review, future longitudinal investigations should confirm the effectiveness, easy integration, and long-term sustainability of TWH models in different workplaces, in order to effectively support safe and health-enhancing works able to improve innovation and productivity.

Publisher

Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Reference81 articles.

1. Tamers SL, Streit J, Pana-Cryan R, Ray T, Syron L, Flynn MA, Castillo D, Roth G, Geraci C, Guerin R, Schulte P, Henn S, Chang CC, Felknor S, Howard J. Envisioning the future of work to safeguard the safety, health, and well-being of the workforce: A perspective from the CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Am J Ind Med. 2020;63(12):1065–84. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.23183.

2. Schill AL, Chosewood LC. The NIOSH Total Worker Health™ program: an overview. J Occup Environ Med. 2013;55(12 Suppl):S8-11. https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000000037.

3. NIOSH. Fundamentals of total worker health approaches: essential elements for advancing worker safety, health, and well-being. By Lee MP, Hudson H, Richards R, Chang CC, Chosewood LC, Schill AL, on behalf of the NIOSH Office for Total Worker Health. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2017–112;2016.

4. Hudson HL, Schill AL, Richards R. An exploratory, qualitative study of how organizations implement the hierarchy of controls applied to Total Worker Health®. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(19):10032. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph181910032.

5. Lee MP, Hudson H, Richards R, Chang CC, Chosewood LC, Schill AL, NIOSH Office for Total Worker Health. Fundamentals of Total Worker Health approaches: essential elements for advancing worker safety, health, and well-being; DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2017–112. Cincinnati: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health; 2016.

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3