Integrating Safety and Health Promotion in Workplaces: A Scoping Review of Facilitators, Barriers, and Recommendations

Abstract

Background Growing evidence supports the integration and coordination of occupational health and safety and workplace health promotion activities instead of these coexisting as siloed efforts. Identifying implementation challenges and how these can be overcome is an important step to achieving truly integrated worker health efforts. We conducted a scoping review to identify the barriers and facilitators to integrated worker health approaches and described recommendations for implementing these efforts. Method Peer-reviewed articles and gray literature from 2008 to 2019 were searched from the following electronic databases: EMBASE, Ovid Medline, PsycINFO, and ABI/INFORM. References from relevant articles and key informant suggestions also were collected. Data were extracted from documents if they focused on the occupational health and safety and health promotion of workers and described outcomes associated with integrated worker health approaches or outlined considerations relevant to the implementation of these approaches. Results Fifty-one documents met the inclusion criteria and were reviewed. Barriers and facilitators to implementing integrated worker health approaches were found at the extraorganizational, organizational, worker, and program levels, with limited resource availability the most reported barrier and support from leadership the most reported facilitator. Ten broad recommendations were identified and highlighted gaining leadership support, demonstrating leadership commitment, developing worker-centric approaches, and building capacity for workers. Conclusion In reviewing the literature, we found clear and consistent recommendations relevant for integrated worker health approaches. Further research is needed to better understand how these recommendations apply to diverse workforces and organizations with varied resources.

Barriers and facilitators to the implementation of workplace health promotion programs: Employers' perceptions

“…In line with our study, other studies that identified barriers and/or facilitators according to employers reported some similar findings ( 7 , 26 , 27 ). A lack of management support was a frequently mentioned barrier and a facilitator when support was present ( 7 , 26 , 27 ). The importance of supervisors' attitudes toward WHPPs and their involvement in their implementation also came up in our study.…”

“…“Employee” or “healthy workplace” committees have been proposed to enhance engagement. Different stakeholders can be represented, including employees from various departments in an organization, “ambassadors” who enthusiastically support WHPPs, and management ( 26 , 27 ). Such committees can improve employee participation as their needs are known and met by the organization.…”

Using the sanitation safety planning tool to improve the occupational health and safety of de-sludging operators in Uganda: a protocol for a controlled before and after study

“…Understanding facilitators and barriers to the promotion of OHS is necessary to inform the design of appropriate interventions geared toward effective and sustainable OHS [50]. A review of literature reveals that barriers and facilitators to OHS occur across all levels (extra organizational, organizational, worker, and program levels) due to limited resource availability [50]. Factors such as training de-sludging operators on OHS, supervision, policy and regulations, and enforcement, influence uptake and promotion of OHS measures [49].…”

International society of sport psychology position stand: mental health through occupational health and safety in high performance sport

“…This commentary expands discussions about safety, particularly in high-performance sport, given the weekly hours invested in training and competition for those working onsite. We seek to move beyond contextualized cases of maltreatment, to considerations of what nourishing processes entail and how these can be designed (Biswas et al, 2021). Sport psychology professionals have already produced position stands (Schinke et al, 2018;Moesch et al, 2018) and consensus statements (Henriksen et al, 2018;Reardon et al, 2019) focused on athlete mental health in high-performance environments.…”

“…The IOC Athletes' Commission is a group made up of former Olympic athletes that offers an athlete-driven perspective on various topics, including doping, women in sport, and the Olympic Games, and reflects the idea that athletes can create committees dedicated towards identifying unsafe hazards within sport environments. Finally, an integrated worker health promotion approach is beneficial in protecting athletes from safety threats while also providing opportunity to advance health and wellbeing (Biswas et al, 2021).…”