Effects of a Workplace Intervention Targeting Psychosocial Risk Factors on Safety and Health Outcomes

TLDR

The study tested whether a workplace intervention targeting work‑life stress and safety‑related psychosocial risk factors improves health and safety outcomes. Using a randomized controlled trial of 264 construction workers, the intervention delivered computer‑based supervisor‑support training, two weeks of behavior tracking, and a four‑hour facilitated team session. At 12 months, the intervention lowered blood pressure, but did not significantly affect self‑reported health, safety participation, or compliance, indicating that further refinement is needed to improve worker health and safety.

Abstract

The goal of this study was to test the effectiveness of a workplace intervention targeting work-life stress and safety-related psychosocial risk factors on health and safety outcomes. Data were collected over time using a randomized control trial design with 264 construction workers employed in an urban municipal department. The intervention involved family- and safety-supportive supervisor behavior training (computer-based), followed by two weeks of behavior tracking and a four-hour, facilitated team effectiveness session including supervisors and employees. A significant positive intervention effect was found for an objective measure of blood pressure at the 12-month follow-up. However, no significant intervention results were found for self-reported general health, safety participation, or safety compliance. These findings suggest that an intervention focused on supervisor support training and a team effectiveness process for planning and problem solving should be further refined and utilized in order to improve employee health with additional research on the beneficial effects on worker safety.