Midwest Center for a Healthier Workforce

CDC/NIOSH 5U19 OH008868-11 (PI: Rohlman; WU PI: Evanoff)

The goal of the MWCHW is to protect and preserve worker safety and health through knowledge generation and dissemination of evidence-based practices by serving as a leader in research, translation and dissemination of multidisciplinary worker health programs, policies and practices; conducting basic and applied research addressing worker health outcomes; partnering with researchers, employers, and occupational safety and health practitioners to generate, evaluate, and disseminate best practices; and engaging in outreach and education activities to disseminate and speed the adoption of best practices in Total Worker Health.

Impacting the Safety, Health, and Well-being of Construction Apprentices: Using Intermediaries to Disseminate

CDC/NIOSH 5U19 OH008868-11 (PI: Rohlman; WU PI: Evanoff)

This project aims to improve the health and well-being of young construction trade workers. By gaining a better understanding of the impact of multiple work organization and environmental factors on worker health and identifying existing employer and union practices relevant to Total Worker Health, we can develop and evaluate the feasibility of interventions that address workplace policies, practices, and programs relevant to Total Worker Health. Intermediary organizations, such as construction trade unions and trade organizations, will be used to efficiently disseminate interventions to employers, including the numerous small businesses that employ workers in this industry.

Developing a general population job exposure matrix for studies of work-related MSD

NIOSH/CDC 1R01 OH011076-01A1 (PI: Evanoff)

The overall goal of this study is to create and validate improved methods for workplace physical exposures using a Job Exposure Matrix (JEM). Use of JEM can provide the ability to add detailed work exposure data to many general population data sets that include health outcomes and job titles, but no other work exposure data. This capability will spur additional studies of important health outcomes related to workplace physical exposures.

Workplace Health Participatory Program for Grocery Store Workers

NIH/NIDDK P30 DK092950 (PI: Haire-Joshu; Pilot PI: Dale)

This study is funded through the Pilot and Feasibility Program of the Washington University Center for Diabetes Translation Research (CDTR). The goal of this  project is to trial a participatory program with retail workers to implement health interventions and assess awareness and effectiveness. We will conduct a process evaluation and will conduct long-term follow-up to assess intervention adoption by store workers.

Interventions to Improve Safety Climate and Ergonomics in Construction SME

NIOSH/CDC U60OH009762 (PI: Dale, Evanoff; 09/01/2009-08/31/2019)

Small and Medium size construction companies have high rates of injuries and fatalities, but limited resources for safety and health programs for their workers. This project will evaluate the top-down effects of general contractors’ safety requirements on workers in small and medium sized companies, and will evaluate improvements in prevention of musculoskeletal disorders resulting from integration of ergonomics into an overall construction safety management program.

Worksite Interventions to Reduce Obesity and Diabetes Risk in Low SES Populations

NIH/NIDDK R01 DK103760-01A1 (PI: Evanoff)

This innovative study will test readily scalable interventions that can be translated to other work settings to reduce obesity and diabetes risk among low-income workers, a group at high risk for these disorders. We will test the use of targeted communications, mobile phone technology, and worker participation in the design of workplace obesity interventions. This pragmatic study will advance the long-term goal of reducing obesity and obesity-associated illnesses including diabetes.

Post-Offer Screening and Risk Factors for CTS

NIOSH/CDC R01 OH008017-06; PI: Evanoff, Dale; 06/01/2004-05/30/2015

The overall aim of this study is to better understand important aspects of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS), a common disabling condition affecting working populations. This study will allow better definition of risk factors for CTS and the interplay between physical, personal, and psychosocial factors. It will address other important gaps in existing knowledge, including the natural history of CTS, the impact of CTS on work and functional outcomes, and the utility of current screening programs in industry.

Obesity Reduction and Prevention in Minority and Low-Income Workers

Pilot Award

P30 DK092950; PI: Evanoff; 09/20/2011-07/31/2016

This study is funded through the Pilot and Feasibility Program of the Washington University Center for Diabetes Translation Research (CDTR). The project focuses on the lack of access to or participation in employer-sponsored wellness programs among racial/ethnic minority and low-income workers, a population with low success in weight reduction. We will evaluate social determinants of these disparities, barriers to participation, and the effectiveness of current worksite programs aimed at sustained weight reduction. Data from this study will drive subsequent workplace intervention studies aimed at low-income workers.

Integrated Health Protection and Health Promotion Program for Grocery Store Workers

NIOSH/CDC U19 OH008858; PI: Dale; 07/01/2014-06/30/2015

The goal of this small pilot study is to evaluate the feasibility of using a participatory intervention approach to promote healthy eating, physical activity, and the use of ergonomic solutions among grocery store workers.

A Pooled Longitudinal Analysis of Workplace Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

NIOSH/CDC R01 OH009712; PI: Rempel; 09/01/2010-08/31/2013

This study created the largest existing database on workplace risk factors for carpal tunnel syndrome by merging exposure and outcomes data from seven prospective studies. These data will allow the most precise estimates to date of the risk posed by work exposures, and allow calculation of quantitative dose-response relationships. This information will be used to design safer work practices to reduce risks of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Epidemiology of Parkinsonism in Welders

NIEHS/NIH R01 ES013743; PI: Racette; 02/03/2007-11/30/2011The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between lifetime welding exposure and clinical and biomarkers of Parkinsonism in a cohort of shipyard workers

Communication-Based Strategies to Eliminate Cancer Disparities

NCI/NIH 5P50CA905815007; PI: Kreuter; 09/01/2009-08/31/2010

The project helped prevent cancer by encouraging smoking cessation among union construction workers, a population with high smoking rates and strong cultural norms that encourage continued smoking. By better defining cultural beliefs and attitudes that support the maintenance of smoking, we designed communication strategies that encourage participation in smoking cessation programs.

Knee Disorders and Occupational Biomechanical Risks

NIOSH/CDC R01 OH008254; PI: Buccholz; 09/01/2006-08/31/2010

This study was designed with a focus on the risk of osteoarthritis and other chronic knee conditions associated with chronic biomechanical exposures to the lower limb. We developed and evaluated methods to: 1) identify and characterize incident cases of knee disoreders in the Carpenters’ Combined Benefits Fund of Massachusetts and the Carpenters’ Health and Welfare Trust Fund of St. Louis medical insurance records; and 2) assess a diverse range of exposures occurring in carpenters’ jobs through observational analyses in the field.

Fall Prevention Training Among Residential Carpenters

NIOSH/CPWR U54 OH008307; PI: Evanoff; 08/01/2004-06/30/2009

The overall goal of this proposal was to evaluate the effectiveness of fall protection training methods in the apprenticeship carpenters’ program.

Testing the Effectiveness of Targeted Smoking Cessation Messages in Construction Trade Workers

NIH/NCI 1 R21 CA161169; PI: Evanoff; 09/26/2011-08/31/2014

This project contributed to public health by testing innovative health communication strategies to reduce smoking in a high-risk population. If successful, the new methodologies for smoking cessation used in this study can be extended to other blue-collar workers in order to reduce health disparities that exist between different worker populations.

Fall Prevention in Residential Construction

NIOSH/CPWR U60 OH0097622; PI: Evanoff; 09/01/2009-08/31/2014

The aims of this grant were to 1) Explore the benefits and barriers to use of commercially available fall prevention technologies, and promote the use of underutilized technologies; 2) Implement and measure the effects of a communication-based safety intervention, and 3) Evaluate on-the-job fall protection safety training.

Evaluation of a Contractor-Based Participatory Ergonomics Intervention

NISH/CPWR U60 OH00972; PI: Welsh; 09/01/2009-08/31/2014

The overall goal of this proposal was to reduce work-related musculoskeletal disorders in the construction industry through a participatory ergonomics intervention to improve the adoption and diffusion of existing methods to reduce high-risk physical exposures. Study outcomes include musculoskeletal symptoms, reductions in physical exposures, dissemination of changes in work practices and safety technologies.