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 Worker

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.