Applied Research Funding Projects 2011-2015

1. RMIT UNIVERSITY

Funded body: RMIT University

Industry: Construction

Project time: February 2014 May 2015

Amount funded: $154,000

Organisations involved

No. of workers

Locations

LendLease

140

Large road project across several hundred kilometre stretch in Queensland

Power station in Queensland

Hospital site in Queensland

Overview:

The Centre for Construction Work Health and Safety Research of RMIT University focused on reducing SNAPO risk factors at three sites in a large construction and property company.

Mental and physical health was explored. Data was collected through surveys, consultation workshops, weekly logs, evaluation workshops, interviews and focus groups.

The primary target population of the research was site-based blue-collar workers, specifically technicians and trades workers; machinery operators and drivers and labourers.

The research project considered environmental and organisational aspects of health promotion programs

Key outcomes

The weekly log data indicated that the specific health promotion measures implemented during the course of the research did not produce steady or sustained improvements in workers health behaviour in relation to the SNAPO factors.

The log data suggested that other distinct events may have had a greater impact on workers health behaviour than the health promotion strategies implemented. For example, physical exercise appeared to increase when workers had more time off work (RDO or public holidays). The data suggests healthy eating habits were also affected by time away from work

Construction workers in the sample had poorer than expected health for their corresponding age groups

The survey revealed the mental health of the sample to be lower than the Queensland male averages

The focus groups and interview data revealed that job demands experience by people in the sample had a significant influence on workers health.

Travel time to and from work exacerbated the impact of long hours of work

Job insecurity was identified as a significant psychological demand impacting on workers health.

Poor communication of health initiatives available was a barrier to successful implementation/greater uptake and adoption of initiatives.

2. GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY

Funded body: Griffith University

Industry: Construction

Project time: February 2014 May 2015

Amount funded: $170,472

Organisations involved

No. of workers

Locations

1 large construction organisation

(requested anonymity)

186

3 sites across South East Queensland

Overview:

Targeted nutrition intake and eating habits in six Hutchinson Builders construction sites in South East Queensland.

Consisted of three distinct areas of health promotion readiness for change, behavioural change therapy and safety culture for sustainable improvement in the dietary intake and health risk profile of construction trades workers and labourers both from the principal contractors and also subcontractors.

Examined the impact of two main variables on health outcomes: 1) a managerial supported group compared with an individualised approach and 2) material aligned with participants readiness for health change (called Stage of Change) compared with generic material aimed at awareness raising on the impact of ill-health and poor health behaviours.

A combination of strategies were used aimed at; the individual level for the target population, strategies for their immediate line supervisor, intermediate manager and seniors managers and strategies aimed at workplace policy, culture and physical environment mechanisms.

Incorporated worker-level and organisational level strategies, strategically aligning the change to match individual and organisational readiness for change.

Intervention materials focused on the dietary topics of: cardiovascular disease, diabetes risk, formulated caffeinated beverage (energy drink) and sugary drink consumption, takeaway options and hydration.

An iterative approach was used for project delivery whereby lessons learnt at each stage were used to inform the next stages of the project and target identified problems.

Key outcomes

Organisational approaches appeared to work better than individual message approaches in this setting.

Site manger support is the most critical component in this setting for project success. However, all levels of management need to support the project, including the supply chain. The unique structure of construction projects means multiple managers influence activities onsite.

The intervention was effective in improving participating construction workers nutrition and beverage intake

There was a positive improvement in attitudes about the need and likely success of nutrition interventions in construction by both managers and trades workers and labourers.

It was found that although there were perceptions that managers have no influence on food choices they do influence nutritional intake onsite in hidden or unrecognised ways. This influence is demonstrated through their own eating behaviour as well as within their job role (e.g. lunch room set up and barbeque food choices).

3. DIABETES QUEENSLAND AND GROCOM

Project name: Live Well Farm Well

Industry: Rural

Project time: April 2013 April 2015

Amount funded: $400,000

Organisations involved

No. of workers

Locations

S. Lowe & Sons Pty Ltd

Ag-White Pty Ltd

Mackays Bananas

Liverpool River Bananas

LMB Farms

50 70

150-170

350-400

16-20

100-120

Tully

Tully

Tully

Silkwood

East Palmerston

Overview:

Diabetes Association Queensland (DAQ) partnered with Growcom to deliver the Live Well Farm Well pilot. The goal of Live Well Farm Well pilot was to test a model of workplace wellness in rural industries to reduce the lifestyle risk factors for chronic disease in the rural sector.

Banana farms in the Tully region were the target group for the pilot and a model of workplace wellness was developed and delivered based on the Healthier.Happier.Workplaces Work Health Planning Guide. In brief the program included:

1. Engaging and planning with farm owners/managers

1. Needs assessment using a modified version of the Healthy Places Survey

1. Collection of staff health status data using the AUSDRISK type 2 diabetes risk assessment tool.

1. Development of an action plan with management and staff.

1. Delivery of interventions including DAQ Eat It healthy program and 10,000 steps, policy development and tailored strategies to improve the health environment.

1. At the end of the program farms completed the modified Healthy Places tool and AUSDRISK again to assess changes in the workplace environment and health outcomes.

Additional strategies were used to reach the broader farming community. This included webinars on addressing smoking, healthy eating, risky alcohol consumption and physical inactivity, media and communication strategies and training of local health professionals as facilitators for the Eat It program.

Key outcomes

The project worked with 5 farms (15 worksites) including Mackays Bananas, Australias largest banana producer. A total of 710 workers participated in at least one activity. Key results include:

all farms implementing a workplace Health and Wellbeing policy and a Smoke Free Workplace policy

creating and enforcing smoking and non-smoking areas

providing incentives for staff to quit smoking

pre and post evaluation with managers showed that only 20% perceived they had a role in addressing the health and wellbeing of workers at the beginning compared to 100% at the end of the project.

removing vending machines or changing the food and drink offered in the machine to healthier options

providing healthy food choices at celebrations

two farms achieved bronze recognition under the Workplace for Wellness recognition scheme

two farms were Highly Commended in the Queensland Work Safe Awards in the Best Workplace Health and Wellbeing category.

All worksites implemented the AUSDRISK pre and post health assessments, 10,000 Steps program and the Eat It program and made health information on the SNAPO risk factors available to staff.

AUSDRISK assessments were conducted with 179 workers but due to high staff turnover on farms, only 15 full-time workers could be matched during the post assessments. Results for these workers were:

9 reduced their waist circumference

6 increased their fruit and vegetable consumption

those in the high risk category of developing a chronic disease reduced from 46% to 20%

11 were eating sufficient fruit and vegetables and 14 out of the 15 were undertaking 150 minutes of physical activity during the week.

Of the other 85 workers who were involved in the re-assessment process, their main risk factors were smoking (22%) not eating enough fruit and vegetables (22%) and having a waist circumference outside the recommended measurement (52%).

Evaluation of the Eat It program participants showed:

increase in the number of workers consuming the recommended serves of vegetable from 13% to 17% with an increase in average number of serves of vegetables from 2.6 serves to 2.9 serves

increase in participants know