Cost-benefit analysis in occupational health: a comparison of intervention scenarios for occupational asthma and rhinitis among bakery workers.

Objectives: Use of cost-benefit analysis in occupational health increases insight into the intervention strategy that maximises the cost-benefit ratio. This study presents a methodological framework identifying the most important elements of a cost-benefit analysis for occupational health settings. One of the main aims of the methodology is to evaluate cost-benefit ratios for different stakeholders (employers, employees and society).

Quality of working life and organizational performance--two sides of the same coin?

Objective: This discussion paper presents the debate on the theoretical and practical claim that a simultaneous improvement in the quality of working life and organizational performance can be achieved by workplace development.

Methods: We discuss theories that support this claim or could provide additional support, and mention six "programs" on workplace development or social innovation in European countries. We present the results of evaluation studies in Finland, Germany, Ireland, and the Netherlands.

Positive outcomes of participatory ergonomics in terms of greater comfort and higher productivity.

Unlabelled: Ergonomics sometimes has a negative connotation, as it is seen to be connected to illness or guidelines that limit innovations. This paper is focused on the positive aspects of ergonomics in improvement of the working environment. It consists of a part that studies the literature on success factors in the process towards higher productivity and greater comfort, the formulation of a model and a hypothesis, which is illustrated by four cases.

Participation for understanding: an interactive method.

Introduction: There are many available models that help evaluate the effectiveness of safety and health measures, but many are complex and require input from many departments within an organization. There is a need to develop a more user-friendly model.

Method: A participative model was developed that involves face-to-face interviewers with workers, maintenance department, purchasing department and health and safety experts.

A system to test the ground surface conditions of construction sites--for safe and efficient work without physical strain.

Ground surface conditions on construction sites have an important influence on the health and safety of workers and their productivity. The development of an expert-based "working conditions evaluation" system is described, intended to assist site managers in recognising unsatisfactory ground conditions and remedying these. The system was evaluated in the period 2002-2003.

Reasons for applying innovations for scaffolding work.

In this paper reasons for applying and for not applying technical and organisational innovations in scaffolding work are studied. In a participatory ergonomic approach these innovations were developed to reduce problems concerning physical load of scaffolders. In this study reasons for the adoption of the innovations in the scaffolding sector are evaluated in 2 studies, in 48 companies.

Physical effects of new devices for bricklayers.

Bricklaying is a physically demanding job. Bricklayers frequently flex their trunk to pick up bricks and mortar and position these in a wall. The experienced workload is highest working with bricks at 0 to 50 cm from the floor.