Building a strong foundation for occupational health and safety: Action research in the workplace.

Background: Action research (AR) holds promise as a method to improve occupational health and safety.

Methods: This case study explores the challenges and accomplishments during the first 6 months of an AR occupational health and safety committee at a manufacturing facility.

Results: Critical steps in the formative phase of the AR project included: (1) addressing differing power levels and perceived ownership of management and production committee members; (2) developing a collaborative approach to communication and problem solving; and (3) transitioning from dependence on university leadership to shared leadership among the committee.