文章基本信息

标题：The Union RAP: Industry-Wide Research-Action Projects to Win Health and Safety Improvements
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作者：Kristin Bradley-Bull ; Thomas H. McQuiston ; Tobi Mae Lippin 等
期刊名称：American journal of public health
印刷版ISSN：0090-0036
出版年度：2009
卷号：99
期号：Suppl 3
页码：S490-S494
DOI：10.2105/AJPH.2008.148544
语种：English
出版社：American Public Health Association
摘要：Unions are ripe to engage in community-based participatory research (CBPR). We briefly profile 3 United Steelworker CBPR projects aimed at uncovering often-undocumented, industry-wide health and safety conditions in which US industrial workers toil. The results are to be used to advocate improvements at workplace, industry, and national policy levels. We offer details of our CBPR approach (Research-Action Project [RAP]) that engages workers and others in all research stages. Elements of RAPs include strategically constructed teams with knowledge of the industry and health and safety and with skills in research, participatory facilitation, and training; reciprocal training on these knowledge and skill areas; iterative processes of large and small group work; use of technology; and facilitator-developed tools and intermediate products. UNIONS, AS UNITS OF identity and collective action, are ideally suited for engagement in community-based participatory research (CBPR).^{1 – 4} The United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union (USW) is such a community, representing more than 850 000 members in more than 3000 industrial workplaces across the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean. Many of these workplaces harbor substantial, ongoing threats to worker and community health and safety. For example, large volume chemical sites are at significant risk for chemical emergencies and terrorist awttacks.⁵ Oil refineries have failed to apply lessons from previous catastrophes.^{6 , 7} And paper mills pose an unusually high risk for amputations⁸ and potentially devastating chemical releases.⁹ Many of these threats remain largely undocumented—particularly beyond factory walls. Therefore, knowledge of shared conditions across similar workplaces and geographic boundaries is limited. Thus, workers, their unions, and others committed to worker health and safety need action-oriented data to help them strategically target industry- and issue-specific initiatives. Community-based participatory research can help build a base of collective knowledge, a focus for action, and the capacity of the union in these areas. Over the past decade, the USW and its Tony Mazzocchi Center for Health, Safety and Environmental Education have conducted CBPR in conjunction with New Perspectives Consulting Group Inc. The USW—more specifically, its premerger unions—was a founding member of a major, 7-year occupational health CBPR initiative that trained union staff and workers in research and evaluation.^{10 , 11} The USW calls its CBPR projects “Union Research-Action Projects” (RAPs). A major focus of this work is assessing worker training needs to guide the development of targeted and appropriate health and safety education programs. We highlight here 3 industry-wide RAPs examining health and safety conditions in chemical plants, oil refineries, and paper mills ( Table 1 ). TABLE 1 Highlights of United Steelworkers Industry-Wide Research-Action Projects Study Purpose Respondents Key Findings Recommendations for Action Chemical plants¹² To assess vulnerabilities of US chemical plants to possible catastrophic terrorist attacks and unintentional incidents. 133 US facilities in 37 states with very large quantities of highly hazardous chemicals. Response rate: 70%. Too few companies are: using inherently safer technologies to achieve security (17%); taking preventative actions judged to be more than “slightly effective” (18%); involving key stakeholders; and acting to meet worker training needs. There are widespread deficiencies in emergency preparedness. Require more rigorous chemical site assessments, inherently safer processes, stakeholder involvement, and worker training. Oil refineries¹³ To examine the prevalence of highly hazardous conditions similar to those that led to the Texas City disaster, recent related incidents or near-misses, and refinery remedial actions. To assess the state of emergency preparedness, process safety systems, and related worker training. 51 US oil refineries representing 49% of US refining capacity. Response rate: 72%. Following the 2005 BP Texas City disaster where 15 people were killed and more than 180 injured, 90% of sites reported conditions like those at BP, and 61% of those had at least 1 related incident or near miss in the past 3 years. There are widespread deficiencies in process safety including emergency preparedness and training. Eliminate key hazardous conditions and require improvements in hazard analysis, staffing, emergency preparedness, and union and worker involvement. Paper mills To examine the prevalence of hazardous conditions including large quantities of highly hazardous chemicals. To identify serious incidents and near-misses. To assess issues related to the organization of health and safety and union members' roles within it. 218 US paper mills. Pending Pending Open in a separate window KEY FINDINGS ▪ Workers and their unions, fueled by community-based participatory research (CBPR): ▪ Can play a key role in revealing and documenting industry-wide workplace health and safety issues of national significance. ▪ Are uniquely positioned to provide data-driven, action-oriented recommendations to leverage change at plant, industry, and national policy levels. ▪ During each phase of the research process, United Steelworker worker- and staff-researchers play critical roles in (1) improving CBPR products and processes and (2) building and sustaining the union's CBPR capacities. ▪ The United Steelworkers–New Perspectives approach to CBPR (called Union Research-Action Projects or “RAPs”) requires substantial expertise and resources in research methods, planning, training, and participatory facilitation to ensure high-quality participation and research. Other replication considerations include resource availability, timeline needs, and the credibility of this approach for intended results-users.