Worker participation in occupational health programs: establishing a central role

1. The changing nature of work is creating workplace organizations and psychosocial work environments that can be hazardous to worker health. 2. Occupational health professionals have operated within a narrow construct of worker health and safety that has failed to recognize and address the health impacts of hazardous work organizations. It is time to expand the purview of occupational health and safety to include issues of work organization, workplace stress, and worker participation. 3. Worker participation programs are in vogue and purport to give workers more control over their work environment. But look closely. How much control and participation do these programs really provide? 4. Occupational health professionals should be vocal advocates for meaningful worker participation programs, and vocal critics of sham programs designed simply to advance the productivity goals of management.