Approaches to occupational health based on participatory methodology in small workplaces.
An intervention based on the methodology developed by the International Labour Office, the Work Improvement in Small Enterprises (WISE) was carried out to improve work condition of small-scale enterprises and the informal sector in the Philippines, Thailand and Japan. Through the evaluation of the efficacy of the approaches based on participatory methodology, it is concluded that the method is an efficient measure to improve work condition in small workplaces. It is also pointed out that the activities of supporting experts such as introduction of the methodology and evaluation of the activity are necessary. The important roles of the experts are 1) to encourage managers and workers to sustain the activities for work improvement, 2) to analyse the effectiveness and problems of the implemented improvements, 3) to give appropriate suggestions for the further improvement, and 4) to get materials for demonstrating the effectiveness of WISE activities on improving work conditions and productivity to other managers and workers who have not participated in the activity.
Itani
Toru
T
Health Sciences of Life, Work and Environment, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1 Kawasumi, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya 467-8601, Japan.
Tachi
Norihide
N
Takeyama
Hidemaro
H
Ebara
Takeshi
T
Takanishi
Toshimasa
T
Murata
Kensaburo
K
Inoue
Tatsuki
T
Suzumura
Hatsuko
H
Kurungkraiong
Sudthida
S
Khuvasanont
Tanavadee
T
Batino
Jose Maria
JM
D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D016272:Occupational Health; D010679:Philippines; D013785:Thailand; D017132:Workplace