title: The Union RAP: industry-wide research-action projects to win health and safety improvements.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: New Perspectives Consulting Group Inc, 1429 Broad St, Durham, NC 27705, USA. info@newperspectivesinc.org
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bradley-Bull
authors.forename: Thomas H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: McQuiston
authors.forename: Tobi Mae
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Lippin
authors.forename: Leeann G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: M Josie
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Beach
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Frederick
authors.forename: Thomas A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Seymour
mesh_terms: D003256:Community Participation; D006801:Humans; D007750:Labor Unions; D016272:Occupational Health; D011634:Public Health; D012106:Research; D017751:Safety Management; D013672:Technology