The Relationship Between Organizational Dehumanization and Outcomes: The Mediating Role of Emotional Exhaustion Objective: The present research examines the influence of organizational dehumanization on the core dimension of burnout, that is, emotional exhaustion. In addition, we examine how emotional exhaustion in turn influences employees’ health (ie, psychological strains and physical complains) and turnover intentions. In other words, we investigated the mediating role played by emotional exhaustion in the relationship between organizational dehumanization and employees’ health and turnover intentions. Methods: Data were collected among a sample of Belgian employees through questionnaires. Results: As expected, the results of structural equation modeling analyses indicated that emotional exhaustion mediates the relationships between organizational dehumanization on the one hand and employees’ health and turnover intentions on the other hand. Conclusions: These findings contribute to the literature on employees’ burnout by highlighting a new predictor of this syndrome and its subsequent outcomes.

Degree of Integration Between Occupational Safety and Health Programs and Wellness Programs: First-year Results From an Insurer-Sponsored Wellness Grant for Smaller Employers Objective: The aim of this study was to describe levels of integration between occupational safety and health (OSH) and workplace wellness programs/practices/policies (“programs”) among participants in an insurer-sponsored wellness grant program. Methods: We analyzed survey responses about year 1 of an insurer-sponsored grant to start a wellness program from 220 small- and medium-sized employers. Responses yielded 25 indicators of OSH-wellness integration, and 10 additional indicators to summarize multiple responses. Results: At least half of the employers (N = 220) reported some level of integration within five of seven categories of OSH-wellness integration. Employers sometimes considered ergonomics, safety, or substance exposure hazards while designing their wellness program (15%) or reduced such hazards to support their wellness program (24%). Few meaningful differences were observed by employer size. Conclusions: Although high levels of integration were unusual, some degree of integration was common for most indicator categories.

A RE-AIM Evaluation of a Workplace Physical Activity Microgrant Initiative: The 10,000 Steps Workplace Challenge Objective: This study examines the reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance of the 10,000 Steps Pedometer Microgrant Scheme using the RE-AIM framework. Methods: The study used a mixed methods pre–post design. RE-AIM indicators were examined using employee surveys and workplace reports of microgrant implementation, adoption, and maintenance. Results: A total of 259 microgrants and 21,211 pedometers were awarded (reach). Significant increases in physical activity were observed (P < 0.05) (effectiveness). Many (78%) workplaces reported using at least one challenge resource (adoption). Barriers were higher (26.5%) or lower (20.5%) than anticipated participation rates (implementation). Fifty percent of workplaces would continue to promote physical activity (maintenance). Conclusions: The microgrant reached a large number of employees and workplaces, increased physical activity, and achieved good levels of adoption and implementation. Employee and workplace levels of maintenance were mixed and need to be improved.

Outcomes of a Heat Stress Awareness Program on Heat-Related Illness in Municipal Outdoor Workers Introduction: Heat stress is an occupational hazard. Exposed workers may suffer heat-related illness, disease exacerbation, increased injuries, and reduced productivity. Response strategies include mitigation policies and preparedness. Methods: Frequency of heat-related illness and workers’ compensation costs before and after implementation of a voluntary Heat Stress Awareness Program were evaluated retrospectively in outdoor workers from 2009 to 2017. The program consisted of training, acclimatization, and medical monitoring as outlined in NIOSH's Criteria for a Recommended Standard: Occupational Exposure to Heat and Hot Environments. Results: Of the 604 workers assessed, those with two or more risk factors reported a heat-related illness at greater frequency, which decreased after program implementation. Median workers’ compensation costs decreased by 50%. Discussion: Heat-related illness prevention programs can be effective in reducing the frequency and severity of these occupational injuries as well as associated costs.

Burnout Syndrome and Increased Insulin Resistance Objective: Our aim was to measure the association of burnout syndrome with insulin resistance in the context of a workplace health intervention. Methods: One-year intervention program (2015 to 2016) within a university workplace. Participants (n=55) were categorized by the presence or absence of burnout syndrome at baseline using the Maslach Burnout Inventory. Insulin resistance was calculated by the triglyceride glucose index (TyG). The Mediterranean Diet adherence score and several fitness tests were completed by the participants. Results: Although participants with prevalent burnout syndrome at baseline improved their physical fitness and diet scores more than participants without burnout syndrome, multiple linear regression analyses showed that participants with prevalent burnout syndrome at baseline had increased TyG index compared with participants without burnout syndrome (β=0.18; 95% CI, 0.01 to 0.34). Conclusion: Burnout syndrome may be associated with insulin resistance, despite improvements in diet and fitness.

Attending to Pesticide Exposure and Heat Illness Among Farmworkers: Results From an Attention Placebo-Controlled Evaluation Design Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of curricula for improving knowledge and attitudes pertaining to pesticide exposure and heat illness among immigrant Latino farmworkers. Methods: A pesticide safety curriculum informed by the revised Worker Protection Standard (WPS) was tested against an attention placebo-controlled curriculum (heat illness) in a sample of Latino farmworkers (N = 127). Results: Pesticide safety knowledge increased in the overall sample, but did not differ by curriculum assignment. Pesticide safety behavioral intentions increased among participants in the pesticide safety curriculum but decreased among those in the other curriculum (P < 0.05). Heat illness knowledge and behavioral intentions increased more for farmworkers assigned to the heat illness than the pesticide safety curriculum. Conclusion: The developed curricula show good promise for meeting the spirit of the revised WPS and for reducing the burden of heat-related fatality and morbidity among Latino farmworkers.

Beyond Posters: Stairtember—Evaluating the Effectiveness of a Multicomponent Intervention to Promote Stair Climbing Objective: Although stair climbing could contribute to daily physical activity goals, and there is potential for broad population reach, most stair climbing interventions are single-component and have limited effect. Methods: In a longitudinal quasiexperimental study, a 1-month multicomponent intervention, followed by 6 months with point-of-choice prompts, was evaluated in a six-story university building. All floors climbed and lifts ascended were measured by infrared people counters. Regular building occupants were invited to participate in the Stairtember Challenge intervention component. Results: During the intervention, stair climbing increased by 15%. Stair to lift ratios increased from 0.46 to 0.56 (odds ratio 1.22; 95% confidence interval 1.18 to 1.27). Conclusions: The multicomponent stair climbing intervention achieved a moderate increase in average daily stair climbing and stair to lift ratio. As these effects are larger than previously found for traditional signage-based interventions, future interventions should go beyond posters for larger effects on population health.

Using Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Data as an Occupational Health Profile: Washington State Janitors, 2011 to 2017 Objective: Janitorial workers have a high burden of occupational injury and illness, but little information exists on their overall health. Methods: Data from the Washington State Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) were analyzed to characterize the working population of Janitors in Washington State from 2011 to 2017 (n = 490) as compared with all other workers (n = 38,885). Results: Compared with other workers, Janitors were significantly more diverse, had lower socioeconomic status, and reported poorer general health and higher rates of arthritis and depression. Janitors were less likely to have adequate sleep, health insurance, and access to technology. Janitors reported higher rates of smoking and marijuana use. Conclusions: Multiple risk factors compound the vulnerability of Janitors. BRFSS data can be used to characterize the health of occupational groups. Identifying overall health needs can better inform policy and help formulate strategies to improve workers’ health.

Association Between Occupational Exposure to Disinfectants and Asthma in Young Adults Working in Cleaning or Health Services: Results From a Cross-Sectional Analysis in Germany Objective: To analyze the association of occupational disinfectants use with asthma and wheezing in young professionals. Methods: Three hundred sixty-five participants from the German Study on Occupational Allergy Risks II aged 20 to 24 years and working in cleaning or health services answered a questionnaire on respiratory health, occupational exposure to disinfectants, and potential confounders. By logistic regression, we calculated the association between duration of occupational disinfectants exposure and doctor-diagnosed asthma, current asthma, and current wheezing. Results: Individuals exposed to disinfectants for more than 12 months had almost three times the odds of doctor-diagnosed asthma compared with those not exposed (odds ratio [OR]: 2.99, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.36–6.55). Conclusions: Our findings provide some further evidence for an association between occupational exposure to disinfectants and asthma, indicating that this association can be seen already after the first year of exposure.

Evaluating the Impact of a Workplace Wellness Program in Saudi Arabia: An Intra-Department Study Objective: There is limited evidence on how workplace health promotion is implemented and evaluated in the Arab countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The present study aimed to improve the overall well-being of employees at a departmental level in a hospital setting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methods: Using a pre-post longitudinal design, a wellness program was implemented, assessing physical activity, diet, work productivity, absenteeism, workplace satisfaction, and stress. Results: Significant improvement was observed in physical functioning of the employees; with a significant increase in average intake of water/d and fruit consumption, significant decrease in average number of soft drinks consumed/wk, and significant decrease in the days of absence in the last 3 months. Conclusions: There were trends in improvement overall on the wellness measures with significant impact on the physical functioning and dietary habits of the employees.