Effectiveness of a Worksite Intervention to Reduce an Occupational Exposure: The Minnesota Wood Dust Study
DeAnn Lazovich, PhD,
David L. Parker, MD, MPH,
Lisa M. Brosseau, ScD,
F. Thomas Milton, MS,
Siobhan K. Dugan, MPH,
Wei Pan, PhD and
Lynette Hock, MS
DeAnn Lazovich is with the Division of Epidemiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. David L. Parker, Lisa M. Brosseau, and Siobhan K. Dugan are with the Division of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. Wei Pan and Lynette Hock are with the Division of Biostatistics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. F. Thomas Milton is with the Department of Wood and Paper Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. David L. Parker and Siobhan K. Dugan are with the Chronic Disease and Environmental Epidemiology Section, Minnesota Department of Health, Minneapolis.
Correspondence: Requests for reprints should be sent to DeAnn Lazovich, PhD, Division of Epidemiology, University of Minnesota, 1300 S 2nd St, #300, Minneapolis, MN 55454 (e-mail: lazovich{at}epi.umn.edu).
Objectives. This study assessed the effectiveness of an interventionto reduce wood dust, a carcinogen, by approximately 26% in smallwoodworking businesses.
Methods. We randomized 48 businesses to an intervention (writtenrecommendations, technical assistance, and worker training)or comparison (written recommendations alone) condition. Changesfrom baseline in dust concentration, dust control methods, andworker behavior were compared between the groups 1 year later.
Results. At follow-up, workers in intervention relative to comparisonbusinesses reported greater awareness, increases in stage ofreadiness, and behavioral changes consistent with dust control.The median dust concentration change in the intervention groupfrom baseline to follow-up was 10.4% (95% confidence interval= 28.8%, 12.7%) lower than the change in comparison businesses.
Conclusions. We attribute the smaller-than-expected reductionin wood dust to the challenge of conducting rigorous interventioneffectiveness research in occupational settings.
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