The goal of the Center is to evaluate several models for integrating workplace health promotion with occupational ergonomic and mental health interventions to improve the health of New England workers. Employers, labor organizations, and government institutions are faced with challenges such as an aging workforce, global trade pressures and rising health care costs.  This situation has stimulated development of new creative initiatives to benefit both workers and companies.  Some organizations have experimented with participatory efforts that engage employees in the design and implementation of these workplace health promotion efforts.

Two Center research projects will rigorously evaluate interventions that seek to develop participatory workplace ergonomics programs in conjunction with addressing other health risk factors. A third research project will develop and evaluate and educational curriculum for health care professionals to improve their knowledge and practice skills related to workplace stress and cardiovascular disease. Learn more details about CPH-NEW projects,

Research Objectives:

• Assess the value of the integration or coordination of health protection and health promotion in the workplace;
• Integrate two core public health areas (Occupational Health and Safety and Health Promotion E(what’s the E for?), linking primary prevention to the workplace, and the workplace to primary prevention;
• Evaluate whether this strategy provides enhanced health benefits and/or greater cost-effectiveness; and
• Evaluate opportunities and obstacles in the traditional public health infrastructure