‘Relieved Working’ study: intervention to decrease occupational quartz exposure at construction worksites

Occupational quartz exposure continues to be an important hazard in the construction industry. Until now, evidence-based interventions aimed at reducing quartz exposure are scarce. The aim of this study was to systematically develop an intervention and to describe the study to evaluate its effectiveness.



The intervention was developed according to the principles of the Intervention Mapping protocol, meaning that evidence from the literature was combined with information collected from stakeholders (e.g., construction workers, managers and researchers). The intervention aimed to integrate technical, behavioral and organizational factors. The intervention consists of two plenary meetings for all employers within the company and individual visits at construction worksites including specific intervention materials. Additionally, a demonstration session about control measures is organized for all managers. The effectiveness of the intervention will be evaluated in a cluster randomized controlled trial among eight construction companies, with measurements at baseline and follow-up. Outcome measures are personal respirable dust and quartz exposure by means of exposure assessment and behavioural and organizational determinants which will be assessed by means of questionnaires. Additionally, a process evaluation will shed light on whether, how and why the intervention (does not) work(s).

Our hypothesis is that after the intervention the exposure assessment and behavioral factors (e.g. knowledge, skills and social influence) in the intervention group will be significantly higher than the outcomes of those in the control group at follow-up

Baseline

Follow-up (1 year)

The intervention aimed to integrate technical, behavioural and organizational factors. The intervention consists of two plenary meetings for all employers within the company and individual visits at construction worksites including specific intervention materials. Additionally, a demonstration session about control measures is organized for all managers.