Associations Between the Breakroom Built Environment, Worker Health Habits, and Worker Health Outcomes: A Pilot Study Among Public Transit Rail Operators. Issue 8 (August 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jones, Nathan M.; McDonnell, Meghan; Sparer-Fine, Emily; Rosner, Bernard; Dennerlein, Jack T.; Kales, Stefanos; Messerlian, Carmen
• Is Part Of: Journal of occupational and environmental medicine. Volume 62:Issue 8(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-08
• Subjects: absenteeism -- breakroom -- built environment -- depression -- disability days -- indoor environmental quality -- nutrition -- physical activity -- transit workers -- worksite health promotion; Medicine, Industrial -- Periodicals; Environmental health -- Periodicals; Occupational Medicine -- Periodicals; Environmental Medicine -- Periodicals; Environmental health; Medicine, Industrial; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.9803
• DOI: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000001909
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1076-2752

Abstract

Abstract : Objective: To investigate the association between the breakroom built environment and worker health outcomes. Methods: We conducted this study in a mass transit organization (rail). We collected a user-reported breakroom quality score (worker survey), a worksite health promotion score (validated audit tool), and self-reported worker health outcomes (survey). Results: Among the 12 breakrooms audited and 127 rail operators surveyed, the average worksite health promotion score was 9.1 (out of 15) and the average user-reported breakroom quality was 3.1 (out of 7). After multivariable regression, breakrooms with higher worksite health promotion scores and user-reported breakroom quality were associated with lower odds of depression and fewer medical disability days. Conclusions: This cross-sectional study demonstrates an association between the quality of the breakroom built environment and worker health, specifically depression and medical disability days. Abstract : Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text