Interaction of occupational and personal risk factors in workforce health and safety

Abstract

Most diseases, injuries, and other health conditions experienced by working people are multifactorial, especially as the workforce ages. Evidence supporting the role of work and personal risk factors in the health of working people is frequently underused in developing interventions. Achieving a longer, healthy working life requires a comprehensive preventive approach. To help develop such an approach, we evaluated the influence of both occupational and personal risk factors on workforce health. We present 32 examples illustrating 4 combinatorial models of occupational hazards and personal risk factors (genetics, age, gender, chronic disease, obesity, smoking, alcohol use, prescription drug use). Models that address occupational and personal risk factors and their interactions can improve our understanding of health hazards and guide research and interventions.

FIGURE 1—

Conceptual models delineating PRF and ORF effects. Note. ORF = occupational risk factor; PRF = personal risk factor. Model 1 depicts a model in which the PRF and ORF are independent of each other with respect to their impact on disease. Models 2, 3, and 4 present a framework in which PRFs and ORFs can have interaction effects on disease. In models 2 and 3, PRFs and ORFs affect the same disease or disease stage, whereas in model 4 risk factors can affect different diseases or disease stages that can affect each other or disease stages that can exacerbate or compound the disease. In some cases, placement of examples in one model versus another can change on the basis of scientific information or interpretation of that information. References to disease may also include injury.

FIGURE 2—

Examples of 4 Conceptual Models of the Relationships Between Genetics and Occupational Risk Factors Note. CHD = coronary heart disease; ORF = occupational risk factor; WMSD = work-related musculoskeletal disease. Bidirectional and unidirectional arrows indicate flow of effect in the models exemplified.

FIGURE 3—

Examples of 4 Conceptual Models of the Relationships Between Age and Occupational Risk Factors Note. ORF = occupational risk factor; WMSD = work-related musculoskeletal disease. Bidirectional and unidirectional arrows indicate flow of effect in the models exemplified.

FIGURE 4—

Examples of 4 Conceptual Models of the Relationships Between Gender and Occupational Risk Factors Note. ORF = occupational risk factor; WMSD = work-related musculoskeletal disease. Bidirectional and unidirectional arrows indicate flow of effect in the models exemplified.

FIGURE 5—

Examples of 4 Conceptual Models of the Relationships Between Chronic Disease and Occupational Risk Factors Note. COPD = chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; ORF = occupational risk factor. Bidirectional and unidirectional arrows indicate flow of effect in the models exemplified.

FIGURE 6—

Examples of 4 Conceptual Models of the Relationships Between Obesity and Occupational Risk Factors Note. ORF = occupational risk factor; WMSD = work-related musculoskeletal disease. Bidirectional and unidirectional arrows indicate flow of effect in the models exemplified.

FIGURE 7—

Examples of 4 Conceptual Models of the Relationships Between Smoking and Occupational Risk Factors Note. CHD = coronary heart disease; COPD = chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; ORF = occupational risk factor. Bidirectional and unidirectional arrows indicate flow of effect in the models exemplified.

FIGURE 8—

Examples of 4 Conceptual Models of the Relationships Between Alcohol Use and Occupational Risk Factors Note. HBV = hepatitis B virus; ORF = occupational risk factor; VCM = vinyl chloride monomer. Bidirectional and unidirectional arrows indicate flow of effect in the models exemplified.

FIGURE 9—

Examples of 4 Conceptual Models of the Relationships Between Prescription Drug Use and Occupational Risk Factors Note. HBV = hepatitis B virus; ORF = occupational risk factor; PRF = personal risk factor. Bidirectional and unidirectional arrows indicate flow of effect in the models exemplified.