ASSOCIATION OF THE HEALTH-PROMOTING WORKPLACE WITH TRADE-UNIONISM ANDOTHER INDUSTRIAL FACTORS

Purpose. The study examines associations of five healthy workplace att ributes with trade unionism and nine other industrial and sociodemogra phic factors. The aims were to illustrate the measurement of workplace health promotion indicators in Western Australia and to identify asso ciations leading to a better understanding of determinants of the heal thy workplace. Design. Personal and telephone cross-sectional surveys were performed using population-based sampling frames. The overall res ponse rate was 72%. Setting. Workplaces in Western Australia. Subjects . Random samples of household respondents aged 16 to 69 years in 1992 (n = 1310) and 1994 (n = 1113). Measures. Measures of association betw een healthy workplace attributes and trade unionism were adjusted for workplace location, size, sector; and industrial classification. Resul ts. Trade unionism was strongly associated with healthy catering pract ices (adjust ed OR 2.05; 95% CI 1.30 to 3.23), sun protection practice s (2.66; 1.69 to 4.17), disability access (1.47; 1.10 to 1. 95), and w orksite health promotion programs (2.56; 2.07 to 3.17). A weak and non significant association was observed with restrictive smoking policies (1.21; .95 to 1.55). Generally, healthy workplace attributes were rep orted less often by respondents working in rural locations, in the pri vate sector and at small worksites. There was no consistent relationsh ip with sociodemographic factors, including an index of social disadva ntage, but members of blue-collar occupations experienced a low preval ence of restrictive smoking policies. Conclusions. The study raises th e hypothesis, but cannot confirm, that trade unions could provide a me ans for employees to pursue the creation of a health-promoting workpla ce. Small business represents an excellent target for health promotion activities.