Increasing Worker Participation: The Mental Health Action Checklist

Abstract

This chapter provides an overview of a worker participatory approach to improve the psychosocial work environment in workplaces in Japan, and a unique tool, the Mental Health Action Checklist for a Better Workplace Environment (MHACL), that has been developed to facilitate this approach. Two cases, one successful and one less successful, are introduced to illustrate the fact that a healthy employee participation rate is crucial for a successful program for improving psychosocial work environment. To ensure employee participation in such a program, several strategies are considered.

Appendix. The Mental Health Action Checklist for a Better Workplace Environment (MHACL) (Yoshikawa et al. 2007)

How to use the checklist

• 1. Define the workplace to be checked. In the case of a small enterprise, the whole workplace can be checked. In the case of larger enterprise, particular work areas can be defined for separate checking.

• 2. For each action item, tick a box that best suits your option. Look for a way to apply the action. If that action has already been applied or it is not necessary, tick NO under “Do you propose action?”. If you think the action is worthwhile, tick YES. You can put your brief suggestion in the space nearby.

• 3. You may write any additional items that you think are appropriate on page 3, and tick them accordingly.

• 4. Make sure that for each item you have marked NO or YES, and that you have chosen PRIORITY items.

• 5. Discuss the results in small groups and agree on improvements that should be done immediately.

A. Participation in work planning

1. Hold a brief meeting before work to jointly plan the work assignments and time schedules.

2. Assign to each work team the responsibility to decide how to do the work.

3. Re-arrange the allocation of tasks so as to avoid excessive workload of particular workers.

4. Increase multi-skilled jobs to raise the sense of accomplishment by each worker.

5. Use a notice board to be used by each team for informing all workers of the team correctly.

B. Working time arrangements

6. Set target hours of work and introduce measures to reduce overtime work, e.g., by “non-overtime days”.

7. Discuss in each team if some tasks can be done prior to or after busy or peak-workload periods.

8. Make sure that all workers can take paid annual leave and childcare leave as entitled.

9. Secure enough resting periods between workdays and short breaks in each shift.

10. Allocate flexible work hours to accommodate personal needs of workers.

C. Ergonomic work methods

11. Provide multi-level storage shelves, mobile racks, trolleys and lifters for handling materials and files.

12. Improve workplace layout and workstations for easy access to work items and natural work postures.

13. Use labels, signs and colours for making it easy to distinguish different materials, switches or displays.

14. Reduce repetitive or monotonous tasks by combining tasks or by job rotation.

15. Attach proper guards to dangerous machines and use safety devices and alarms to prevent mistakes.

D. Workplace environment

16. Adjust air temperature, ventilation, lighting and noise levels for more comfortable work.

17. Isolate or enclose sources of hazardous dust or chemicals.

18. Provide a separate smoking room or place to avoid passive smoking at work.

19. Provide hygienic toilets, lockers and washing facilities and relaxing resting facilities.

20. Properly mark evacuation routes and put on the wall proper emergency procedures.

E. Mutual support at work

21. Make sure workers feel at case in talking to their supervisors or bosses about their work or troubles.

22. Encourage a mutually supportive climate in which workers can consult each other about their concerns.

23. Organize informal or social gatherings and recreational activities more often.

24. Ensure that all workers receive timely feedback about their work results.

25. Use newsletters, e-mails or bulletin boards for exchanging information among different sections.

F. Preparedness

26. Set up a privacy-protecting contact point for counseling about health or troubles of worker.

27. Organize training sessions for learning self-care in order to cope with stress at work.

28. Make the future plans of changes in jobs known to all workers.

29. Inform workers of fair chances of promotion and qualifications they can obtain.

30. Establish emergency communication procedures for assuring appropriate health care of workers.