We propose to enhance the capacity of the Center for Work, Environment, Nutrition and Human Development (CWEND) to become an interdisciplinary Asia-Pacific GEOHealth Hub in Occupational Safety and Health. This planning period will be used to plan for research, training and curriculum development, and to develop the interdisciplinary network of scientists and policy-makers necessary to address worker health and safety concerns in several workplace sectors critical to the expansion of the Thai economy. Although Thailand has a strong basic occupational health and safety (OSH) infrastructure that provides fundamental OSH protections to workers in larger sized private sector workplaces, gaps in OSH still exist in other workplace sectors. As a model for the integration of academic research with the development of new policies to protect worker health and safety we will focus on the informal and healthcare sectors, which are not covered under current OSH regulations. We propose to collect data on the perceived gaps and opportunities for new OSH policy initiatives in these sectors, in order to develop a prioritized research agenda to support these initiatives. We also propose to collect background survey data on the OSH experience, concerns and issues faced by Thai workers in the informal and health care sectors. CWEND will work with the existing DrPH and the new PhD program in OSH at the Mahidol Faculty of Public Health, the University of Massachusetts'Departments of Work Environment, Nursing and Community Health and Sustainability in collaboration with the Thai Public Health Education Institutes Network (ThaiPHEIN), to expand the research capacity of current faculty, staff and graduate students to produce high quality research in support of new policy initiatives for OSH in Thailand. CWEND will also plan to expand research capacity training to other regional partners using the South East Asian Public Health Educational Institutes Network (SEAPHEIN) network and the Asia-Pacific Academic Consortium for Public Health (APACPH) network, in both of which Mahidol University plays a leadership role.

Public Health Relevance

This proposal will develop a plan to enhance research collaborations and training and support the science needed to develop national occupational health and safety policies in the economically important areas of the informal and health care sectors in Thailand.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Fogarty International Center (FIC)
Type
Resource-Related Research Projects (R24)
Project #
5R24TW009560-02
Application #
8549881
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZES1-SET-D (GH))
Program Officer
Jessup, Christine
Project Start
2012-09-20
Project End
2014-08-31
Budget Start
2013-09-01
Budget End
2014-08-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2013
Total Cost
$42,669
Indirect Cost
$13,905
Name
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Department
Miscellaneous
Type
Schools of Earth Sciences/Natur
DUNS #
956072490
City
Lowell
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
01854
Silpasuwan, Pimpan; Viwatwongasame, Chukeat; Kongtip, Pornpimol et al. (2017) Catching and Correcting Unreported, Under-Reported Accidents (Near-Misses) among Healthcare Provider in Thailand. Arch Med (Oviedo) 9:
Tipayamongkholgul, Mathuros; Luksamijarulkul, Pipat; Mawn, Barbara et al. (2016) Occupational Hazards in the Thai Healthcare Sector. New Solut 26:83-102
Kongtip, Pornpimol; Nankongnab, Noppanun; Chaikittiporn, Chalermchai et al. (2015) Informal Workers in Thailand: Occupational Health and Social Security Disparities. New Solut 25:189-211
Kaewboonchoo, Orawan; Kongtip, Pornpimol; Woskie, Susan (2015) Occupational health and safety for agricultural workers in Thailand: gaps and recommendations, with a focus on pesticide use. New Solut 25:102-20
Nankongnab, Noppanun; Silpasuwan, Pimpan; Markkanen, Pia et al. (2015) Occupational Safety, Health, and Well-being Among Home-based Workers in the Informal Economy of Thailand. New Solut 25:212-31