Work
Volume 55, Issue 1, 2016, Pages 37-50

Rights, responsibilities and (re)presentation: Using drawings to convey health and safety messages among immigrant workers (Article) (Open Access)

McKillop C. , Parsons J.A.* , Brown J. , Scott S. , Holness D.L.
  • a Applied Health Research Centre, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, 30 Bond St, Toronto, ON M5B 1W8, Canada
  • b Applied Health Research Centre, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, 30 Bond St, Toronto, ON M5B 1W8, Canada, Department of Physical Therapy, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
  • c Centre for Research Expertise in Occupational Disease, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
  • d Susan Scott Graphics, Peterborough, ON, Canada
  • e Centre for Research Expertise in Occupational Disease, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, St Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada, Dalla Lana School of Public Health and Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada, Centre for Urban Health Solutions, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Immigrant workers who are new to Canada are considered a vulnerable population under the Ontario Ministry of Labour Prevention Strategy for workplace safety. Posters outlining workplace safety rights and responsibilities may not be understandable to new immigrants. OBJECTIVE: To explore visual approaches to making health and safety messages more understandable to new immigrants. METHODS: This pilot study used arts-based qualitative research methods. Key messages from the Ministry of Labour Health & Safety at Work poster were (re)represented as images by an artist. Recent immigrants engaged in individual interviews and then took part in a focus group, in order to elicit their experiences of health and safety practices, their understanding and feedback concerning the Ministry poster, and the images created. RESULTS: An image-rich version of the poster was developed. The combination of drawings and minimal text was preferred and considered helpful by participants. Barriers to health and safety and work challenges for new immigrants were highlighted. Visual analysis yielded new versions of the poster, as well as a pictorial representation of the research process and study findings. CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrates the value of using image-rich posters with immigrant workers, and the effectiveness of using arts-based methods within the research process. © 2016 - IOS Press and the authors. All rights reserved.

Author Keywords

Immigrant workers Occupational health and safety qualitative research arts-based research methods

Index Keywords

responsibility immigrant pilot study drawing safety occupational health qualitative research interview human human experiment worker
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84989350599&doi=10.3233%2fWOR-162385&partnerID=40&md5=6ee460de5c2720ff348180dfdb564c49
DOI: 10.3233/WOR-162385
ISSN: 10519815
Cited by: 1
Original Language: English