EXPLICACIÓN DE LOS NIVELES DEL CONO DE DALE

The Hea lth Belief Model ( Rosenstock. 1 974 ). has three key e lements: -the indi vidual perception. the foe tors modifyi ng his perceptions and the likelihood of his taking the expected correct action. In this stud y. thi s translates to the worker's ability tu ~hange his behaviour pos iti vely resulting in hi s preventing LBP . f-or the packaging worke r to have the right perception he mu st have good knowledge of I.BP. hc must perceive hi s susceptibil ity or vul nera bility to developing LBP as high in view ol' the nature or hi s job. I le must also be fully alert to the scriuu sm.:ss o f the threat which LOP posses to his work lif e.

For the packagi ng wo rker tu finall y take po sitive behaviour to prevent LBP, the diff erence between his perceived benefit and the perceived barriers

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must be positive and he mus t be backed by a favo urable reinforcing environment provide d by his peers. management o f the industry and good counsell ing /care of the health team. as described in I ll3M as hi s cures to action.

The perceived s usceptibilit y o f the packaging workers to LBP is high because he believes hi s job dail y exposes him to the dan ger o f I ,BP as he secs

many d eve lop or complain or the ailment o n daily basis . The workers·

perceived serio usness of the Ll3P threat is re al. I le sees those with the ailment, sees the ago ny of the pain they

throu gh and the socioeco nomic problems the ailme nt produ ces. The pe rceived bcnelits which the packaging workers consider include enjoy ing good health free of LBJ>, freedom from the embarrass ment of LBP, the stability in h is family relationship w he n he is free of LBP a nd protec tion from fear of loss o f job as it is very diffic ult to get a new one.

On the other hand . the harriers he pe n.:e ives include; negative conse4uences of lifting job, press ure or ^rnmpany target and cost of treatment o f LBP. For the worke r lo adopt positive behaviour or preven ting LBP,

the perceived benefit must outwei gh the pen.:civcd barriers. As already slated, the packaging worker ha s a near average knowledge about LBP.

His perceived susceptibilit y and perceived seriousness to LBP threats

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are high. His cues to action are limited because of hi gh staff turnover. So in respect of his health seeking practices he is likel y to develop positive behaviour and so seek goo<l health practices that will enable him re<lucc the chances or developing LBP. The \\T1rke1··s problem here may be lack of knowledge about LBP and inadequate training on liltin g techniques.

Applying the I IUM model 011 th e likelihood ur ^{the packaging worker}

taking the right action of adopting correct lilting techniques and thereby reduc e the incidence or absenteeism occasio ned by series of' injuries and attendant sick offs, the pac kaging ,,orkcr wi ll require adequate knowledge.

the perceived benefi ts must outwei~h the perceived barriers. This knowledge will be provided by a tripartite team from personnel departmen t. medical department and the peer group/ first-aid represe ntatives. The perceived benefits like regular promotion of staff by management. other motivational gifts of drums and kegs and regular employment must outweigh the perceived harriers like the neg.alive co11seqt1l' lll" l'S of' lif'li11g _ioh sm· h as I , BP: pn.:ssun.: of' meeti ng company targets and cost of tn:almcnt of LBP.

Generally. the workers pcru:ived susceptibility and perceived se riousnes s of the LBJ> threat arc usually hi gh. With positive cues lo action through management support which ,,·i 11 allow the workers to be involved in determining the type of safe ty wears to be purchased. tl1e likel ihood of their taking positive action by usi ng the sali:ty wears will also be hi gh. In thi s

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regard the management shou ld note that their support to the wo rkers is both necessary and vital in achi ev ing the desired goal of using the safety wea rs.

Thi s is an important aspect of management co mpetence.