Work

Design and validation of instruments of working conditions associated with silica and asbestos exposure

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: The objective of this study is to design and validate two instruments for characterizing on- and off-the-job working conditions associated with exposure to silica and asbestos in the construction sector. The approach involved four phases: (1) literature review to identify key variables related to exposure, (2) development of the survey instruments, (3) content validation by a panel of experts; and (4) pilot testing with workers and occupational health and safety leaders. Two instruments were constructed. Instrument A, aimed at leaders, had 42 items and instrument B, aimed at workers, had 31 items. Instrument A had a content validity coefficient greater than 0.9 for the 100% of the items in the criteria of relevance, adequacy, pertinence, and coherence, and greater than 0.9 in the criterion of clarity for the 95% of the items. Instrument B had greater variability in the content validity coefficient for the criteria of relevance, adequacy, pertinence, coherence, and clarity, with scores greater than 0.9 for the 71%, 42%, 58%, 48%, and 25% of the items, respectively. The pilot test demonstrated participant understanding of 90% of the items in instrument A and 97% in instrument B. The instruments developed can be used to identify working conditions associated with occupational exposure to silica and asbestos in the sector, thereby facilitating evaluation of working conditions.

Source: Annals of Work Exposures and Health

DOI: 10.1093/annweh/wxag087