Research & Insights for Workplace Wellbeing

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Workplace Interventions that Aim to Improve Employee Health and Well-being in Male-dominated Industries: A Systematic Review

Paige M Hulls, Rebecca C Richmond, Richard M Martin, Yanaina Chavez-Ugalde, Frank de Vocht

Occupational and Environmental Medicine

2022 January

DOI: 10.1136/oemed-2020-107314

BMJ

Licence Label: CC BY 4.0

This review examines 35 workplace interventions designed to improve health and wellbeing in male-dominated industries such as construction, manufacturing, and mining. Overall, the evidence shows mixed and generally modest impact. Some interventions, particularly those targeting musculoskeletal health, show more consistent benefits, while others (e.g. weight, blood pressure) show limited or no clear improvement. Most programmes are delivered face-to-face and focus on individual behaviour change. The findings suggest that outcomes depend heavily on how interventions are designed and implemented, with organisational-level approaches and alignment to workplace context appearing more promising than individual-only programmes.

This research highlights that improving health and wellbeing in male-dominated industries is possible, but outcomes are often limited and uneven

  • Overall impact is mixed, with only modest improvements across most outcomes
  • Interventions targeting musculoskeletal health show more consistent benefits than other areas
  • Many programmes show little to no effect on measures like BMI or blood pressure
  • Most interventions focus on individual behaviour change, which may limit long-term impact
  • Organisational and environmental approaches appear more promising than individual-only models
  • Effectiveness depends heavily on how interventions are delivered and how well they fit the work context
  • There is limited evidence on long-term impact and sustainability

© 2022 The Author(s). Published by BMJ. The original work remains the intellectual property of the authors and publisher. Commentary by The Well Crowd. © The Well Crowd Ltd. 2026. All rights reserved. This content provides a summary and independent commentary on the original research and does not reproduce the original publication. It is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional or medical advice. No part of this content may be reproduced or distributed without prior written permission.

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