A. Community Health

Baseline Health Assessment and Data Collection
A baseline health assessment is conducted to establish a set of baseline data to assess and document the present health conditions and challenges in the broader project area. This data is then used as an indicator to monitor impacts that a project may have over a course of time. The data could also be incorporated into the social and community baseline studies or informs the Health Impact or Needs Assessment process.

Secondary data is usually analysed but data gaps can be informed through community based data collection exercises. NewFields can support both secondary data evaluation, as well as community based baseline data collection efforts. These can be in the form of qualitative methods including focus group discussions, as well as quantitative methods with questionnaires and collection of biomarkers based on sound ethical and epidemiological principles. NewFields also has GIS capabilities to support these programs.

Health Impact assessment (HIA)
These are undertaken to understand what future impacts a project may have on the surrounding community. The practice in development projects is gaining rapid momentum due the clear benefit of recognizing and safeguarding community health through a structured assessment process and planning. Health is often not considered during the design and development of a project and is often a serious consideration in ongoing license to operate. By understanding the potential impacts at the outset and developing a health action plan companies can avoid or mitigate any negative health impacts and have the unique opportunity to enhance potential positive impacts, and measure them!

Two key characteristics define HIAs: predicting the consequences of project related activities, and to provide information that can help decision makers prioritize prevention and control strategies throughout the project life cycle.

There is growing momentum under financing requirements to conduct HIA for development projects and NewFields is in a unique position to support the delivery of these assessments and is recognized as the pioneer in the field. NewFields has practically completed projects and training related to HIA on 5 continents in a broad range of industry and the practice is backed by lead academic institutions to ensure external quality review. NewFields also has access to remote sensing technology to support impact analysis and monitoring.

Health Needs Assessment (HNA)
These describe the existing health needs and health assets of different groups in the local population (surrounding or affected by a project). Its primary function is to inform decisions about strategies, service priorities, and local delivery plans. In contrast with the HIA, a health needs assessment evaluates the existing community health requirements, rather than future impacts. In a similar manner to the methodology of HIA, the current needs of a community can be determined and incorporated in the health plan as part of a corporate social responsibility (CSR) program and when used in conjunction with the HIA can provide a tool for community health programs and planning.

Community health programs
As an extension of the community health planning NewFields can through its partners support the implementation of community health programs. These can be related to mitigation of health impacts as well as CSR programs.

B. Workplace Health

Health Risk Assessment (HRA)
Health Risk Assessment is a general term that refers to the assessment of the hazards and risks that may be encountered by project workers/ employees in their workplace. It may include chemical exposures, respiratory irritants, physical exposures (e.g. heat stress and noise) and ergonomical stressors. Locality and existing support medical and emergency response services are also important factors. These assessments may have a purely qualitative basis or could include the quantitative calculation of incremental individual or exposure group risk due to exposures to potential risks in the environment or workplace.

NewFields has the experience and qualifications from an occupational medicine, hygiene and toxicology service delivery platform to support these risk assessments and assess the significance of them to the project and individual. OSHAS 18001 system audits based on occupational health management systems and programs form a key component of this offering.

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A Health Needs Assessment (HNA), Health Risk Assessment (HRA) and a Health Impact Assessment (HIA) can be combined to develop a Strategic Health Plan. This can inform the entire health requirements for a project and allow the development of a health action plan and associated health budget for the project.