Walkability Audit Tool

Abstract

Walking is one of the simplest lifestyle changes workers can make to improve their health. Research shows a wealth of health benefits. Often, occupational and environmental health nurses are in charge of implementing walking programs. A tool is needed to continuously improve a company’s walking program whether in the beginning stages or to an already established program. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Walkability Audit Tool for a healthier worksite is an easy seven-step audit tool that occupational and environmental health nurses can easily implement.

Walking is one of the simplest health-promoting behaviors workers can choose to improve their health. Research has shown by adding at least 30 minutes of daily walking, workers can reduce their risk of type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, coronary heart disease, and colon and breast cancer. In addition, walking can improve mental well-being, reduce blood pressure, blood sugar, and blood lipids, and maintain body weight and reduce risk of obesity. Walking also has the lowest cessation rate for exercise programs (American Heart Association, 2015). A study by the University of Tennessee found women walkers had less body fat compared with non-walkers. The Arthritis Foundation (2015) reported the added benefits of walking include less stress on joints, improved circulation, better sleep, added life years, stronger muscles, slower mental decline, less risk of Alzheimer’s disease, improved breathing, and continued mobility and activity for a longer period of time.

Walkability is “the idea of quantifying the safety and desirability of the walking routes” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2010, para. 3). Walking routes can be streets and sidewalks in between buildings, city blocks if the worksite is in a downtown area, or walking or nature trails at work (CDC, 2010).

The CDC Walkability Audit Tool is an easy seven-step tool to evaluate worksite outdoor walking surfaces for safety and attractiveness. The areas to be observed in this tool are pedestrian facilities, pedestrian conflicts, crosswalks, maintenance, path size, buffer, universal accessibility, aesthetics, and shade. The tool provides guidance on ranking each step with at least two guidelines for the 1 to 5 scale. The Walkability Audit Tool can assist in identifying the most dangerous sections of walking trails, unpleasant elements, needed improvements, and where these surfaces are appropriate and conducive to exercise or recreational activity by workers. Although this tool requires some subjectivity in the ranking scale, a simple mathematical method is used for scoring once ranking is determined. A report can be generated that includes the location of the site, site summary, and issues related to safety, accessibility, and aesthetics. Suggested improvements are then identified.

Occupational and environmental health nurses should be involved in the planning and evaluation of walking areas. They can use the Walkability Audit Tool to evaluate outdoor walking surfaces prior to implementing a new walking program or making enhancements to an existing walking program. The tool can also be used as a risk management instrument to keep workers and visitors safe while on company property or incorporated as part of an overall strategic planning process for either wellness programs or safety improvements.