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PubMed1995

Immunological reactions and respiratory function in wool textile workers.

Immunological status and respiratory function were studied in a group of 64 wool textile workers (52 women and 12 men). A group of 46 workers not exposed to wool dust served as a control for the respiratory symptoms and immunologic testing. Skin testing was performed with different wool allergens (domestic and Australian) as well as with common allergens. Ventilatory capacity was measured in wool workers on Mondays before and after the work shift. The prevalence of positive skin tests to all allergens was higher in wool than in control workers, although the difference was statistically significant only for washed domestic wool (wool workers: 42.2%; control workers: 19.6%; p < 0.05). Increased serum IgE levels were more frequent in wool (26.6%) than in control workers (3.1%) (p < 0.01). In wool textile workers there was a high prevalence of acute and chronic respiratory symptoms. Significant across-shift reductions in ventilatory capacity tests, as well as abnormal baseline lung function, were recorded in wool textile workers. Individual data demonstrated that many of the wool workers had FEF25 lower than 70% of predicted. In general, the prevalence of symptoms and the lung function abnormalities did not correlate with the results of specific (wool) skin tests. Our data indicate that exposure to wool dust in some workers may be associated with the development of acute and chronic respiratory symptoms and impairment of lung function. Immunologic abnormalities, although frequent in this group, do not appear to be associated with the severity of these changes.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

A critical review of cancer epidemiology in the petroleum industry, with a meta-analysis of a combined database of more than 350,000 workers.

In 1989 we published a critical review of cancer epidemiology in petroleum workers, which included as a component of the review a meta-analysis by cancer site. Subsequently we have completed three additional reviews and meta-analyses on cell-type-specific leukemias (1995), multiple myeloma (1997), and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (2000). The objective of the present investigation was to update our 1989 review and meta-analysis of nonlymphohematopoietic cancers in cohort studies of petroleum workers. Included in the present investigation were cohort studies of petroleum workers from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Finland, Sweden, and Italy. Individual studies were reviewed with regard to specific cancer sites. For each cancer of interest, risk ratios from the individual studies were presented. In some studies, subcohort analyses stratified by exposure parameters such as length of employment, job category, and hire year were also reported. These subcohort or stratified analyses were reviewed and the results of these analyses were taken into consideration in our interpretation. In addition to the qualitative review of individual studies, a meta-analysis was performed to combine data from individual cohort studies of petroleum workers. The primary purpose of the meta-analysis was to provide a summary measure of risk for each cancer site. Based on a review and meta-analyses of cohort studies of more than 350,000 petroleum workers in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Finland, Sweden, and Italy, we concluded that there was no increased mortality from digestive cancers (stomach, large intestine, liver, or pancreas), lung cancer, bladder cancer, kidney cancer, or brain cancer. The summary standardized mortality ratios for these cancer sites were all below unity. Significant increases of melanoma mortality were reported in some small groups of refinery workers in the United Kingdom and upstream operation workers in Canada, but no responsible agent(s) had been identified. The observed mortality from skin cancer in all other studies was similar to the expected. In particular, no significant increase of skin cancer mortality was reported in any of the U.S. studies. Elevated mortality from prostate cancer was noted in short-term workers at a U.S. refinery and in short-term workers employed in certain crafts at U.S. crude oil operations. However, the absence of an upward trend by length of employment in these workers argued against an association between exposure to petroleum products and prostate cancer. For all petroleum workers as a whole, mortality from prostate cancer was as expected.

Australia↗
PubMed1985

Lung function of workers exposed to antigens from a contaminated air-conditioning system.

Following the manifestation of humidifier fever in a number of workers in a carpet yarn texturing plant, a comparative study was begun of a group of workers exposed to fungi from the air-conditioning system and a control group not so exposed. For both group of workers anamnestic data were collected, intracutaneous skin tests were performed, certain lung function parameters were determined, and the presence of antibodies to a number of antigens from the system was tested for. It was found that the group of exposed workers had a significantly higher rate of positive intracutaneous skin test than non-exposed workers. Additionally, their serology was more often positive. Both positive skin test and positive serology were more frequent in non-smokers than in smokers. A positive immediate skin reaction among exposed workers was found to correlate with an FEF25-75 reduction during the working week. A positive delayed skin reaction among exposed workers correlated with a lower FVC prior to the start of the working week than recorded for non-exposed workers. A positive serology in exposed workers did not correlate with a difference in lung function compared with non-exposed workers, nor was there a correlation with a change in lung function in the course of the working week. When humidifier fever is diagnosed, steps should be taken to reduce exposure. It would also appear desirable to keep exposed workers under medical observation and to monitor the subsequent development of their lung function.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Respiratory function and immunological reactions in jute workers.

A prospective study of respiratory function was performed in a group of 70 jute and 40 control workers. At the initial study there were consistently higher prevalences of all chronic respiratory symptoms in jute workers compared to control workers; however, the differences were statistically significant only for dyspnea (P < 0.05). At the follow-up study 19 out of the original 70 jute workers were examined 19 years later. There was a significant increase in the prevalence of almost all chronic respiratory symptoms among these workers. Similar across-shift reductions of forced vital capacity (FVC) and the 1-s forced expiratory volume (FEV1) were recorded on Monday and the following Thursday at the initial study. In the 19 jute workers followed prospectively there were similar across-shift reductions of FVC and FEV1 at the first and the follow-up study, the reduction being slightly larger for FEV1 than for FVC. Only one jute worker (5.3%) and two control workers (5.7%) responded to skin testing with specific textile extracts. Two workers developed symptoms of occupational asthma. One of these workers had a positive response to skin testing with jute extract. Our data suggest that exposure to jute dust may cause the development of chronic respiratory symptoms in some workers.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Effects of cross-feeding anarchistic and wild type honey bees: anarchistic workers are not queen-like.

Unlike normal (wild type) honey bee ( Apis mellifera) colonies, 'anarchistic' colonies are characterised by workers that activate their ovaries in the presence of the queen and brood and by the ability of their workers to lay eggs that evade worker policing. In the Cape honey bee ( A. m. capensis), female larvae can manipulate non- capensis nurse workers such that they receive more larval food and develop into worker-queen intermediates or intercastes. We speculated that, in anarchistic colonies, larvae might produce signals that result in excessive feeding of female larvae. Excessively fed female larvae may then develop into reproductively active workers. In this study we cross-fostered anarchistic and wild type brood and investigated the effect of cross-fostering on the amount of food fed to larvae and on the morphology of the resulting workers. We show that anarchistic larvae do not manipulate wild type nurse workers into feeding them more, nor do anarchistic workers develop into worker-queen intermediates. On the contrary, anarchistic larvae are fed less than wild type larvae and anarchistic workers seem to be poor nurses in that they feed larvae less, irrespective of brood genotype.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Respiratory function among waste incinerator workers.

INTRODUCTION: Whereas air pollutants have been measured in incinerator working areas, few studies have focused on the effects of these pollutants on the lung function of incinerator workers. In France, a study was performed among workers at two urban incinerators, aimed at identifying a link between exposure to different pollutants in incinerator plants and respiratory lung function impairments. METHODS: A follow-up of lung function was carried out on 83 incinerator workers from two incinerator plants, comparing them with a group of 76 non-exposed workers recruited by the same occupational physician. Workers' lung functions were measured during their yearly occupational medical examination, for 3 years. The American Thoracic Society quality criteria were used to control the quality of the flow-volume curves. RESULTS: Base-line lung functions were lower among incinerator workers than among non-exposed workers. The few significant differences were indicative of obstructive symptoms. During the first year the differences observed between the two groups were close to the significant threshold value of 5% for FEF(75)/ PV and FEF(25-75)/PV. During the third year significant differences covered three parameters: FEF(50)/PV, FEF(25-75)/PV and FEF(25-75)/FVC. After smoking habits (pack-years), medical history of allergy or lung diseases and the examination centres had been taken into account in a linear regression, the reduction of FEF(75)/PV in the first year and FEF(25-75)/FVC in the third year was linked to exposure in incinerator plants. There was no significant association between exposure and the differences observed in the FEF(25-75)/PV in the first year or in the FEF(50)/PV and the FEF(25-75)/PV in the third year. CONCLUSION: This analysis of incinerator workers' lung functions has identified some lung impairments among workers exposed to incinerator air pollutants compared to non-exposed workers, thus indicating possible obstructive disorders among incinerator workers. However, these impairments are moderate and in accordance with the low levels of airborne pollutants identified in a previous study.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Airway function in lifetime-nonsmoking older asbestos workers.

Previous studies of lung function in asbestos workers have documented airflow limitation in many of the workers, but the specific influence of asbestos exposure could not be clearly differentiated from the effects of the cigarette smoking habit. In this study, airway function was evaluated in lifetime-nonsmoking, long-term workers of the mines and mills of Québec. The 17 asbestos workers in this study had worked for an average of 28 years in the mines and mills of the local asbestos industry and did not have any other respiratory industrial dust exposure. They did not have a history of previous pulmonary disease and did not meet the usual diagnostic criteria for chronic bronchitis, emphysema, or asthma. Seven of the workers met the diagnostic criteria for asbestosis and 10 workers did not. The latter group of workers did not differ from a matched control group except in terms of a higher isoflow volume (p less than 0.05). The workers with asbestosis, however, had a restrictive pattern of lung function, increased isoflow volume, and increased upstream resistance at low lung volumes (p less than 0.01). Lung biopsy in three of the patients with the disease demonstrated peribronchiolar alveolitis and fibrosis with obliteration and narrowing of the small airways. These data on lifetime-nonsmoking, long-term asbestos workers provide further evidence of small airway obstruction associated with asbestos exposure and independent of the smoking habit. This airflow limitation was observed predominantly in workers with a restrictive pattern of lung function associated with peribronchiolar alveolitis. The lifetime-nonsmoking asbestos workers without restrictive patterns of lung function had minimal dysfunction of the peripheral airways.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

Evaluation of a worker with possible formaldehyde-induced asthma.

BACKGROUND: We describe the evaluation of a worker with clinical symptoms compatible with bronchospasm caused by formaldehyde exposure. METHODS: The worker was evaluated by means of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, cutaneous tests, and methacholine and formaldehyde inhalation challenges. The worker's serum was injected intradermally into the skin of a normal rhesus monkey to determine whether hypersensitivity could be transferred from human to primate. RESULTS: An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay showed that the worker had positive IgE and IgG titers to formaldehyde-human serum albumin. The worker had a positive cutaneous test for formaldehyde-human serum albumin, and this cutaneous reactivity was transferred to a rhesus monkey through the worker's serum. The worker had a negative methacholine challenge at 25 mg/ml and negative formaldehyde inhalation challenges at 0.3, 1, 3, and 5 ppm for 20 minutes. It is possible that the worker would have had a positive result if a higher concentration of F were used for the challenge, but it is more probable that the worker's symptoms were not caused by immunologically mediated asthma. We have studied individuals exposed to formaldehyde, their clinical syndromes, and serologic results for a decade. This worker is the one subject with the most compatible history and immunology, but the worker had a negative challenge. CONCLUSION: Immunologically mediated asthma caused by formaldehyde is extremely rare, if it exists at all.

Asthma↗
PubMed2005

Helping social workers address the educational needs of foster children.

OBJECTIVE: The main aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Education Initiative, an intervention program in one of the largest urban counties in the US seeking to increase the responsiveness of social workers to the educational needs of foster children. METHOD: A pre-post test control group design was used. Data from case files and social workers were examined at the start of the project and 18 months later to determine changes in social workers' (a) knowledge and practices regarding school programs and services and (b) maintenance of educational records for children on their caseloads. RESULTS: Data were analyzed from approximately 300 case files and over 200 questionnaires completed by social workers. Findings indicated that social workers who received training and had access to an education liaison (1) increased their knowledge about the school system and (2) were more likely to gather current educational data and comment on schooling needs in the case files. On questionnaires measuring knowledge and practices, supervisory social workers showed no gains while case workers increased their levels of knowledge and involvement. CONCLUSIONS: Evaluative data from both sources support the effectiveness of this collaborative model between the school and child welfare agency for addressing the educational needs of foster youth. Social workers in the pilot offices knew more and focused more on the school experience of youth on their caseloads than workers in the control offices. They reported more educational information in the case files and solicited current progress reports from the schools. Discrepancies between worker and school reported performance data raise questions as to whether social workers by themselves are the most effective advocates for foster children.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Worker exposure and a risk assessment of malathion and fenthion used in the control of Mediterranean fruit fly in South Australia.

In 2001, an outbreak of Mediterranean fruit fly in Adelaide was controlled by South Australian Government workers applying organophosphorus insecticides (OPs) to domestic gardens. Residents made claims of adverse effects associated with allegations that worker application practices were poor and led to contamination of homes, residents and pets. The concerns led to a Parliamentary enquiry, the suspension of OP applications for fruit fly control, and the investigation of alternative methods of combating fruit fly in metropolitan Adelaide. The extent of exposure of workers and residents was not estimated. This paper describes a simulated application of the OPs concerned (fenthion and malathion) with measurements of potential exposure through inhalation, dermal contact and deposition of pesticides on surfaces. The data were used as part of a toxicological risk assessment to determine the likely impact of the use of these insecticides. Malathion, used as a 1% suspension in a protein bait mixture, was found to have little potential for airborne exposure, although some workers were found to have up to 0.315 microg/cm(2) malathion deposited on overalls (principally on forearms) and over 500 microg deposited on liner gloves and hats, respectively. Risks to workers and residents were low, with exposures likely to be a small fraction of the acceptable daily intake. Fenthion, used as a 0.05% foliar cover spray, was found between 0.02 and 0.23 mg/m(3) in air 10 m downwind from spray activity and was unlikely to pose a significant risk to residents, since exposures were of short durations of up to 20 min. Personal air samples of spray workers averaged 0.55 mg/m(3) (Workplace Exposure Standard 0.20mg/m(3)). Since workers were usually engaged in spraying for a large proportion of the day, this demonstrates the need for respiratory protective equipment. Maximum deposition of fenthion on workers overalls ranged from 0.06 to over 0.20 microg/cm(2), although little was found on gloves and hats, suggesting workers were skilled in avoiding the plume of overspray. Dialkyl phosphates (metabolites of OP insecticides) were not detected in urine of workers, and there were no changes observed in serum cholinesterase (SChE) enzyme activities 24h following the simulation. These data suggest absorption of OP insecticides by workers was negligible. Deposition on surfaces 5 and 10 m downwind ranged from none detected to 145 microg/cm(2), suggesting that exposure of residents and children in contact with contaminated surfaces (such as garden furniture or play equipment) is possible. Estimates of the potential dermal intake of fenthion by children from contaminated surfaces suggested that risks of acute and chronic effects are slight, since exposures may occur for short periods at intervals of approximately 10 days during fruit fly outbreaks.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗
PubMed2004

Have young workers more injuries than older ones? An international literature review.

PROBLEM: Two questions were posed in this global literature review: Do young workers have a higher occupational injury rate? Are the injuries of young workers more often fatal than those of older workers? METHOD: The studies of nonfatal and fatal injuries were collected based on the following criteria: (a) published in peer-reviewed journals; (b) the young workers were under 25 years of age; (c) the injury rate or fatality rate of young workers and the overall rate was published; and (d) description of the population and the number of injuries was presented. RESULTS: The majority of 63 nonfatal studies reported showed that young workers had a higher injury rate than older workers. Twenty-nine out of 45 studies on fatal occupational injuries indicated that young workers had a lower fatality rate than older workers. These results are clearer for men than for women. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: The results showed that young men were a risk group for occupational injuries. However, the injuries of young workers were reported as less often fatal than those of older workers.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMed2006

Detecting the cytogenetic effects in workers occupationally exposed to vincristine with four genetic tests.

To study the human genetic damage induced by vincristine (VCR), the cytogenetic effects in workers occupationally exposed to vincristine were studied with micronucleus (MN) test, comet assay, hypoxantinepho-guanine phosphoribosyl-transferase (hprt) gene mutation assay and T-cells receptor (TCR) gene mutation assay. Fresh peripheral blood samples were collected from the workers and controls. Fifteen workers from a plant producing antineoplastic drug (vincristine) and 15 controls were matched according to age, gender and smoking. The results of MN test showed that the mean micronuclei rate (MNR) and mean micronucleated cells rate (MCR) in 15 workers were 17.80+/-1.88 per thousand and 13.67+/-1.56 per thousand, respectively, which were significantly higher than those (3.73+/-0.80 per thousand and 3.13+/-0.59 per thousand) in controls (P<0.01). It was found in the comet assay that the mean tail length (MTL) of 15 workers and 15 controls were 1.72+/-0.15 microm and 0.71+/-0.01 microm, respectively, there was significant difference between workers and controls for MTL (P<0.05), but the difference between the mean tail moment (MTM, 0.29+/-0.03) of 15 workers and MTM (0.17+/-0.05) of 15 controls was not significant (P>0.05). The results of hprt gene mutation assay showed that the average mutation frequency of hprt (Mf-hprt) in workers was 1.03+/-0.02 per thousand, which was significantly higher than that (0.87+/-0.01 per thousand) in controls (P<0.05). Meanwhile, the results of TCR gene mutation assay indicated that Mfs-TCR of workers and controls were 2.52+/-0.34 x 10(-4) and 1.51+/-0.11 x 10(-4), respectively, there was a significant difference between workers and controls (P<0.01). It is found in the results of our study that the genetic damage is detectable in 15 workers occupationally exposed to vincristine.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Brain magnetic resonance imaging and manganese concentrations in red blood cells of smelting workers: search for biomarkers of manganese exposure.

The MRI technique has been used in diagnosis of manganism in humans and non-human primates. This cross-sectional study was designed to explore whether the pallidal signal intensity in T1-weighted MRI correlated with Mn levels in the blood compartment among Mn-exposed workers and to understand to what extent the MRI signal could reflect Mn exposure. A group of 18 randomly selected male Mn-exposed workers of which 13 were smelting workers with high exposure (mean of airborne Mn in work place: 1.26 mg/m3; range: 0.31-2.93 mg/m3), and 5 power distribution control workers with low exposure (0.66 mg/m3 and 0.23-0.77 mg/m3) from a ferroalloy factory, and another group of 9 male subjects as controls from a non-smelting factory who were office or cafeteria workers (0.01 mg/m3 and 0-0.03 mg/m3) were recruited for neurological tests, MRI examination, and analysis of Mn in whole blood (MnB), plasma (MnP) or red blood cells (MnRBC). No clinical symptoms and signs of manganism were observed among these workers. MRI data showed average increases of 7.4% (p<0.05) and 16.1% (p<0.01) in pallidal index (PI) among low- and high-exposed workers, respectively, as compared to controls. Fourteen out of 18 Mn-exposed workers (78%) had intensified PI values, while this proportion was even higher (85%) among the high Mn-exposed workers. Among exposed workers, the PI values were significantly associated with MnRBC (r=0.55, p=0.02). Our data suggest that the workers exposed to airborne Mn, but without clinical symptoms, display an exposure-related, intensified MRI signal. The MRI, as well as MnRBC, may be useful in early diagnosis of Mn exposure.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Workplace injury or "part of the job"?: towards a gendered understanding of injuries and complaints among young workers.

Epidemiological studies have found that teenage workers have higher occupational injury rates than adult workers, and that young males are a particularly high-risk subgroup. However, there have been few studies to date that have explored qualitatively young workers' everyday understandings and experiences of occupational health risks. Based on focus groups conducted with Canadian urban and suburban teenagers aged 16-18 years, this paper explores young workers' understandings and experiences of occupational health risks, and their gendered nature. The respondents were employed in a diverse range of jobs. The findings suggest that young workers experience a number of minor injuries and physical complaints related to their work. These injuries were typically seen as "part of the job" because they happened frequently and were of low severity. Also, the experience of these injuries as "part of the job" was informed by the young workers' perceived lack of control to improve or alter the conditions of their work. Furthermore, young workers' complaints and concerns were systematically discounted and this happened in a gendered fashion. Whereas the females emphasized how their complaints were actively disregarded by their superiors, males (and some females in male-dominated work settings) described how they stifled their complaints in order to appear mature among their (older) co-workers. Comparisons with qualitative studies of adult workers suggest that accepting some risks and injuries as "part of the job" is not peculiar to young workers. The implications of these findings for improving workplace safety for young workers are discussed.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMed1997

Expectancy of working life of mine workers in Hunan province.

From demographic mortality and disability of, in total, 424965 y from workers in 29 coal or coloured/metal mines in Human province of China during the period 1980-1984, we calculated the length of expected working life (EWL) as well as the life expectancy (EL) of the workers in the different types of mines and between those working on the surface and those working underground. The average life expectancy in the coal mines for those starting work at 15 y was found to be 58.91 y and 49.23 y for surface and underground workers respectively. In the coloured/metal mines they were 60.24 y and 56.55 y respectively. If only the mortality data was taken into account; for the coal mines, the EWL at the age of 15 y of surface workers and underground workers was 48.46 and 45.10 y respectively; whilst in the coloured/metal mines the figures were 48.25 and 45.99 y respectively. If both mortality and morbidity data is used the EWL at the same age and in the same population is for the coal mines 39.42 (surface workers) 25.54 (underground workers) and for the coloured/metal mines 42.05 (surface workers) and 30.02 (underground workers). The main causes of the lowered EWL of the underground workers were industrial accidents and pneumoconiosis which indicates that safety measures need to be increased and working conditions improved to protect underground workers.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMed1999

A cross-sectional survey of sensitization to Aspergillus oryzae-derived lactase in pharmaceutical workers.

BACKGROUND: The presence of IgE-mediated occupational respiratory sensitization to microbial enzymes has been well documented in a variety of industries. Aspergillus oryzae -derived lactase is used as a dietary aid for patients with lactose intolerance. OBJECTIVE: In 1993, a cross-sectional survey of 94 pharmaceutical workers exposed to lactase for a mean duration of 23 months and 24 nonexposed recently hired employees was initiated to identify lactase-sensitized workers and potential risk factors that could be used in making recommendations for preventing future cases of lactase sensitization. METHODS: The survey included a physician-administered questionnaire, skin prick testing to lactase enzyme and a panel of common aeroallergens, and spirometry. RESULTS: Twenty-seven of 94 lactase-exposed workers (29%) had positive skin test responses to lactase. These workers were 9 times more likely to have upper or lower respiratory symptoms compared with workers with negative skin test responses. Atopic workers were 4 times more likely to have lactase skin sensitivity than nonatopic workers. However, atopy was not a risk factor for the development of upper and/or lower respiratory symptoms. Lactase skin reactivity was not observed in the 24 nonexposed employees. CONCLUSION: This cross-sectional survey revealed that atopic workers were more likely to have lactase sensitization and that lactase-sensitized workers were more likely to have upper and/or lower respiratory symptoms, but atopy was not a risk factor for upper or lower respiratory symptoms. In spite of these findings, the company allowed only nonatopic, nonlactase-sensitized workers to continue working in high lactase-exposure areas with careful symptom monitoring and use of protective clothing. Although this strategy was successful in total prevention of new cases of occupational respiratory disease after 5 years, the results of this cross-sectional survey do not support exclusion of atopic workers from working with industrial enzymes.

Aspergillus oryzae↗
PubMed2002

Trunk movements and load support strategy in simulated handling tasks carried out by workers with and without musculoskeletal symptoms.

OBJECTIVE: To compare two groups of worker with and without upper limb musculoskeletal symptoms when simulating handling tasks, regarding trunk movements and load support. DESIGN: Simultaneous lumbar movements and load support were quantified by a flexible electrogoniometer and load cell, respectively. BACKGROUND: Workers can adopt different motor strategies to perform similar tasks, possibly resulting in different physical demands. No previous studies on different movement patterns as a possible strategy for coping with physical demands by injured workers are available. METHODS: 9 asymptomatic and 10 symptomatic industrial workers, carried a device for measuring contact between load and trunk during simulated tasks. An ANOVA was performed to compare results between symptomatic and asymptomatic workers. RESULTS: Most of the symptomatic workers supported the load on their trunk, whilst most of the asymptomatic workers did not. Higher values of lumbar flexion occurred for the symptomatic workers (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Apparently, differences in movement and load support were adopted by injured workers as a possible strategy to share upper limb overload with other body regions. RELEVANCE: Workers suffering from work-related musculoskeletal disorders may adopt different motor strategies to cope with their job physical demands. An effort should be made to reallocate injured workers if major cost is to be avoided.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

Perceptions of health hazards in the narratives of Italian migrant workers at an Australian asbestos mine (1943-1966).

This article reconstructs how workers perceived asbestos hazards, using narratives from a group of migrant workers at the crocidolite mine of Wittenoom Gorge, Western Australia. The mine employed about 7000 workers over the entire period of its operation from 1943 to 1966-relying heavily on migrant workers. The exposure to asbestos dust caused a huge number of occupational respiratory diseases in workers, leading Wittenoom later to be labelled as a modern industrial disaster. Fieldwork involved 137 interviews with Italians who had worked at Wittenoom. They constituted 18% of the mine's work-force and were employed as miners or millers between 1951 and 1966. We interviewed workers who had returned to Italy, relatives of Italian workers now deceased, and workers who had settled in Australia. The results confirm the seriousness of the occupational exposure to asbestos and the weaknesses of the health surveillance program. Although workers were given no health-related information, they felt they were at risk and left the job as soon as possible. From the early 1950s onward, some of the workers became aware of a long-term connection between work at Wittenoom and lung illnesses that required hospitalisation and caused deaths. However, up to the early 1960s, workers at the mine were led to believe that the respiratory disease spreading among them was tuberculosis.

Adult↗