Basis For Workers Research Articles

WORKbiota: A Systematic Review about the Effects of Occupational Exposure on Microbiota and Workers' Health.

The characterization of human microbiota and the impact of its modifications on the health of individuals represent a current topic of great interest for the world scientific community. Scientific evidence is emerging regarding the role that microbiota has in the onset of important chronic illnesses. Since individuals spend most of their life at work, occupational exposures may have an impact on the organism’s microbiota. The purpose of this review is to explore the influence that different occupational exposures have on human microbiota in order to set a new basis for workers’ health protection and disease prevention. The literature search was performed in PubMed, Cochrane, and Scopus. A total of 5818 references emerged from the online search, and 31 articles were included in the systematic review (26 original articles and 5 reviews). Exposure to biological agents (in particular direct contact with animals) was the most occupational risk factor studied, and it was found involved in modifications of the microbiota of workers. Changes in microbiota were also found in workers exposed to chemical agents or subjected to work-related stress and altered dietary habits caused by specific microclimate characteristics or long trips. Two studies evaluated the role of microbiota changes on the development of occupational lung diseases. Occupational factors can interface with the biological rhythms of the bacteria of the microbiota and can contribute to its modifications and to the possible development of diseases. Future studies are needed to better understand the role of the microbiota and its connection with occupational exposure to promote projects for the prevention and protection of global health.

THE CONCEPT AND PURPOSE OF TRANSLATION AND MOVEMENT OF EMPLOYEES

This article is devoted to the complex formation of relevant scientific thought about the essence, as well as the purpose of the transfer and relocation of employees in accordance with the norms of the current labor legislation of Ukraine. In the process of analyzing the current labor legislation, the author, taking into account the main current scientific approaches to understanding “transfer of employees” and “relocation of employees”, establishes that the main goal of “transfer of employees” is manifested in the rationalization of the use of labor resources at the enterprise (in an institution, organization), and the derived purpose of this personnel procedure is associated with individual (situational) manifestations of rationalization of the use of labor resources at the enterprise (in an institution, organization). The implementation of the “relocation of employees” is aimed at production and management (purely production, organizational, economic) rationalization of the use of hired employees by the employer at workplaces that are created at the enterprise (in an institution, organization), in specific conditions of the current needs of the production process. In the process of analyzing the purpose of transferring and relocation employees, it is proved that these personnel procedures are: equally aimed at the optimal use of labor resources by the employer; objectify the purpose and social significance of the production function of labor law, which is also adjusted by the social function of this branch of law. A comprehensive analysis of the purpose of the transfer and relocation of employees allows us to come to the conclusion that they are personnel procedures of a special sectoral legal regime – an integral legal regime for the transfer and relocation of employees. This legal regime is the order of legal regulation of the regime of rational use by the employer of the labor potential of employees (within the framework of industrial relations) through their “movement” (permutations in space, in forms of employment, in a set of responsibilities) without prejudice to ensuring the basis of workers' freedom of work and the harmonious stability of labor relations between employees and employers.

General-theoretical characteristics of workers 'rights on leisure

In the article the specifics of workers' right to rest are analyzed. The essential characteristics of this legal phenomenon are detailed. The theoretical and legal basis of workers' rest is determined. The author's interpretation of the employees' right to rest is provided

The Contribution of Immigrants to Multifunctional Agricultural Systems in Italy

This paper explores the role of immigrants within farms and is framed within constructivist approaches to the analysis of immigrants in rural areas. The aim of the paper is to analyse migrants’ contributions to building up multifunctional agricultural systems. To achieve this purpose, a sound empirical analysis is carried out, built on the profile of farms employing immigrants, with special reference to three indicators: the style of farming, territorial localisation of farming activity and the qualification held by the immigrant employed in the farm. The results of analysis confirm a diversified range of contribution on behalf of migrants, with strong diversification on the basis of workers’ provenance. The results of the study suggest that an adequate policy action targeted to the immigrants may bring about positive effects in terms of multifunctionality building at both the individual and territorial level.

Participación para mejorar las condiciones de trabajo: evidencias y experiencias

Participation of stakeholders is a key requirement for the success of public health programmes. Working and employment conditions are major determinants for people's health and wellbeing, and workplaces are ideal environments to implement programmes with a very direct level of participation. In Spain, the main regulatory framework for occupational health and safety, Law 31/1995, establishes the principles of “efficiency, coordination and participation” as a necessary basis for workers’ health protection. This same Law establishes the role of the health and safety workers’ representative, responsible for occupational risk prevention, and the occupational health and safety committee, a body with equal representation and the same objectives at the heart of the company. Among recent experiences of participation in occupational health, participatory ergonomics programmes have stood out. The aim of these programmes is to improve working conditions with a view to reducing musculoskeletal disorders, which is a very common and highly prevalent work-related injury in Spain. This study describes the characteristics and results of some experiences of participatory ergonomics carried out recently in Spain, from which relevant learning can be extrapolated about processes, facilitators and barriers in order to extend such programmes to other areas of occupational and public health.

Cruise Ships: Continuity and Change in the World System

Cruise ships present a useful context to study contemporary developments in globalization. U.S.-owned cruise companies have managed to create the “ideal” context for contemporary corporations: very little government oversight of labor relations, an available pool of very cheap labor dispersed across the globe, lax environmental regulations, high profit margins, and corporate tax rates around 1%. A typical cruise ship leaving the U.S. contains workers from 75 to 90 nationalities. Crewmembers performing menial service work are recruited exclusively from “poor countries” in Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Crewmembers typically sign 10-month contracts stipulating 10-14 hour workdays/7 days a week without vacation or sick days. There is a striking correlation between workers’ pay/status and their countries’ position within the world system. Staff members are usually white Westerners, while crewmembers are exclusively from the global south. On cruises the legacies of imperialism and colonialism are often the basis of workers’ racialization as appropriate servants.

Worker Alienation and Compensation at the Savannah River Site.

Corporations operating U.S. nuclear weapons plants for the federal government began tracking occupational exposures to ionizing radiation in 1943. However, workers, scholars, and policy makers have questioned the accuracy and completeness of radiation monitoring and its capacity to provide a basis for workers' compensation. We use interviews to explore the limitations of broad-scale, corporate epidemiological surveillance through worker accounts from the Savannah River Site nuclear weapons plant. Interviewees report inadequate monitoring, overbearing surveillance, limited venues to access medical support and exposure records, and administrative failure to report radiation and other exposures at the plant. The alienation of workers from their records and toil is relevant to worker compensation programs and the accuracy of radiation dose measurements used in epidemiologic studies of occupational radiation exposures at the Savannah River Site and other weapons plants.

Производственные советы в России: проблемы и перспективы

Provisions of the labor legislation were updated by the right of the employer for creation of works councils. The research of structures of non-trade union workers’ representation has special importance for Russian labour law scholarship. This is mostly so because of low efficiency of trade union representation in Russia that is still structurally influenced by centrally-planned economy’ traditions. System of works councils is a fairly complicated institution of labor law, as their activities are closely linked not only to the organization of labor, but also to the economy as well as the sociological aspects of human resource management. The multidimensional inwardness of works councils attached to this institution of labor law special significance, as consequence of their functioning must become strengthening of social dialogue at the level of the organizations and the separated structural divisions, while setting a consensus not only between the parties opposing interests in relation to a particular issue, but also creating a foundation for continuing cooperation in a spirit of cooperation. Creation of works councils is seeking to reinforce social solidarity, more equitable distribution of income between different social classes and sections of the population, increase employees’ interest in the affairs of the company. As part of the dynamic development of social and labor relations non-trade union workers’ representation becomes a key element in the development processes of industrial democracy, having a basis of workers’ participation in administrative decisions in the enterprise, directly affecting their interests, which allows the use of flexible forms of management of the organization, by providing workers the right to information and consultation.

Toward a Theory of Global Proletarian Fractions

Globalization provides the material basis for the existence of a global proletariat. However, the worldwide working class is not homogeneous. The global proletariat is fractionated on the basis of workers' physical mobility relative to nation-states and regions, as well as the geographic scope of workers' labor-power expenditure relative to the circuits of production in which they are engaged. On that basis, three transnational fractions of the global working class are observed: the dynamic-global, the static-global, and the diasporic-global; and three local fractions of the global working class are observed, including the dynamic-local, the static-local, and the diasporic- local. This chapter reviews Marxian class theory, class and contemporary perspectives on globalization, global social formations and the global proletariat, as well as labor-capital relation and the global proletariat as it relates to Marx's concept of simple reproduction. It provides a topology after a discussion of the fractions and directions for future research. Keywords:diasporic-global fractions; dynamic-local fractions; global proletarian fractions; global working class; globalization; Marxian class theory; static-local fractions

The Health Gradient and Early Retirement in Germany: Evidence from the German Socio-Economic Panel

Rationale: Recent empirical studies and our own research have shown that the health gradient in income increases with age. This raises the question of whether a worker's relative position vis-a-vis the agegroup-specific health gradient can help to explain differential retirement behaviour at the individual level. Identification of a causal relationship between the health gradient and retirement behaviour could provide a new tool to predict future retirement behaviour on the basis of social and economic determinants. It would also establish a new rationale for health and educational policies that target the health gradient since the social costs of early retirement are likely to increase substantially amid population aging. The problem of early retirement can then no longer be addressed by pension policies alone, but must be addressed by investment in health and human capital. Objectives: We aim to understand the relationship between the health gradient - the positive correlation between income and health - and the timing of individual retirement behaviour in Germany, using data from the German Socio-economic Panel (GSOEP). We further aim to develop a method that promises better predictions of the long term impact of policies affecting the health gradient on workers' timing of retirement amid population aging. Methodology: We first estimate agegroup-specific health gradients and find that their slope increases with age. We then estimate a variety of parametric survival models, based on the Weibull distribution for early retirement. We use the results from stratified survival analysis, with strata defined on the basis of workers' position relative to the health gradient, to make out-of-sample predictions of workers' individual time to retirement, conditional on the included covariates. Results: We find that our new measure of workers' position relative to the agegroup-specific health gradient has about the same explanatory power as self-assessed health status and income together. It can therefore serve as a near-perfect substitute for these conventional covariates in survival analyses of individual retirement behaviour. Our parametric survival model specifications perform well and our basic findings are confirmed when compared to semi-parametric Cox survival models with the same set of covariates. We find that the lowest quintile of workers along the health gradient are approximately 30 percent more likely to retire during any given period of time than the second lowest quintile of workers - and almost twice as likely as the average worker among the 60 percent ranked highest. Conclusions: We have demonstrated the explanatory power of the health gradient for the timing of workers' individual retirement in Germany. This will allow us - in future research - to make quantitative predictions about the likely long-term implications of policies affecting the health gradient and workers' mobility on the health gradient during their lifecycle. More generally, our findings underline the importance of imperfect medical technology in reconciling the well-known human capital theory of health demand with the observation of more rapid declines in health among less educated workers.

A COMPREHENSIVE DOSE RECONSTRUCTION METHODOLOGY FOR FORMER ROCKETDYNE/ATOMICS INTERNATIONAL RADIATION WORKERS

Incomplete radiation exposure histories, inadequate treatment of internally deposited radionuclides, and failure to account for neutron exposures can be important uncertainties in epidemiologic studies of radiation workers. Organ-specific doses from lifetime occupational exposures and radionuclide intakes were estimated for an epidemiologic study of 5,801 Rocketdyne/Atomics International (AI) radiation workers engaged in nuclear technologies between 1948 and 1999. The entire workforce of 46,970 Rocketdyne/AI employees was identified from 35,042 Kardex work histories cards, 26,136 electronic personnel listings, and 14,189 radiation folders containing individual exposure histories. To obtain prior and subsequent occupational exposure information, the roster of all workers was matched against nationwide dosimetry files from the Department of Energy, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Landauer dosimetry company, the U.S. Army, and the U.S. Air Force. Dosimetry files of other worker studies were also accessed. Computation of organ doses from radionuclide intakes was complicated by the diversity of bioassay data collected over a 40-y period (urine and fecal samples, lung counts, whole-body counts, nasal smears, and wound and incident reports) and the variety of radionuclides with documented intake including isotopes of uranium, plutonium, americium, calcium, cesium, cerium, zirconium, thorium, polonium, promethium, iodine, zinc, strontium, and hydrogen (tritium). Over 30,000 individual bioassay measurements, recorded on 11 different bioassay forms, were abstracted. The bioassay data were evaluated using ICRP biokinetic models recommended in current or upcoming ICRP documents (modified for one inhaled material to reflect site-specific information) to estimate annual doses for 16 organs or tissues taking into account time of exposure, type of radionuclide, and excretion patterns. Detailed internal exposure scenarios were developed and annual internal doses were derived on a case-by-case basis for workers with committed equivalent doses indicated by screening criteria to be greater than 10 mSv to the organ with the highest internal dose. Overall, 5,801 workers were monitored for radiation at Rocketdyne/AI: 5,743 for external exposure and 2,232 for internal intakes of radionuclides; 41,169 workers were not monitored for radiation. The mean cumulative external dose based on Rocketdyne/AI records alone was 10.0 mSv, and the dose distribution was highly skewed with most workers experiencing low cumulative doses and only a few with high doses (maximum 500 mSv). Only 45 workers received greater than 200 mSv while employed at Rocketdyne/AI. However, nearly 32% (or 1,833) of the Rocketdyne/AI workers had been monitored for radiation at other nuclear facilities and incorporation of these doses increased the mean dose to 13.5 mSv (maximum 1,005 mSv) and the number of workers with >200 mSv to 69. For a small number of workers (n=292), lung doses from internal radionuclide intakes were relatively high (mean 106 mSv; maximum 3,560 mSv) and increased the overall population mean dose to 19.0 mSv and the number of workers with lung dose>200 mSv to 109. Nearly 10% of the radiation workers (584) were monitored for neutron exposures (mean 1.2 mSv) at Rocketdyne/AI, and another 2% were monitored for neutron exposures elsewhere. Interestingly, 1,477 workers not monitored for radiation at Rocketdyne/AI (3.6%) were found to have worn dosimeters at other nuclear facilities (mean external dose of 2.6 mSv, maximum 188 mSv). Without considering all sources of occupational exposure, an incorrect characterization of worker exposure would have occurred with the potential to bias epidemiologic results. For these pioneering workers in the nuclear industry, 26.5% of their total occupational dose (collective dose) was received at other facilities both prior to and after employment at Rocketdyne/AI. In addition, a small number of workers monitored for internal radionuclides contributed disproportionately to the number of workers with high lung doses. Although nearly 12% of radiation workers had been monitored for neutron exposures during their career, the cumulative dose levels were small in comparison with other external and internal exposure. Risk estimates based on nuclear worker data must be interpreted cautiously if internally deposited radionuclides and occupational doses received elsewhere are not considered.

Workers' compensation claims from latex glove use: a longitudinal analysis of Minnesota data from 1988 to 1997.

Allergic reaction experienced by health care workers from latex glove use has increasingly become the focus of researchers evaluating occupational sources of injury in health care settings. Many studies have attempted to estimate the prevalence of latex sensitization among health care workers by using various methods, but the findings have been inconsistent and do not predict reactivity. This study used workers' compensation data from Minnesota from 1988 to 1997 to assess allergic reactivity rates, injury severity, and costs associated with latex allergic reactions. The average reactivity rate was 7.1 claims per 100,000 health care workers, and total cost associated with the claims averaged $0.295 per health care employee. Using empirical cost data from another study, it was found that it is not cost-beneficial for health care institutions to globally adopt latex glove-free policies solely on the basis of workers' compensation costs.

Rostromyrmex, a new genus of myrmicine ants from Peninsular Malaysia (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

AbstractRostromyrmex, a new genus of myrmicine ants from Peninsular Malaysia is described on the basis of workers, dealate females, and a single male. Analysis of characters suggests a closest relationship with either Lordomyrma or the Solenopsis genus group.

Work Councils in Iran: The Illusion of Worker Control

Contrary to prevalent arguments in the literature on Iranian work councils ('showras'), this article contends that the push for councils was a premature initiative. While political repression was a very important factor in the defeat of council movement, the demise of the movement stemmed mainly from the weaknesses of the Iranian working class and the left, from the nature and structure of the councils and from the objective conditions in which they were operating. Questioning the theoretical and conceptual basis of workers' councils and worker control, the article points to different forms of industrial democracy as the only viable option for articulating the demands of working people.

Organizational Hiring Standards

The authors gratefully acknowledge the comments of James Baron, Mark Granovetter, and John Meyer on an earlier version of this manuscript. Organizational hiring criteria help determine which individuals enter organizational labor markets as well as serving as an important component of organizational control systems more effort placed on screening workers at entry means that less emphasis may be placed on training and socialization or on monitoring them once in the organization. The determinants of organizational selectivity in hiring, including the use of educational credentials, written and unwritten tests, and screening on the basis of workers' characteristics were examined using a sample of 254 establishments in the San Francisco Bay Area. The analyses suggested that hiring standards for different occupations (both white and blue collar) within establishments were positively correlated with each other and were affected by the same set of factors. Formal hiring standards were positively related to the presence of a personnel department, to the amount of training and technological change, and to the presence of an internal labor market. The proportion of the workforce covered by collective bargaining was negatively related to organizational selectivity, and there was no effect of economic sector (core versus periphery) and organizational size once other organizational factors were controlled. The results indicate that hiring standards reflect not only organizations' skill requirements but also the preferences of various groups for such standards and their ability to enforce these preferences.

The rules of the game: an analysis of OSHA's enforcement strategy.

Although OSHA promulgates standards for chemical exposures on the basis of workers' relative risk of acquiring chronic disease, it interprets the limits as absolute levels never to be exceeded. This poses a dilemma to the gathering of useful information which can be used to assess and reduce exposures, because employers can maximize compliance outcomes by minimizing exposure monitoring. The result is that, in the absence of adequate information, the working population's true risk of acquiring disease is essentially unknown and average exposures of several times the permissible exposure limit (PEL) can be declared in compliance. The dilemma could be resolved if OSHA would define compliance in terms of one or more parameters of the cumulative exposure distribution. Since OSHA's current method of assessing risks is based upon average exposures, enforcement of the PEL as the limit of each worker's true mean exposure would be internally consistent. This change could have the effect of encouraging employers to monitor exposures since the confidence interval surrounding the mean can be narrowed with increased sample size.