Control Group Of Workers Research Articles

The labor market impacts of employer consolidation: Evidence from Germany

We use detailed administrative data to study how acquisitions – specifically the acquisition of a plant by a firm with a similar plant in the same local labor market – affect workers. Using an event study framework with a control group of workers at unaffected plants, we find that acquisitions lead to employment losses for workers initially employed at the acquired firm, mainly associated with labor force withdrawals by older female workers. At the same time we find evidence of a rise in wages for workers initially employed at targets and at the acquiring firm who remain with the combined enterprise, concentrated among lower-wage workers. Our findings suggest that consolidations lead to a reduction in overall employment but a rise in rents per worker that lead to a pattern of losers and winners in the labor market.

Assessment of the diagnostic significance of modern biomarkers and hemodynamic alterations in workers of vibration-hazardous occupations

Introduction. One of the most significant tasks in modern labor medicine is to reduce the indicators of early disability in persons in contact with harmful and dangerous factors of the production environment. The issue of finding markers of early preclinical manifestations of vibrational disease and establishing comorbid conditions that are prognostically unfavorable for the course of the underlying occupational disease remains relevant. The purpose of the study is assessment of diagnostic significance of current neurospecific biomarkers and hemodynamic changes in workers of the profession related to vibration. Material and methods. The results of two studies were the basis for this work. The first, aimed at determining the concentration of neurospecific markers in the blood of miners, includes 154 working vibration hazardous professions. At the same time, groups were identified depending on the type of exposure to vibration: total (69 workers), local (24 workers) and combined general and local (61 miners) and control group of workers not in contact with vibration (49 people). The second study was performed to assess the change in hemodynamic parameters among 216 industrial workers, of which 114 people were in contact with vibration generating equipment, and 102 workers were included in the control group. Results. Data from the first study showed an increase in the titer of neuron-specific indicators, mainly protein S100B, depending on the type of exposure vibration and its seniority dose. The second study results indicated an increase in systolic blood pressure and total peripheral vascular resistance in miners under exposure to vibration factor. Conclusion. The results of both studies suggest that hemodynamic disorders and changes in the performance of neuro specific proteins may be interconnected. It seems advisable to continue the study in workers in vibrant occupations with comorbid pathology.

Використання near-miss-інцидентів для оцінювання рівня небезпеки на робочих місцях працівників із інвалідністю

The aim of the work is to study the possibility of usage the near-miss incidents as the indicators reflecting the level of potential hazard at the workplaces of workers, in particular with stable functional changes in the state of health. This approach is of great preventive value, since it allows obtaining the information about the level of hazard even before it is realized in the form of a certain undesirable event, such as an accident or a casualty. Research methods. The information about near-miss incidents and the potential consequences of hazard realization was obtained using a questionnaire of employees with subsequent statistical processing of the results. Results. Based on the results of studies of near-miss incidents at the workplaces of various groups of workers, it was determined that disability and the severity of disabilities affect the frequency and potential severity of these incidents. In comparison with the control group of workers who did not have stable functional changes in their health, in the process of performing production tasks by workers with II disability group, near-miss incidents occurred 36% more often, and with workers of III group – by 22%. Increase of the potential severity of incidents depending on the group of disability is determined. The scientific novelty lies in the development of ways to use near-miss incidents as indicators of the level of hazard at the workplace of workers with disabilities. The practical significance lies in obtaining information about the frequency and possible severity of near-miss incidents at the workplaces of workers using the example of a metalworking workshop at the enterprise in Kharkiv. The introduction of the procedure to collect information about near-miss incidents with subsequent data processing allows forming data for making managerial decisions to improve the OSH management system at the enterprise and develop effective measures to prevent industrial injuries.

Pathology of the Organs of Vision in Metallurgists

The frequency and structure of ophthalmopathology in workers of the Novokuznetsk Metallurgical Combine (NMC) have been studied. In total 1911 workers of NMC have been examined. The control group comprised 1801 people working in hazardous industrial conditions. The experimental group consisted of employees dealing with management, engineering center, accounting (110 people). Their work was not connected with the impact of unfavorable factors of metallurgical production. In the control group, the hazard classes ranged from 3.2 to 3.4. The difference between the classes of hazard impact consisted in an increase of the intensity of the hazardous factors exposure. In the structure of conjunctival diseases we have diagnosed chronic conjunctivitis (198.3 ‰), chronic blepharoconjunctivitis (109.4 ‰), pinguecula (266.7 ‰) and pterygium (7.2 ‰) in metallurgical workers. Pengucules in the control group of workers was not only more often than in engineers, but also larger, often located in the inner and outer corner of the eye, and was detected in workers under 30–35 years. The workers of the main shops suffered more severely from the function of tear production and the stability of the pre-corneal tear film. The miners suffered from the highest frequency of cataract development — 301 ‰. Thus, a high incidence of inflammatory and dystrophic diseases of the eyelids and conjunctiva, cataracts in metallurgy has been established. An increase in the frequency of ophthalmopathology was noted with an increase in the length of service under harmful conditions of metallurgical production. The authors suggest the term “metallurgy ophthalmopathy”, which includes manifestations of chronic conjunctivitis and / or blepharoconjunctivitis against the background of unstable precorneal film and frequent formation of posterior-subcapsular opacities of the lens.

Detecting DNA damage of human lymphocytes exposed to 1,2-DCE with γH2AX identified antibody using flow cytometer assay

To study DNA damage of human peripheral blood lymphocytes exposed to 1,2-dichloroethane (1,2-DCE) with flow cytometry (FCM) assay. The lymphocytes were obtained from 21 workers who are occupationally exposed to 1,2-DCE (exposed group) and 27 workers who were not exposed to 1,2-DCE in the same factory (inner control) and 28 island residents who had never been occupationally exposed to adverse factors (external control). FCM assay was adopted to detect DNA damage of the lymphocytes of each group. Lymphocytes of the health people were incubated with 1,2-DCE at different doses, and FCM assay was used to detect DNA damage. DNA damage rate (%) of the exposed group of exposed workers (4.05% ± 2.55%) was significantly higher than the inner control group of workers (1.97% ± 1.40%) and external control groups of island residents (0.23% ± 0.13%), and the DNA damage of inner control was higher than the external control, all the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). The geometric mean fluorescence intensity of the workers in the exposed group (3.33 ± 3.01) was significantly higher than the (2.07 ± 0.58) only (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the DNA damage rate as well as the geometric mean fluorescence intensity among the exposed group of workers with different years of working period (P > 0.05). In vitro, the fluorescence intensity at the dose of 20, 30 µmol/L for 0.5 h exposure showed statistical significance compared with the negative control group (P < 0.01). The DNA damage rate at the dose of 20, 30 µmol/L for 1.0 h exposure was statistically significant compared with the negative control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01); The fluorescence intensity at the dose of 10, 20, 30 µmol/L for 1.0 h exposure was statistically significant compared with the negative control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). 1,2-DEC can cause DNA damage. And γH2AX FCM assay can be a sensitive, objective and effective method of detecting DNA damage of peripheral blood lymphocytes.

Flexible work schedules and mental and physical health. A study of a working population with non-traditional working hours

The relationship between health complaints and flexible work schedules was studied in a patient population selected by general practitioners. Four hundred and eighty patients between 20 and 60 years, currently employed or on sick leave, completed questionnaires which compiled data on their work situation, subjective physical health, psychological well-being, and quality of sleep. Subjective health measurements were performed by using the 21-item Subjective Health Questionnaire (VOEG). Psychological well-being was measured by applying a selection of the Sickness Impact Profile. Duration and quality of sleep were measured through a selection of the Groningen Sleep Scale. Patients working rotating shifts, compressed weeks, and irregularly changing hours showed significantly more health complaints, more problems related to their psychological performance, and more sleeping problems than a control group of workers with non-flexible work schedules. Patients working on temporary employment contracts reported significantly more problems with their psychological performance. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Seafaring: a risk for seamen's oral health?

Information about the oral status and dental health behavior and the working history of 369 Finnish seamen on different types of ships was gathered by means of a questionnaire. A control group of workers on shore was formed for sailors 35-44 years of age. Removable dentures were worn by 16% of the seamen. Oral disorders during the week before the study were reported by one-third. During the previous 2 years 14% of the sailors had had at least one episode of oral troubles, 15% twice and 9% three or even more times. One-third of seamen with oral trouble had needed pain-killing tablets or antibiotics. Sick leave days had been needed by 3% of respondents during the previous 2 years because of oral disorder (mean length of sick leave period was 1.4 days). The control group reported gum bleeding more often than the seafarers. Even though there were no signs of poorer dental condition in sailors than in the controls on shore, the possibility that the seafaring could constitute a risk for the oral health of seamen in other age groups cannot be excluded.

BIOLOGICAL MONITORING FOR OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO TOLUENE

A study was undertaken to examine the relationship between exposure of workers to toluene in the work environment and biological indicators of toluene exposure. The biological indicators studied were toluene in expired air, toluene in blood obtained by the finger prick method, and urinary hippuric acid. The study was undertaken in a factory in Singapore that manufactures speakers for audio systems. A total of 86 female workers exposed to toluene at the workplace and a control group of workers not exposed to toluene were examined. All of them were teetotalers, were nonsmokers, and gave no history of chronic drug usage. The 8-hr time-weighted average exposure level of toluene ranged from 1.6 ppm to 263 ppm. The study showed the expected toluene levels in finger prick blood was 1.4 micrograms/mL after an 8-hr exposure to 100 ppm of toluene. Toluene concentration in expired air of 16 ppm after an 8-hr exposure to 100 ppm compared favorably with other studies. The toluene in blood/expired air ratio was observed to be lower than in other studies. In this study, the expected urinary hippuric acid level for a 100-ppm exposure to toluene was 2.7 g/g creatinine. This level is higher than that recorded in other studies. The results showed that at low levels of toluene, urinary hippuric acid is not a valuable indicator of exposure. Toluene in expired air is the most reliable biological indicator of exposure to toluene.

Serum cholinesterase levels of vector control workers in Trinidad, West Indies (1979–1987)

During 1979-1987 studies were carried out in vitro on the serum cholinesterase levels of 46 vector control workers exposed to insecticides on a daily basis but without clinical manifestations of insecticide poisoning. The results were compared with those of a control group of workers who had not been exposed to insecticides at home or at work. Cholinesterase levels of both groups were determined by a standard colorimetric method. Suppressed serum cholinesterase levels were detected in all 46 workers exposed to insecticides, 25 of whom were aged 30-39 years. Four persons from the control group showed suppressed levels of enzyme; one of these had a genetically low level, and the other three were on medication when the low levels were recorded.

Renal function of chrome-plating workers and welders.

The influence of occupational exposure to water-soluble chromium (VI) on renal function was examined. In male chrome-plating workers (n = 29), stainless steel welders (n = 45), boilermakers (n = 18) and a control group of workers (n = 71), the level of chromium in the urine (Cr-U), the chromium clearance, and sensitive renal function parameters were determined. The glomerular-function parameters of the chrome-plating workers (Cr-U 1 to 34 micrograms/g creat) and welders (Cr-U 1 to 62 micrograms/g creatine) appeared to differ from those of the boilermakers (Cr-U 0.3 to 1.5 micrograms/g creatine) and controls (Cr-U 0.1 to 2 micrograms/g creatine). The renal function parameters were not related to chromium concentration in the urine or to chromium clearance.

An application of the survey‐feedback method in a service operation

AbstractAs the nature of the U.S. economy has become more service oriented, the field of operations management has broadened to address the unique problems of managing service operations. Most service operations are highly labor intensive, and efforts to improve system performance cannot ignore the attitudes and behaviors of the workers. The survey‐feedback method is a potentially promising technique for operations managers to gauge the attitudes of workers and to allow workers to provide input for solving problems. This paper provides evidence of the usefulness of survey‐feedback techniques for operations managers by describing an application in an actual operating environment.The survey‐feedback process involves (1) administering a survey instrument to the workers in order to assess their attitudes, (2) conducting feedback sessions to discuss work attitudes and ways of improving performance, and (3) implementing operating changes based on the input provided by the workers. This research involved a two‐year project in a major electrical utility where the survey‐feedback process was used to reduce the nonproductive time of traveling work crews engaged in repair and maintenance tasks. Prior to the study, a disturbing upward trend existed in the nonproductive time of the work crews.A survey instrument was designed to assess worker attitudes in five areas believed to be related to the problem of time utilization: communication, organizational rewards, job scheduling, supervision, and job satisfaction. Feedback sessions were held in which the summarized survey responses were presented, and potential causes for the high nonproductive time were discussed. Based on the suggestions of the workers, management made a number of operating changes involving equipment maintenance and required training for workers and supervisors.Nonproductive time was monitored by the use of direct observation time study at regular intervals both before and after the changes were made. Also, the survey instrument was administered again at the end of the two‐year period to see if the expressed worker attitudes had improved. To provide a basis for comparing performance, a control group of workers was established that participated in the surveys, but these workers were excluded from the feedback sessions and had no input into the operating changes that were made.The results showed that a dramatic downturn in nonproductive time occurred during the two‐year study period. The downturn occurred after the operating changes were made, and it was observed in both the test and control groups. The improvement in nonproductive time is related directly to the operating changes made by management. Despite the fact that these changes were based on input provided by the workers, no positive changes in worker attitudes were observed on the survey variables over the two‐year period. The results provide evidence that the survey‐feedback process can be effective in changing the behavior of workers in a service operation, but not necessarily their attitudes. These results are very similar to the findings of another major study of the survey‐feedback method which was done in a completely different operations environment.

Genetic effect of low doses of radiation in occupationally exposed workers in coal mines and in coal fired plants.

Analyses of structural aberrations of chromosomes and of the body burden of lead-210 were carried out in a group of workers occupationally exposed to chemical pollutants and low doses of ionizing radiation during a technological process in which coal is used as fuel. A parallel study was performed in a control group of workers. In the exposed group the percentage of chromatid and chromosome aberrations and the results of radiochemical analyses were higher than in the control group.

The potential mutagenicity of dieldrin (HEOD) in mammals

Mutagenicity studies have been carried out in CF1 mice and Chinese hamsters after oral dosing with HEOD, the major constituent of dieldrin. A dominant lethal assay was carried out in which male CF1 mice were dosed orally with 12·5, 25 or 50 mg HEOD/kg. Chinese hamsters of both sexes were given single oral doses of 30 or 60 mg HEOD/kg and 8 or 24 hr after dosing, femoral bone marrow was obtained and analysed for chromosome changes. Host-mediated assays were carried out on male CF1 mice either given a single oral dose of 25 or 50 mg HEOD/kg or dosed orally on five successive days with 5 or 10 mg HEOD/kg. Saccharomyces cerevisiae was the test organism and the genetic change measured was mitotic gene conversion. The three test systems showed no evidence of the induction of dominant lethality, chromosome breakage or gene conversion in animals dosed with HEOD. Additional chromosome studies were carried out on short-term lymphocyte cultures from workers currently or previously employed in a dieldrin manufacturing plant. The degree of chromosome damage did not differ significantly from that found in a control group of workers. These findings suggest that HEOD does not present a mutagenic hazard in mammals.

高熱作業者の適応現象と馴化現象

An attempt was made to clarify adaption and acclimatization phenomena in workers exposed to heat in a glass factory. A control group of workers who were not particularly exposed to heat was set up in the survey. Either diurnal change, seasonal variation or both in Donaggio values, activity levels of urinary pepsinogen serum protein concentrations and amounts of protein-bound iodine in serum as indices of the heat response were observed in both groups. Results obtained are as follows: An adaption phenomenon against a hot ambient was well established in heat-workers all through the seasons, though not in the control except in summer. A reserve acquired by adaption in heat-workers, however, was found to be consumed already in the forenoon in an extremely hot environment in summer.