Occupational Subgroups Research Articles

Contact allergy to thiurams: multifactorial analysis of clinical surveillance data collected by the IVDK network

PurposeTo analyse the association between occupation (represented by job title) and contact allergy to thiuram vulcanising agents based on data of a clinical registry (IVDK, www.ivdk.org).MethodsClinical, demographic and allergy patch test data of all patients tested between 1992 and 2006 with the thiuram mix (1% in petrolatum) as part of the baseline series was analysed (n = 121,051). Poisson regression analysis was used to quantify the association between different occupations (and other relevant factors) and a positive patch test reaction to the thiuram mix. Furthermore, the time trend of sensitisation prevalence was analysed in high-risk occupational subgroups identified.ResultsIn comparison to a largely unexposed reference group (office workers and teachers), rubber manufacturers had a significantly elevated risk (prevalence ratio (PR): 5.1, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.0–10.5). However, health care workers such as physicians and dentists (PR: 3.8, 95% CI: 3.0–4.8) or nursing staff (PR: 3.0, 95% CI: 2.5–3.6) as well as meat and fish processors (PR 3.5, 95% CI: 2.2–5.3) and cleaners (PR 3.1, 95% CI: 2.5–3.8) were found to have a high sensitisation risk as well. In case of health care workers, a significant downward trend during the study period was observed; while in food processors and cleaners, sensitisation prevalence remained largely stable.ConclusionThe adjusted multifactorial analysis identified occupations yet unknown to be associated with elevated thiuram contact allergy risk, e.g., food processors and cleaners. Thus, (i) further in-depth research can be targeted and (ii) efforts to prevent sensitisation to thiurams focussed, e.g., by limiting thiuram concentrations in products to a residual level which is technically inevitable.

Mortality burden of the 1918–1920 influenza pandemic in Hong Kong

Mortality burden of the 1918–1920 influenza pandemic in Hong Kong

Are Public Sector Workers Underpaid in Russia? Estimating the Public-Private Wage Gap

The paper starts with discussing institutional framework for public sector wage setting in Russia. Given that individual choice of the sector is endogenous to wages, the authors recommend alternative econometric techniques for the public-private wage gap estimation. Applying switching regression that allows correcting for non-random sector selection, the paper provides wage gap estimates for various demographic, occupational, and territorial population subgroups. As it is shown, there is significant cross-group variation in the wage gap. The paper concludes that to eliminate the negative gap wages in the public sector should be linked to the private sector wages at the regional level.

Análisis de los cambios de la población masculina en el sector formal e informal urbano de México / Analysis of Changes in the Formal-Informal Urban Sectors for Males

Esta investigación muestra evidencia empírica de las remuneraciones del colectivo masculino en el mercado de trabajo urbano de México por sector formal e informal en el periodo 1992-2004. Los resultados se sustentan en las técnicas no paramétricas de funciones de densidad de Jenkins y Van Kerm (2004). La aplicación permite apreciar la distribución completa de las remuneraciones de acuerdo con la descomposición de los subgrupos ocupacionales y sus cambios. Se concluye que el trabajo por cuenta propia informal está mejor remunerado que el resto de las ocupaciones formales-informales debido a que los cambios en la distribución de las remuneraciones lo han favorecido. AbstractThis research presents empirical evidence on the urban labor market earnings for males in Mexico by formal-informal sectors during 1992 and 2004. The analysis is based on non-parametric density function techniques developed by Jenkins and Van Kerm (2004). The empirical work allows one to visualize the complete earnings distribution according to the occupational subgroups’ decomposition and changes. The article concludes that informal self-employment is better paid than other sets of formal-informal occupations, since it has benefitted from changes within earnings distribution.

Occupation-Related Contact Dermatitis in North American Health Care Workers Referred for Patch Testing: Cross-Sectional Data, 1998 to 2004

Contact dermatoses are common in health care workers (HCWs). To (1) estimate the prevalence of occupation-relevant allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) among health care workers patch-tested from 1998 to 2004 by the North American Contact Dermatitis Group (NACDG), (2) characterize responsible allergens among health care workers overall as well as in specific health care occupational subgroups, and (3) compare these results to those of nonhealth care workers. Between 1998 and 2004, 15,896 patients were patch-tested by the NACDG. Occupation-related allergic patch-test results were analyzed among HCWs, subgroups of HCWs, and non-HCWs. 1,255 patients (7.9%) were HCWs. Female gender (HCWs, 86.2%; non-HCWs, 63.6%) and hand involvement (HCWs, 54.7%; non-HCWs, 27.8%) were more common in HCWs (p < .05); 18.2% of HCWs and 6.6% of non-HCWs had occupation-related allergens of current clinical relevance. Thiuram mix (HCWs, 8.87% non-HCWs, 0.90%) and carba mix (HCWs, 5.43%; non-HCWs, 0.87%) were the most common occupation-related currently relevant antigens in HCWs and were more common in HCWs than in non-HCWs (p < .05). Among HCWs patch-tested by the NACDG between 1998 and 2004, the most common allergens were thiuram mix and carba mix, followed by glutaraldehyde, cocamide diethanolamine, and chloroxylenol. Gloves, sterilizing solutions, and soaps were common sources of responsible allergens.

Genetics and occupational health and safety

A recent study in China concluded that the incidences of neurasthenia and of ultrasonographic abnormalities in the livers of vinyl chloride‐exposed workers increased with increasing cumulative exposure dose.1 This is...

Diversity: Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) in the Hinterlands

The author claims that Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) would be enriched if the notion of "diversity" were extended to program configurations, sites, and economic and occupational subgroups as well as to racial, ethnic, gender, and denominational groups as now tends to be the case. The author describes the settings and methodologies of a unique program that brings CPE to "natural caregivers" across the rural Midwest section of the United States.

Trends in workplace homicides in the U.S., 1993–2002: A decade of decline

Trends in workplace homicide rates are compared to the trends in U.S. homicides from 1993 to 2002, inclusively. The homogeneity of workplace homicide rates by victim demographics, circumstances, and types of events are also addressed. Using publicly available data from several sources, Poisson models are used to statistically compare the trends of workplace homicide rates versus U.S. homicide rates and to compare trends within categories of workplace homicides. Overall, there was a significant decline in the rates of occupational homicide of approximately 6% per year during the study time period; this decline was found to be statistically greater than the decline of all U.S. homicides (5% per year). Taxi cab drivers and chauffeurs demonstrated the greatest decline of all occupational subgroups. When looking at the circumstances of workplace homicides, only the rate of homicides committed during a robbery or other crime demonstrated a significant decline. While workplace homicides have declined in the U.S., the declines have not occurred uniformly across demographic and occupational categories.

Uses of Places and Setting Preferences in a French Antarctic Station

The various uses of space as well as the environmental preferences of wintering people were investigated during 1 year in a French Antarctic station using daily participant observation (for uses of places) and a repeated measure of the perception and evaluation of the settings. The uses of places varied according to occupational and age subgroups: The young scientists expressed a higher need for privacy and a strong investment in their working areas, whereas the technicians preferred the social leisure area (main hall). These places were used as different behavior settings and thus corresponded to flexible environments. Flexibility was a characteristic of all the preferred places. A change in the preferences among the settings and the uses of places was also observed: After midwinter, the preferences evolved from private places to working areas. At the end of the mission, a behavioral change reflecting a stronger need for privacy was also observed.

Are Public Servants Underpaid in Russia? Estimating the Public-Private Wage Gap

The paper starts with discussing institutional framework for public sector wage setting in Russia. Given that individual choice of the sector is endogenous to wages, the authors propose alternative econometric techniques for the public-private wage gap estimation. Applying switching regression and propensity score matching techniques that allow correcting for non-random sector selection, the paper provides wage gap estimates for various demographic, occupational, and territorial population subgroups. As is shown, there is significant cross-group variation in the wage gap. The paper concludes that to eliminate the negative gap wages in the public sector should be linked to the private sector wages at the regional level.

Sources of stress in policewomen: A three-factor model.

It has been argued that models of stress need to be occupation specific. Policewomen are an occupational subgroup which experiences stress differently from male officers. Sixteen sources of felt stress were rated by 206 policewomen. Exploratory factor analysis suggested a three factor model of operational, interpersonal, and management/organizational stress. Confirmatory factor analysis with a second sample of 213 policewomen confirmed the three factor structure. Interpersonal stressors accounted for most variance in ratings of felt stress. The suggests that the interpersonal climate experienced by female officers contributes significantly to rated stress levels, and consideration of this finding should be given in interventions to reduce work stress for female officers

Longest Held Job in U.S. Occupational Groups: The National Health Interview Survey

We sought to assess the validity of using current or most recent occupation as surrogate for longest-held job (and its exposures). The National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) is an annual, probability, cross-sectional U.S. population survey. The 1986 and 1988 NHIS occupational supplements provided information for more than 49,000 workers. Using Cohen's Kappa, concordance was assessed by occupational group and several subgroups. Statistically significant results were observed for all occupational groups. More than 70% of 13 broad occupations had a Kappa of 50.0 or greater, with variable concordance by subpopulation. Among 206 occupational groups, there was more variability: Kappa ranged from 92.7 (dentists) to 9.2 (farm managers). Moderate-to-high levels of agreement was observed in this large, representative sample of US workers. Therefore, current occupation can be used as a surrogate for longest-held job for many occupational subgroups.

Musculoskeletal symptoms among truck assembly workers.

Concerns were raised about the possibility of a high prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms in a truck assembly plant. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms in a group of truck assembly workers. A cross-sectional study of 461 truck assembly workers was carried out using a modified version of the Nordic questionnaire and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ12). Employees were further subdivided into three distinct occupational subgroups: skilled line workers (252), bench subassembly workers (108) and material handlers (101). Responses were analysed according to occupational subgroup. Seventy per cent of 461 truck assembly workers responded to the questionnaires. Seventy-nine per cent of respondents had been troubled with musculoskeletal symptoms in the last 12 months. The commonest musculoskeletal symptoms were from the lower back (65%), neck (60%) and shoulders (57%). Musculoskeletal symptoms were related to age, length of service, occupational subgroup and GHQ12 score. There was a high reported prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms in this group of truck assembly workers, with a differing pattern of symptom reporting depending on occupational subgroup. Risk reduction recommendations were made to the site management. A further study investigating the relationship between symptoms and specific hazards is planned.

Outdoor air pollution and lung cancer: recent epidemiologic evidence.

Outdoor air pollution and lung cancer: recent epidemiologic evidence.

Explaining Variability in Newspaper Design: An Examination of the Role of Newsroom Subgroups

Variability in newspaper design is typically thought to reflect changes in the paper's economic environment as well as wider cultural trends. The present study proposes an additional factor: the relative influence of the design subgroup, conceptualized as an “occupational subgroup” with its own distinct knowledge base, norms, and values. The analysis was conducted within the context of higher-level predictors of design variability, including organizational size, corporate size, and newspaper competition. Findings from a national survey of newspaper organizations show that professionally judged design quality is most strongly predicted by size of the newspaper, and prominence of graphics is best explained by relative influence of the design subgroup. It appears graphical prominence is shaped most by the political effectiveness of designers, and design quality is more greatly determined by the consequences of size, such as level of resources and degree of specialized expertise.

Dose-response patterns for vibration-induced white finger

Aims: To investigate alternative relations between cumulative exposures to hand-transmitted vibration (taking account of vibration magnitude, lifetime exposure duration, and frequency of vibration) and the development of white finger (Raynaud’s...

Occupational status and bronchoprovocative factors in relation to health-related quality of life in patients with COPD. A cross-sectional study in general practice

Objective:To investigate (1) associations between occupational status, work-related airway symptoms and quality-of-life and (2) the relationship between quality-of-life and bronchial symptoms due to common provocative exposure (e.g., domestic dust exposure, smog) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in general practice.Design:Secondary analyses on baseline data from the COOPT study, a randomised controlled trial investigating the effectiveness of fluticasone and N-acetylcysteine in COPD. Patients were subdivided into four groups according to their occupational status: ‘paid employment’; ‘no paid employment’; ‘incapacitated for work’; and ‘retired’. Quality-of-life was assessed by Chronic Respiratory Questionnaire (CRQ). This questionnaire measures four domains of health status, i.e. ‘activity’, ‘emotions’, ‘fatigue’, and ‘mastery’. Susceptibility to exposure to common bronchoprovocative factors was assessed with an ad hoc questionnaire. Between-group differences in CRQ scores and associations between CRQ scores and work-related airway symptoms were analysed using univariate and multivariate techniques. Results: 320 COPD patients were included (mean age 59.4 [SD 9.6] years, FEV1 %predicted 60.5 [SD 18.8]). Univariate analysis revealed differences in FEV1 %predicted between occupational status subgroups (p<0.001): paid work 65.3% (SD 16.7), no paid work 58.5% (18.7), incapacitated for work 64.1% (SD 20.5) and retired 54.8% (SD 18.1). Multivariate analysis showed that patients incapacitated for work had statistically significant lower CRQ total, activity, fatigue and mastery domain scores compared with patients in paid employment. In those employed (n=93), severity of work-related airway symptoms correlated with the CRQ total score (r=−0.48, p<0.001). Univariately, patients susceptible to many common bronchoprovocative factors had a lower total CRQ score (r=−0.42, p<0.001).Conclusion:In patients with COPD, quality-of-life may depend on susceptibility to common bronchoprovocative factors. COPD patients who are incapacitated for work show equal severity of airflow limitation, but worse quality-of-life compared with patients in paid employment.

The process of burnout in white‐collar and blue‐collar jobs: eight‐year prospective study of exhaustion

AbstractThis study tested three contrasting theories about the sequential process of the three dimensions of burnout (i.e., exhaustion, cynicism and professional efficacy) as measured by the Maslach Burnout Inventory—General Survey (MBI‐GS). The causal order of the burnout components was investigated by including job stressors as antecedents of burnout in structural equation models (LISREL). The predictive effect of exhaustion on burnout dimensions eight years later was also investigated. The longitudinal models were then tested in two occupational subgroups. The participants were 713 Finnish employees (415 white‐collar and 298 blue‐collar workers) from an international industry enterprise. The best fitting model of the associations between the three burnout dimensions was obtained by a path model where exhaustion predicted cynicism, and cynicism in turn predicted lack of professional efficacy. The symptoms of exhaustion were persistent over time. There were no differences between the two occupational groups in the process of burnout. Also the work‐related antecedents of burnout (job stressors) were very similar in both groups. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.

Are the self-employed at higher risk of fatal work-related injury?

Objectives. The aim of this paper was to determine if the rates of work-related fatal injury differed between employees and self-employed persons, allowing for differences in their industry and occupation. Methods. The analysis was part of a much larger study of all work-related fatalities that occurred in Australia during the 4-year period 1989–1992 inclusive and which was based on information from coroners’ files. Analysis was based on both practical and legal definitions of self-employment. Unadjusted rates, rates for specific industry and occupation groups, and rates adjusted for differences in industry and occupation distribution were calculated. Results. The unadjusted rate for self-employed persons per 100,000 persons per year (95% CI) was 8.4 (7.5–9.2), which was 70% higher than the employee rate of 5.0 (4.7–5.2). However, after adjustment for industry, the rates were almost identical (self-employed: 5.8; employee: 6.0). Adjustment for occupation still left a 40% higher rate for self-employed persons, but this was probably due to inability to fully adjust for differences at the specific occupation level. Conclusions. There was no strong evidence of an increased fatality rate in self-employed persons compared with employees, once differences in industry and occupation are taken into account. More detailed analysis of specific industry and occupation sub-groups would provide greater insight into this issue.

Within-day variability of magnetic fields among electric utility workers: consequences for measurement strategies.

Occupational exposure to 50-Hz magnetic fields was surveyed among electric utility workers to investigate (1) components of exposure variability, (2) patterns of autocorrelation between short-term measurements, and (3) imprecision and misclassification due to short-term measurements. Spot measurements every 10 seconds during 81 working days were analyzed for 42 electric utility workers from 10 occupational subgroups and during 8 working days for 4 office workers from the same company. For the 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) magnetic fields, the variability was partitioned into its components: within workers, between workers, and between groups. For spot measurements of magnetic fields, the within-day variance component also was examined. Autocorrelation functions were determined and numbers of short-term measurements necessary for reliable estimates of 8-hour TWA magnetic fields were assessed. Spot measurements of magnetic fields, as well as 8-hour TWA magnetic fields, were approximately log normally distributed among workers. The mean exposure to magnetic fields was 0.47 microT (n = 81 days) in electric utility workers and 0.12 microT (n = 8 days) in office workers. A large fraction, 76% of the spot measurements total variance, could be attributed to variability within days. For the 8-hour TWA magnetic fields, between-group variability was small and of the same magnitude as between-worker variability. Significant autocorrelations between short-term averages of 7.5, 15, and 30 minutes were present, when taken within periods of 30 minutes. One-hour averages showed no autocorrelation. Simulations showed that, due to high within-day variability and autocorrelation, a limited number of short-term measurements of magnetic fields in electric utility workers are likely to result in imprecise estimates of 8-hour TWA magnetic fields. Measurement strategies relying on short-term (spot) measurements are therefore likely to result in misclassification of exposure and consequently absent or spurious exposure-response relations.