Shipyard Workers Research Articles

World War I and Urban Order: The Local Class Politics of National Mobilization

In World War I and Urban Order Adam J. Hodges examines aspects of the wartime experience in Portland, Oregon, focusing on how local elites collaborated with federal authority and attempted to channel federal power to achieve a variety of prewar desires for political and social control. According to Hodges, these efforts, occurring in similar ways nationwide, established long-overlooked precedents for the surveillance and repression of labor and political activism in the United States. In Portland, local and federal officials were primarily concerned with keeping relations peaceful in the shipyards, but they also dealt forcefully with radicals, the enemy alien population, and the city's vice industry. Their collaborations obtained mixed results and often displayed surprising levels of restraint and ineffectiveness. But Hodges presents government intervention in overwhelmingly negative terms, as inspiring a “policing” of the workplace and home; neighbors who “spy” on each other; shipyard workers who have no choice but to submit to a federal agency's “paternal protection”; and labor activists, German nationals, and prostitutes who are harassed, arrested, and interned.

Chest physician-reported, work-related, long-latency respiratory disease in GreatBritain.

Much of the current burden of long-latency respiratory disease (LLRD) in Great Britain is attributed to historical asbestos exposure. However, continuing exposure to other agents, notably silica, also contributes to disease burden. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of work-related LLRD reported by chest physicians in Great Britain, including variations by age, gender, occupation and suspected agent.LLRD incidence and incidence rate ratios by occupation were estimated (1996-2014). Mesothelioma cases by occupation were compared with proportional mortality ratios.Cases were predominantly in men (95%) and 92% of all cases were attributed to asbestos. Annual average incidence rates (males) per 100 000 were: benign pleural disease, 7.1 (95% CI 6.0-8.2); mesothelioma, 5.4 (4.8-6.0); pneumoconiosis, 1.9 (1.7-2.2); lung cancer, 0.8 (0.6-1.0); chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), 0.3 (0.2-0.4). Occupations with a particularly high incidence of LLRD were miners and quarrymen (COPD), plumbers and gas fitters (asbestosis), and shipyard and dock workers (all other categories). There was a clear concordance between cases of SWORD mesothelioma and proportional mortality ratios by occupation.Occupationally caused LLRD continues to contribute to a significant disease burden. Many cases are attributable to past exposure to agents such as asbestos and silica, but the potential for occupational exposures persists.

Investigation of sleep quality in shipyard workers by wearable device

Investigation of sleep quality in shipyard workers by wearable device

Individual and workplace factors related to fatal occupational accidents among shipyard workers in Turkey

Risks for occupational accidents are significantly associated by individual and workplace factors. This study has been designed in order to identify individual and workplace factors that increase the risk of an accident, and to provide evidence for the achievement of precautionary actions in workplace environment. Registered fatal occupational injuries between the years 2004 and 2014 were investigated. The case reports of shipyard occupational accidents of Ministry of Labour and Social Security of Turkey have been analyzed. Then, a workplace survey was conducted among workers and foremen at Turkish shipyards located in Istanbul region. Classification of fatal occupational accidents revealed five major reasons for the shipyard workers; falling from higher elevation to a lower level, exposed to electric shock, fire and/or explosion, being struck by or struck against objects and caught in between, and drowning. The ratio of the places of fatal occupational accidents at Turkish shipyards can be classified as occurring inside the ship (43.7%) and the shipyard (56.3%). The questionnaire contains four groups: personal data, workplace environment, personal factors and commuting factors. The total number of questions is 56. The results reveal that substandard low education level of shipyard workers, housekeeping at workshops, lunch effect, bad weather conditions, improper use of PPE, being tired and sleepy, overcapacity ship production, hectic work, overtime, being a subcontractor worker and strenuous work are main risk factors for workplace accidents.

Chemical induced hearing loss among shipyard workers

Chemical induced hearing loss among shipyard workers

Pleural and peritoneal mesotheliomas in the Friuli Venezia Giulia register: data analysis from 1995 to 2015 in Northeastern Italy.

The Friuli Venezia Giulia Mesothelioma Register contains a case-list of 1,109 mesotheliomas (1,034 pleural, 75 peritoneal) during 1995-2015. Exposure data are available for almost all cases. The aim was to assess mesothelioma incidence in the Region, an area with several shipyards, and to investigate determinants of mesothelioma latency among occupational cases. Incidence rates were calculated. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to estimate latency time by anatomical site, gender, diagnostic period and industry sector. Mesothelioma incidence rates among men were higher than among women during the overall period. The incidence of pleural mesothelioma in men leveled off until 2009 (6.50 per 100,000) with a slight decrease thereafter. For women, the rate increased until 2006 (1.31 per 100,000) and then remained relatively stable. The incidence of peritoneal mesothelioma in men was constant whereas rate among women increased during 2010-2015. The number of cases diagnosed during three-year periods remained level. In multivariate model, site and gender were not relevant for latency period whereas construction workers had a shorter latency than shipyard workers. Despite the asbestos ban since 1992, occupational exposure is still at risk. This highlights the need to assess exposure levels and to find a reliable health surveillance tool.

Mortality among Coast Guard Shipyard workers: A retrospective cohort study of specific exposures

ABSTRACTIn a previous analysis of a cohort of shipyard workers, we found excess mortality from all causes, lung cancer, and mesothelioma for longer work durations and in specific occupations. Here, we expand the previous analyses by evaluating mortality associated with 5 chemical exposures: asbestos, solvents, lead, oils/greases, and wood dust. Data were gathered retrospectively for 4,702 workers employed at the Coast Guard Shipyard, Baltimore, MD (1950–1964). The cohort was traced through 2001 for vital status. Associations between mortality and these 5 exposures were calculated via standardized mortality ratios (SMRs). We found all 5 substances to be independently associated with mortality from mesothelioma, cancer of the respiratory system, and lung cancer. Findings from efforts to evaluate solvents, lead, oils/greases, and wood dust in isolation of asbestos suggested that the excesses from these other exposures may be due to residual confounding from asbestos exposure.

A study on "mobbing" in maritime field: a case study in the Turkish maritime industry.

Nowadays, there are many reasons for people to be stressful and restless in their working environments. One of the reasons leading to this situation is known as "mobbing". The term "mobbing" means "bullying of an individual by a group". It usually happens among employees. The main effects of mobbing are the generation of stress and reduction of employee performance at work. In general, research shows that mobbing is particularly common in the public sector. The aim of this research is to understand the frequency of mobbing on employees in the Turkish maritime industry as a case study. In this study, a questionnaire survey on ship, shipyard, public and private company workers was applied to understand how often employees are exposed to mobbing. After analysing the results, it is also aimed to obtain information about the reasons and causes of mobbing, and then we can get some advice for this issue.

Potential cardiovascular toxicities of heavy metal and particulate matter exposure among naval shipyard workers

Marinesco-Sjögren syndrome (MSS) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder, which is characterized by congenital cataracts, cerebellar ataxia, progressive muscle weakness, and delayed psychomotor development. SIL1, which is located at 5q31.2, is the only gene known to cause MSS. Dandy-Walker syndrome (DWS) is defined by hypoplasia, upward rotation of the cerebellar vermis, and cystic dilation of the fourth ventricle; however, its genetic pathogeny remains unclear. Here, we report a Chinese consanguineous family with MSS and DWS. Whole exome sequencing identified a novel nonstop mutation in SIL1. Sanger sequencing revealed that the mutation was segregated in this family according to a recessive mode of inheritance. We found that the mutation changed a stop codon (TGA) to an arginine codon (CGA), and no in-frame termination codon in the 3′ untranslated region (UTR) of SIL1 could be found. The mRNA levels of SIL1 were decreased by 56.6% and 37.5% in immortalized lymphoblasts of the patients respectively; the protein levels of SIL1 were substantially decreased. This case study is the first report on Chinese MSS patients, MSS complicated by DWS, and a nonstop mutation in SIL1. Our findings imply the pathogenetic association between DWS and MSS.

Welding fume and heart rate variability among shipyard workers

Objective: Welding fume exposure is associated with heart rate variability (HRV) reduction. It is still unknown whether respirator can reduce effect of welding fume on HRV among welding workers in ...

A Validation Method to Determine Missing Years of Birth in a Cohort Study of Shipyard Workers Using Social Security Number.

The objective of the study is to evaluate the generalizability and feasibility of a prediction method developed by Block et al (1983) to estimate missing age of workers by using their Social Security Numbers (SSNs). Our study used a retrospective occupational cohort of about 15,000 workers from the Long Beach Naval Shipyard (1978 to 1985). Our results showed an 89.2% agreement (P < 0.0001) between the predicted and observed years of birth using Block's method. The correlation increased to 93.1% (P < 0.0001) after our modifications by removing workers with SSNs issued in U.S. territories. The method performed better in shipyard workers who obtained their SSNs after 1950. Although the method is useful in imputing missing age, the accuracy is dependent on the year, age, and location of SSN issuance.

Do exposure limits for hand-transmitted vibration prevent carpal tunnel syndrome?

An apparently high frequency of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) among shipyard workers undergoing health surveillance because of exposure to hand-transmitted vibration (HTV) prompted concerns that current regulatory limits on exposure might not protect adequately against the disorder. To explore whether within regulatory limits, higher exposures to HTV predispose to CTS. As part of a retrospective audit, we compared duration and current intensity of exposure to HTV in cases with new-onset CTS and controls matched for age. Conditional logistic regression was used to quantify associations, which were summarized by odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). There were 23 cases and 55 controls. After adjustment for body mass index and previous diagnosis of diabetes, no clear associations were observed either with duration of exposure to HTV or with current intensity of exposure. Risk was non-significantly elevated in men with ≥30 years' exposure to HTV (OR 1.6), but in the highest category of current exposure [8-h energy-equivalent frequency-weighted acceleration (A8) ≥ 4.0 m/s(2)], risk was lower than that in the reference category (A8 < 2.5 m/s(2)). Moreover, there was a significantly reduced risk of CTS in men with a previous diagnosis of hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) (OR 0.2, 95% CI 0.1-0.9). We found no evidence that below the current limit for A(8) of 5 m/s(2), higher exposures to HTV predispose to CTS. However, care should be taken not to overlook the possibility of treatable CTS when workers with diagnosed HAVS present with new or worsening sensory symptoms in the hand.

Impact of night-shift work on the prevalence of erosive esophagitis in shipyard male workers.

PurposeWhether night-shift work is a risk factor for gastroesophageal reflux disease is controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between night-shift work and other factors, and erosive esophagitis.MethodsA cross-sectional study with 6040 male shipyard workers was performed. Esophagogastroduodenoscopic examination and a survey about night-shift work status, lifestyle, medical history, educational status, and marital status were conducted in all workers. The odds ratios of erosive esophagitis according to night-shift work status were calculated by using the logistic regression model.ResultsThe prevalence of erosive esophagitis increased in the night-shift workers [odds ratio, 95 % confidence interval: 1.41 (1.03–1.94)]. According to multiple logistic regression models, night-shift work, obesity, smoking, and alcohol consumption of ≥140 g/week were significant risk factors for erosive esophagitis. By contrast, Helicobacter pylori infection was negatively associated with erosive esophagitis.ConclusionNight-shift work is suggested to be a risk factor for erosive esophagitis. Avoidance of night-shift work and lifestyle modification should be considered for prevention and management of gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Grau de estresse entre trabalhadores de estaleiro: estudo seccional

Aim: describe the degree of stress of the shipyard workers, according to the dimensions of demand and control. Method: descriptive research of the sectional type. A self-applied structured questionnaire was used. Demand and control were measured by the scale adapted to Portuguese, based on the short version of the Job Stress Scale. Results: among the 114 participants, the following points were presented.: Demand 11 points, with 63.2% of workers below the median; and Control 12 points, most employees with scores below the median (57.9%). Most of the workers were in low demand (36.8%). Discussion: the environment and the proper relationship to the work activity, according to the conditions in which they occur, can also produce physical and mental wear. Conclusion: the low demand situation provides greater motivation to create and develop positive behavior at work. It’s should also be alert to the need to develop inter-institutional and multidisciplinary actions in mental health and work.

Are welders more at risk of respiratory infections? Findings from a cross-sectional survey and analysis of medical records in shipyard workers: the WELSHIP project

BackgroundExposure to welding fume increases the risk of pneumococcal infection; whether such susceptibility extends to other respiratory infections is unclear. We report findings from a survey and from medical consultation...

Measuring Tremor – Does Recording Time Matter?

Objective: The CATSYS Tremor Pen has been used in several studies for measurement of tremor among workers with occupational exposure to neurotoxins like mercury and manganese. The main purpose of this study was to investigate whether recording time has an impact on the measured tremor characteristics. Other aims were to investigate whether there are interactions between recording time and age, and between recording time and (selfreported) nicotine use, respectively; to assess the test-retest repeatability of the instrument; to investigate a possible practice effect when performing the test repeatedly; and to evaluate agreement with another tremor test. Methods: The participants (n=44) consisted of former shipyard workers (mean age 67 years, range 59–76 years). Postural hand tremor was evaluated using the CATSYS Tremor Pen. Five tremor recordings were made; the first lasted 16.4 s, the next three lasted 8.2 s each and the fifth lasted 65.6 s. Results: There was a significant association between recording time and harmonic index; longer recording time produced higher harmonic index. There was no effect of nicotine use or age that was consistent over all recording times, and no practice effect was seen. The agreement with another tremor test was moderate to good, as was the test-retest reliability. Conclusion: Some of the tremor characteristics are affected by length of recording time and hence care should be taken when comparing results across studies or with follow-up. The results indicate that the use of a recording time longer than 16.4 s seems to be of doubtful value.

조선소 근로자들의 폐쇄성 폐기능 저하와 관련된 요인

Objectives: Alongside smoking, occupational exposure is an important risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The purpose of this study was to evaluate factors associated with occupational pulmonary function decline that can be used to create guidelines for the health management of shipyard workers Materials: This study analyzed spirometry from 10,597 male shipbuilding workers. Functional decline in spirometry was defined as FEV1/FVC <70% and logistic regression for work duration and occupational hazard exposure was performed Results: Among the subjects, 4.2% showed an obstructive pattern in pulmonary function. The odds ratios for hazard exposure were 1.67(indirect) and 3.54(direct), and for work duration 1.97(10-18 years), 2.29(19-27), and 5.02(28+). After adjusting for smoking and work-related factors, the odds ratios for work durations of over 10 years were 1.73(10-18 years), 1.99(19-27), and 4.09(28+), but for hazards exposure was 1.71(direct) alone after adjustment. Conclusions: Occupational COPD is insidious and chronic, and thus long-term hazard exposed(especially over 10 years) shipyard workers with functional decline in spirometry need to prevent and manage COPD. This study is important for establishing guidelines to manage hazard exposure among shipyard workers and prevent COPD.

청력에 대한 연령과 소음 노출의 영향에 관한 5년간 청력역치 변화

Objectives: This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of noise exposure and aging on changes in hearing threshold level and the relationship between age and noise. Materials: The author selected 274 male shipyard and assembly line workers as the noise exposed group and 582 males not exposed to noise as the general population group. Data were collected from five years of consecutive annual audiometric tests performed from 2008 to 2012. Results: In the general population and noise exposed groups, there was a reverse phenomenon that hearing threshold level for 2009 was lower than that of 2008, which seemed to be due to the learning effect, but from 2010 hearing threshold level increased. In the noise exposed group, the mean hearing threshold level in the left ear was significantly higher than that for right ear. In the general population group, the older was the age, the higher was the hearing threshold level, especially at 4000 Hz. In the general population and noise exposed groups, frequency, age group and noise exposure independently affected hearing threshold level, and there was no relationship between age and noise exposure. Over all frequencies, the change of hearing threshold level was larger in the noise exposed group than in the general population group. In the noise exposed group below thirty years old, the change at 4000 Hz was remarkable. Conclusions: Age and noise exposure seem to affect hearing threshold level independently and contribute to an additive effect on hearing threshold level.

Celebrating Morris F. Collen (1913-2014)

Celebrating Morris F. Collen (1913-2014)

Practical Tips for Implementing Bundled Payments in Your Practice: Hoag Orthopedic Institute – A Joint Venture Model for Value-Based Care Delivery

The movement to managed care began early in California with Kaiser’s development of an employer-based model for healthcare insurance and care of their shipyard workers during the Second World War. The combination of federal legislation in the late 1970s along with innovative insurance products being developed in Southern California led to an aggressive shift in the market by the late 1980s. This has never abated in California, nor has it had the same impact throughout the US. By 2012, California had a managed care penetration rate of 43.5%, well above the national average of 23.3%. Kaiser Permanente controlled just over one third of the California market, in essence reducing the supply of patients to themarket and thus increasing the competition among those providers outside of the closed Kaiser system. The insurance payers saw amarketwith a relative oversupply of providers and thus began to drive reimbursement down compared to the remaining US through the introduction of “Narrow Networks” where a captured population of patients could see only those physicians within their network, or pay a high premium to go outside the network. Themacroeconomics of themarketwere clear andwe sawa trend line of lower reimbursement and limited access to patients for the private practitioner in orthopedics. The resources for care delivery were increasingly limited. Our view was that the combination of declining reimbursement and narrow networkswould demand a level of efficiency in care delivery that would disrupt the traditional relationships of community medical care. Specifically, we felt that true partnership with our community hospital was the path to the highest level of efficiency, which in turn would offer an opportunity to thrive long term. Traditionally, private practice orthopedic surgeons were at odds with their community hospital when it came to ancillary facility ownership. At that time, in the 1990s, many ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) were owned by surgeons and competed directly with their community hospital for case volume. While community hospitals were able to command higher reimbursement through HOPD payment schedules, the physicians typically controlled where the patients went for surgery. This competition often lead to duplication of resources and general ill will between the 2 competing entities. In our view, this competition in a market of scarce resources was inefficient and