Workers In France Research Articles

Occupational exposure to aerosols in two French airports: multi-year lung function changes.

As differential exposure to airport-generated aerosols may affect employee lung function, the main objective of this study was to longitudinally evaluate spirometry measures among Air France employees. In addition, an exploratory exposure assessment to airport aerosol was performed in a small cohort of workers using personal monitoring devices. Change in lung function over a ~6.6-yr period was documented for office workers (n = 68) and mechanics (n = 83) at Paris-Roissy airport, France and terminal (n = 29), or apron (n = 35) workers at Marseille airport, France. Overall, an excessive decline in lung function was found for 24.75% of airport workers; excessive decline occurred more often for terminal workers (44.83%) as compared to mechanics (14.47%; P = 0.0056), with a similar tendency for apron workers (35.29%) as compared to mechanics (P = 0.0785). Statistically significant differences/tendencies were detected among the yearly rates of change for %-predicted values of forced expiratory volume in 1s, forced vital capacity, peak expiratory flow, and from 25% to 75% forced expiratory flow. For the latter variables, the terminal and/or apron workers at Marseille generally had significantly faster lung function decline as compared to office workers and/or mechanics in Paris, although the latter were exposed to a higher level of elemental carbon. No relation between lung function decline and exposure to airport tarmac environments was evidenced. Multivariate exploration of individual variables representing sex, smoking, atopy, respiratory disease, residential PM2.5 pollution, the peak size of particles in lung exhalates or exhaled carbon monoxide at the time of follow-up failed to explain the observed differences. In conclusion, this study documents the first evidence of excessive lung function decline among certain airport workers in France, although the identification of emission sources (environmental factors, aircraft exhaust, etc) remains challenging.

To be heard or not to be heard: Precarity in the lives of Turkish musicians in Paris and Istanbul

This phenomenological study explores Turkish musicians’ precarity experiences in Paris and Istanbul. Based on in-depth interviews conducted with 11 professional musicians in each city, it focuses on participants’ lived experiences and interpretations to understand how the precarity varies in these cities with different social policy tools available to musicians. The themes resulting from the data analysis indicate similar challenges in both cities, namely insufficient and low income, employment uncertainty, and informal work relations. Nevertheless, these problems manifest differently in each case. Musicians in Istanbul endure more severe consequences of precarity, lacking fundamental social rights. Hence, the essence of their precarity experience is a sense of invisibility, marginalization, and an unassured future. On the contrary, social policy measures, particularly the “Intermittence du Spectacle” regime tailored for intermittent performance workers in France, provide a significant safety net to mitigate the effects of precarity in the Paris case.

Perceived Access to HIV Prevention Services Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM) and MSM Sex Workers in France, Russia, and Türkiye.

This study examined the association between self-identification as a sex worker (SW) and perceived access to pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic HIV prevention methods among MSM in France, Russia, and Türkiye amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Globally, 17,250 MSM recruited through a geosocial networking smartphone application completed the COVID-19 disparities survey, which was administered between October and November 2020. Approximately 38% of survey respondents were identified as living in France (n = 1269), Russia (n = 3882), and Türkiye (n = 3141) at the time of survey completion. Given the diverse sociodemographic factors and attitudes toward both MSM behavior and commercial sex work in these countries, we conducted a secondary analysis of survey data exploring the relationship between SW status and perceived access to pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic HIV prevention methods during the COVID-19 pandemic. Among respondents in Russia and France, MSM SW status was associated with a reduction in perceived access to condoms/lubricants (p = .001 in Russia, p < .001 in France). MSM SW in France were less likely to report never using PrEP as compared to non-SW peers (RR = 0.40, p = .005). Our findings highlight the disparities in access to HIV prevention for MSM SW living in these three countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on our findings, COVID-19 may have exacerbated pre-existing inequities in HIV prevention among populations experiencing intersecting stigmas.

Antivaccine, denialist, and conspiracy theorist content on Facebook. An analysis of the No to the New World Order page

Introduction. Antivaccine, denialist, and conspiracy ideas are generally part of an ecosystem of beliefs reinforcing each other. With the advent of covid-19, these ideas figure among the main disinformation contents of counter-official discourses. The article aims to characterize the contents of the Facebook page ‘No to the New World Order’. Method. The content analysis method was employed for the 625 publications on the page during the period studied (October 2020 to January 2022). Analysis. Descriptive statistics were used for the analysis, the topic modeling technique, and the Latent Dirichlet Allocation algorithm. Results. Covid-19 was the main focus of the analysed posts (68%). Many posts criticised government measures, while others alleged censorship and media manipulation of unofficial covid-19 information. Additionally, the posts asserted that the pandemic is part of a New World Order promoted by elites. Conservative ideas were also found, alongside the criticism of health, economic, and financial organisations. The most liked posts included two videos: one about a strike by health workers in France and another criticising vaccines. Conclusions. Based on the published content, it can be observed that 'No to the New World Order' serves as a platform for criticizing pandemic management across all fronts. However, this space does not accommodate divergent opinions, criteria, or perspectives, nor does it offer criticism or questioning of the accuracy of shared content. These conditions foster misinformation and polarization on the issue.

Cancer mortality after low dose ionizing radiation exposure among workers in France, the United Kingdom, and the United States (INWORKS)

Cancer mortality after low dose ionizing radiation exposure among workers in France, the United Kingdom, and the United States (INWORKS)

Analyzing the 7C psychological antecedents of vaccine acceptance throughout the COVID-19 pandemic among healthcare sector workers in France: A repeated cross-sectional study (CappVac-Cov)

BackgroundAcross various stages of the COVID-19 pandemic and related vaccine recommendations in France, we assessed the association of the 7C-psychological antecedents with vaccine uptake/intention for booster vaccination among healthcare-sector workers (HCSWs). We also assessed whether 7C-antecedent profiles changed over time. MethodologyThe Research Group for the Prevention of Occupational Infections in Healthcare Workers (GERES) conducted three repeated web-surveys which were disseminated by email chain-referral among HCSWs throughout France. The questionnaires waves took place: July-November 2021, February-March 2022 and January-March 2023 (P2, P3 and P4). We also reanalysed data from a prior similar study conducted late 2020-early 2021 (Moirangthem et al. (2022)) (P1). To evaluate the association of 7C-items with vaccine uptake-intention for future vaccination, we estimated adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) using robust variance Poisson regression. We report the 7C-item population attributable loss in vaccine intention. ResultsThe four surveys (P1-P4) encompassed 5234, 339, 351 and 437 participants. At earlier stages of the vaccine campaign, the principal antecedents of vaccine intention were favorable perception of vaccination benefit-risk-balance (BRB) (vs. unfavorable, aPR: 2.32), reactance to employer encouragement for vaccination (motivates vs. dissuades-me, aPR:2.23), vaccine confidence (vs. not-being-confident, aPR: 1.71) and social conformism towards vaccination (favorable vs. skeptical opinion in private environment, aPR: 1.33). Under a vaccine mandate for HCSWs, only perceiving vaccination as a collective action was associated with current vaccine status (agree vs. disagree, aPR: 2.19). At later stages of the epidemic, hypothetical booster vaccine intentions were strongly associated with BRB perception (favorable vs. unfavorable, aPR: 2.07) and perceiving vaccination as a collective action (agree vs. disagree, aPR: 1.69). Fearing a severe side effect from vaccination decreased population vaccine intention by 26.2 %. ConclusionOur results suggest that both 7C-antecedents and their association with vaccine behaviour can change over time, and underscore the importance of assuring confidence in vaccine safety.

Uncovering Silence: France’s Move to Reconciliation and the Depiction of Algerian Migrant Workers

In the catalogue Algériens en France: 1954–1962, la guerre, l’exil, la vie (2012), Benjamin Stora and Linda Amiri represent the lives of Algerian labourers and their struggles in the shantytowns around Paris during the Algerian War for Independence. From 1954 to 1962, the Algerian population in France rose sharply; yet, the workers were silenced in the national story until 2001, on the fortieth anniversary of the 17 October 1961 massacre of peaceful Algerian protesters in Paris. This article examines works that move Algerian migrant workers into the spotlight while considering historian Benjamin Stora’s 2021 report Les Questions mémorielles portant sur la colonisation et la guerre d’Algérie . This article analyzes how formal reconciliation work functions in the memorialization of Algerian migrant workers in France from the 1990s onwards, and how new memorial efforts embrace a discourse of silence and forgetting that effectively covers over the memory work that had already been undertaken.

Central nervous system tumours and occupational ionising radiation exposure: a nested case–control study among the ORICAMs cohort of healthcare workers in France

ObjectiveThis study aimed at investigating the relationship between occupational exposure to external ionising radiation and central nervous system (CNS) tumours mortality in healthcare workers working in France.Design and settingThe Occupational...

Appreciative inquiry and strengths development in the workplace: a dual comparative study

ABSTRACT Research has shown that Appreciative Inquiry (AI) and strengths development interventions can foster well-being, engagement, and performance in the workplace. However, additional studies are needed to develop effective interventions and test their effects on these variables, notably from a comparative perspective. The objective of this research was therefore to measure and compare the effects of AI and strengths development interventions on employee well-being, engagement, and performance at work. Two quasi-experimental studies were conducted among workers in France (n = 202; in-person intervention protocol) and Canada (n = 70; online intervention protocol). Results of analyses of variance indicate that AI and strengths development interventions led to improvements in well-being and engagement. Additionally, results suggest that AI and strengths development interventions produce distinct effects on the studied variables. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Knowledge, behaviours, practices, and expectations regarding climate change and environmental sustainability among health workers in France: a multicentre, cross-sectional study

Faced with climate change, hospitals are confronted with a dual challenge. On one hand, they need to embark on a far-reaching ecological transformation to reduce their contribution to greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental impacts; on the other hand, they need to limit the effects of climate change on their activities. We aimed to evaluate the knowledge, behaviours, practices, and expectations of health workers in French hospitals regarding climate change and environmental sustainability. This multicentre, cross-sectional study was carried out in six French hospitals from June 1, 2021 to Dec 31, 2022. All health workers at the hospitals were eligible to participate and were recruited through internal publicity. We designed a structured questionnaire consisting of five parts: participant characteristics, knowledge and perceptions of climate change, pro-environmental behaviours, practices concerning environmental sustainability actions, and expectations. A multilevel logistic regression model was used to evaluate associations between the knowledge, behaviours, and practices of health workers and the characteristics of the health workers and hospitals. Of 57 034 health workers across the six hospitals, 4552 (8·0%) participated in the study. Of those for whom gender data were available, 3518 (78·2%) participants were women and 979 (21·8%) were men. Participants considered energy consumption (71·0%) and waste and discharges related to medical activities (55·6%) and non-medical activities (50·2%) to be the three activities with the greatest environmental impact. On a scale of 1 (not a priority) to 10 (high priority), the median rating attributed by the participants to the commitment of their hospitals to ecological transformation was 5·0 (IQR 3·0-6·0). 1079 (23·7%) of 4552 participants had already initiated at least one environmental sustainability action in their hospital. Barriers reported by participants to the implementation of environmental sustainability-related projects were the lack of dedicated time (40·4%), hierarchical support (32·5%), methodological support (28·9%), and access to training (23·7%). The presence of a sustainable development steering committee, especially one with more than 5 years of activity, was positively associated with health workers feeling better informed about the ecological transformation of their hospital (adjusted odds ratio 1·78 [95% CI 1·29-2·45]), having better knowledge of the environmental impacts of their hospital (1·83 [1·32-2·53]), and initiating a larger number of environmental sustainability actions (1·74 [1·33-2·29]). We showed that health workers in French hospitals seem to be committed to the ecological transformation of their workplaces, and identified some drivers and barriers to further support these essential transformations. There is an urgent need to bolster training for all health workers, enhance structural frameworks within hospitals, and encourage future interdisciplinary research on the vulnerability of health-care facilities to climate change. The University Hospital of Poitiers.

The challenge of adopting a collaborative information system for independent healthcare workers in France: a comprehensive study

This study aimed to explore the perception of an underutilised collaborative information system through qualitative research, utilizing semi-structured, in-depth interviews with independent midwives and physician. PROSPERO, is a collaborative information system designed to bridge the communication gap between community-based healthcare workers and hospital-based care teams for parturients in Lyon, France. Through 27 semi-structured in-depth interviews with midwives, obstetricians, and general practitioners, we identified key themes related to the system’s adoption: implementation challenges, utilisation barriers, interprofessional dynamics, and hidden variables affecting system use. Participants recognised the potential of PROSPERO to improve information sharing and care coordination but expressed concerns about the system’s integration into existing workflows, time constraints, and the need for adequate training and technical support. Interprofessional dynamics revealed differing perspectives between hospital and independent practitioners, emphasising the importance of trust-building and professional recognition. Hidden variables, such as hierarchical influences and confidentiality concerns, further complicated the system’s adoption. Despite the consensus on the benefits of a collaborative information system, its implementation was hindered by mistrust between healthcare workers (i.e. between independent practitioners and hospital staff). Our findings suggest that fostering trust and addressing the identified barriers are crucial steps towards successful system implementation. The study contributes to understanding the complex interplay of factors influencing the adoption of collaborative healthcare technologies and highlights the need for strategies that support effective interprofessional collaboration and communication.ClinicalTrials ID NCT02593292.

SARS-CoV-2 infection prevalence and associated factors among primary healthcare workers in France after the third COVID-19 wave

Data on the SARS-CoV-2 infection among primary health care workers (PHCWs) are scarce but essential to reflect on policy regarding prevention and control measures. We assessed the prevalence of PHCWs who have been infected by SARS-CoV-2 in comparison with modeling from the general population in metropolitan France, and associated factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted among general practitioners (GPs), pediatricians, dental and pharmacy workers in primary care between May and August 2021. Participants volunteered to provide a dried-blood spot for SARS-CoV-2 antibody assessment and completed a questionnaire. The primary outcome was defined as the detection of infection-induced antibodies (anti-nucleocapsid IgG, and for non-vaccinees: anti-Spike IgG and neutralizing antibodies) or previous self-reported infection (positive RT-qPCR or antigenic test, or positive ELISA test before vaccination). Estimates were adjusted using weights for representativeness and compared with prediction from the general population. Poisson regressions were used to quantify associated factors. The analysis included 1612 PHCWs. Weighted prevalences were: 31.7% (95% CI 27.5–36.0) for GPs, 28.7% (95% CI 24.4–33.0) for pediatricians, 25.2% (95% CI 20.6–31.0) for dentists, and 25.5% (95% CI 18.2–34.0) for pharmacists. Estimates were compatible with model predictions for the general population. PHCWs more likely to be infected were: GPs compared to pharmacist assistants (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR] = 2.26; CI 95% 1.01–5.07), those living in Île-de-France (aPR = 1.53; CI 95% 1.14–2.05), South-East (aPR = 1.57; CI 95% 1.19–2.08), North-East (aPR = 1.81; CI 95% 1.38–2.37), and those having an unprotected contact with a COVID-19 case within the household (aPR = 1.48; CI 95% 1.22–1.80). Occupational factors were not associated with infection. In conclusion, the risk of SARS-CoV-2 exposure for PHCWs was more likely to have occurred in the community rather than at their workplace.

The Outsourcing Wage Gap: Exploring the Interplay of Gender and Tasks Along the Job Distribution

This paper examines the wage penalty of outsourced workers in France, providing novel insights to the existing literature. First, it investigates the extent to which the wage penalty differs between outsourced male and female workers. Our results reveal that outsourced workers experience pronounced wage penalty, with this effect being stronger for women. Second, in contrast to most studies, we analyse outsourcing across the entire job distribution. We find that the wage penalty is significantly higher for outsourced workers employed in jobs at the lower end of the wage distribution compared to those employed at the top. Third, we assess whether the wage penalty experienced by outsourced workers can be attributed to the tasks they perform, such as repetitiveness, forms of control, and managerial duties. The results show that the tasks performed, while can alter the wage penalty, do not significantly reshape the main results. Thus, differences in tasks do not appear to be a determining factor in the wage penalty of outsourced workers. Longitudinal analysis strengthens the validity of the cross-sectional findings, highlighting that the wage penalty associated with outsourcing does not result from shifts in individual employee characteristics but rather from disparities in their job status and other time-invariant attributes. In summary, being an outsourced worker implies a degradation in wage treatment, which is exacerbated by gender. Given the increasing importance of this employment practice, it underscores the urgent need for policy interventions to address these critical issues.

Comparing physical work exposures between men and women: findings from 65 281 workers in France

ObjectivesMusculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are a leading cause of disability and sick leave among workers. Although MSDs are associated with physical exposures, there are gender differences in the prevalence and related...

Herbicide exposure during occupational knapsack spraying in French gardeners and municipal workers.

There is a lack of data on pesticide exposure levels during spraying with a knapsack, while it could have important implications for their users' health. We assessed levels and determinants of exposure in 24 male private landscapers/gardeners and municipal workers in France in 2011. Actual dermal exposure to glyphosate was assessed with cotton undergarments and gloves, and a cotton coverall changed between mixing and spraying to assess the contribution of each phase and body area to overall contamination. A field monitor observed the whole workshift and filled in a standardized observation grid. The median actual contamination was 5,256 µg for the body, and 4,620 µg for hands. Spraying was more exposing than mixing/loading for all body parts except hands, which contributed to nearly 90% of body exposure during mixing/loading, and 30% during spraying, followed by back (14%). In the most exposed quartile, levels were close to some observations in agriculture. Our study provides new data on pesticide exposure levels of knapsack sprayer users; it should lead to a reinforced prevention, in order to make exposures as low as possible and lessen the risk of chronic diseases.

Cancer mortality after low dose exposure to ionising radiation in workers in France, the United Kingdom, and the United States (INWORKS): cohort study

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect of protracted low dose, low dose rate exposure to ionising radiation on the risk of cancer.DesignMultinational cohort study.SettingCohorts of workers in the nuclear industry in France,...

Occupational exposure to silica dust in France: an ongoing concern.

Crystalline silica is found in many construction materials. Although it is one of the oldest known occupational exposures, new exposure contexts have emerged in recent years. In 2021, France classified work involving exposure to respirable crystalline silica (ie, silica dust) generated by a work process as carcinogenic. In order to assess exposure in the French workforce between 1947 and 2020, we developed a silica job-exposure matrix (JEM) for the Matgéné program. The JEM was linked with occupational data from different population censuses (1982, 1990, 1999, 2007 and 2017). The proportions and numbers of workers exposed to silica dust in France at these various census time points were estimated and described by sex and industry for 2017. After decreasing between 1982 and 1999, the proportion of workers exposed to silica dust remained stable at 4%, representing 975 000 workers in 2017. Exposed workers were mostly men (93%), and most worked in the construction industry (64%). This was also the industry where the majority of workers were exposed to a level above the French 8-hour time weighted average occupational exposure limit (TWA-OEL). A large number of workers in France were still exposed (some highly) to silica dust in 2017 so this agent still poses an occupational health concern. The results of this study provide key information about the continued surveillance of the evolution of exposure to silica dust. In a few years, it will be possible to quantify the impact of the 2021 regulation in terms of proportions and number of workers exposed to silica dust.

When intellectuals educate: history and geography in the educational project for Chinese workers in France during World War One, 1916–1918

ABSTRACT Between 1916 and 1918, a group of Chinese intellectuals opened a school in Paris for Chinese workers who came to Europe in aid of the Allied cause. One of them, Cai Yuanpei, created a textbook based on lectures he gave at the school, which included chapters on moral and intellectual topics. This article focuses on two of these chapters – History and Geography – and situates them within the context of Chinese modern history, curricular and pedagogical debates in mainland China, and the history of textbook publication at the time. In doing so, I argue that Cai Yuanpei utilised these chapters to instil critical thinking skills among workers in a pedagogical move that, while consistent with contemporary discussions on the goals of education, was nevertheless unique in the context of other contemporary approaches to education.

Analyse du profil des salariés déclarés inaptes au poste de travail : quelle place pour les facteurs sociétaux ou extra-professionnels et quelles conséquences sur l'emploi ?

IntroductionProfessional career can be modified by health problems. Professional impairment, certified by an occupational health physician, can be followed by a redeployment or occupational disintegration. ObjectivesTo describe the profiles of workers declared unfit for their workplace and the profiles of those who have no remaining work capacity (RWC). MethodsThe workers followed by an inter-enterprise occupational health service composed of 20 occupational physicians. The characteristics of workers declared unfit for work were extracted from the medical files: age, gender, activity sector (Naf), socioprofessional category (PCS), pathology leading to professional impairment (CIM10), status of obligation to employ disabled workers (BOETH). Factors associated with unfitness to work due to no remaining work capacity (RWC) were identified by logistic regression models. ResultsIn 2019, 82678 workers in France were followed by the SPSTI and 554 (0.67%), of whom 162 had no RWC, were declared unfit to work by an occupational health physician. Professional impairment rates were highest for women and workers > 55 years old. Psychological (29%) and rheumatic (50%) pathologies were the most frequent causes of professional impairment. BOETH status was identified among 63%. Age > 45 and psychological pathology were significantly associated with absent RWC, whereas gender, activity sector and PCS were not. DiscussionNo comprehensive public administration records of professional impairment exist in France. While past studies have described the profiles of workers who were unfit for their workplace, none have characterized those without RWC, who are high risk of precarity. ConclusionsPsychological pathologies generate the most professional impairment in persons without RWC. Prevention of these pathologies is essential. While rheumatic disease is the first cause of professional impairment, the proportion of workers with these diseases who have no remaining work capacity is relatively low; this may be due to the efforts made to facilitate their return to work.

Does Addictive Pleasure at Work and Building a Personal IS on One's Smartphone Lead to Problematic Smartphone Dependency?

Using a sample of 848 workers in France, this article aims to explain problematic smartphone dependency, a behavior considered to have negative consequences for sufferers in the context of work. It examines whether and how addictive pleasure at work is related to problematic smartphone dependency (PSD). The authors propose a model with the originality of an exploratory measure of what is conceptualized as a mobile personal information system (PIS) development. The results obtained are paradoxical in that addictive pleasure at work is negatively correlated with PSD, although it positively contributes to the development of a PIS, the latter being itself positively correlated to gratifications. However, PIS development is not positively correlated to PSD. It is plausible that, although addictive pleasure at work drives the development of mobile PIS, it also provides an escape from compulsive smartphone usage, thus mitigating PSD. These findings also highlight the protecting role of mindfulness against PSD.