occupational health
The Pump Handle
Tag archives for occupational health
Excess breast cancer risk among women employed in automobile plastics facilities
Posted by Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH of George Washington University School of Public Health & Health Services on December 12, 2012 Two recently published papers funded by the federal agency Health Canada report on excess risk of breast cancer among auto plastics workers and the chemical compounds and processes used that are the likely culprits.
First-of-its-kind survey compiles the experience of domestic workers, highlights the grim nature of an unregulated industry
Posted by The Pump Handle on December 7, 2012 The collective experience of domestic workers — house cleaners, nannies and caregivers — often remains hidden from view. But a new survey has pulled back the curtain on the conditions and experiences domestic workers face, documenting issues such as wage exploitation, preventable on-the-job injuries and the little — if any — power domestic workers have in improving their work environments.
Classic papers in Public Health: Annual Report of the Chief Inspector of Factories for the Year 1947 by E.R.A. Merewether
Posted by The Pump Handle on November 27, 2012 A study and report by ERA Merewether in the 1940s alerted the medical community to the role of occupational asbestos exposure in lung disease.
New study highlights need for workplace interventions that reduce depression risk
Posted by The Pump Handle on November 26, 2012 Exploring reliable links between work and depression, which is a significant health and economic burden for individuals as well as society, is somewhat murky. But a new study published in the American Journal of Public Health used two analytic strategies to address such criticism.
Seven worker safety rules remain stuck, stalled, “under review” in Obama White House
Posted by Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH of George Washington University School of Public Health & Health Services on November 20, 2012 Seven new worker safety regulations–both proposed and final rules—are stuck in the Obama White House. One proposed rule has been “under review” for 645 days.
Occupational Health News Roundup
Posted by Liz Borkowski on November 8, 2012 In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, cleanup workers face many hazards and hourly workers who missed out on several days of income wonder how they’ll make ends meet.
Worker safety wishlist for Obama’s second term
Posted by Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH of George Washington University School of Public Health & Health Services on November 7, 2012 Now that the Presidential election is over, it’s time for the Labor Department to kick into high gear expand workers’ rights and ensuring workers’ lives and health are protected. Here’s my wish list of tasks for the Labor Department to accomplish in the next 6 months:
Report illustrates worrisome trend of painkiller abuse among injured workers
Posted by The Pump Handle on October 12, 2012 Researchers studying workers’ compensation claims have found that almost one in 12 injured workers who begin using opioids were still using the prescription drugs three to six months later. It’s a trend that, not surprisingly, can lead to addiction, increased disability and more work loss – but few doctors are acting to prevent it.
Hotel workers at Hyatt struggle for justice, Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization supports workers’ cause
Posted by Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH of George Washington University School of Public Health & Health Services on October 10, 2012 Canceling a hotel contract for a major conference is no small feat, but the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization did just that to support hotel workers call for a global boycott of Hyatt Hotels.
Occupational Health News Roundup
Posted by Liz Borkowski on October 8, 2012 The Oregonian reports on children doing farm labor, and the Obama administration’s response to their FOIA request regarding an abandoned proposal to limit dangerous agricultural work by children; Foxconn workers on an iPhone 5 production line went on strike for several hours over working conditions; and four Unicef vaccine workers were kidnapped and released in South Waziristan.