New Solutions-A Journal of Environmental and Occupational Health Policy最新文献

A prospective cohort of 4964 HCWs from four Canadian provinces was established early in the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants were invited to comment about workplace mental health supports at three time points. We performed a thematic content analysis of responses from 1738 participants using the Social Support Behaviour Code framework to categorize barriers to support as informational, tangible, emotional, social, or expressing esteem. Themes were synthesized into suggestions for healthcare organizations to prepare for future crises. Formal and informal peer support, workplace mental health supports, and one-on-one counseling were most often mentioned as valued. Analysis suggested that workplace social networks as a source of support and mental health supports would have been appreciated. HCWs perceived that a lack of tangible workplace supports, such as staffing, compensation, and time off, were barriers to well-being. Medical workplaces could consider the availability of tangible supports in addition to developing formal mental health supports for healthcare workers.

Maritime occupations encompass seafaring, fishing, marine aquaculture, and longshore work. These non-standard occupations tend to be hazardous with high injury rates. They are associated with varying levels of seasonality, shift work, geographic mobility, and different types of remuneration, posing unique challenges when recovering from work-related injury and illness. Occupational health and safety is under-researched in these sectors. Furthermore, little research exists on return to work (RTW) after injury among maritime workers. This paper presents findings from a mixed methods research program designed to provide insight into injury, compensation and RTW experiences among maritime workers in the Canadian province of British Columbia (BC). Research methods include the analysis of provincial workers' compensation data, data from an anonymous online survey of injured/ill BC maritime workers and from semi-structured interviews with injured workers and key informants. Analysis of workers' compensation data shows high rates of serious injuries, longer disability duration, and high rates of deemed RTW, particularly in fishing. Survey findings suggest a relatively low percentage of workers file claims for workers' compensation to WorkSafeBC. Interview data highlight some of the challenges that may explain under-reporting, longer disability duration, and relatively poor RTW outcomes. Policy relevant concerns and areas for future research relevant to understanding and addressing some of the identified RTW challenges associated with these sectors are presented.

Return to work (RTW) after injury requires strong stakeholder coordination. Seafaring work is associated with high injury rates, but seafarers' RTW is understudied. As federally regulated workers, Canadian seafarers are protected by the Canadian Human Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on disability. Following a work-related injury or illness, seafarers are eligible for provincial workers' compensation benefits and RTW; however, RTW is also subject to federal regulations, including the requirement to have a valid marine medical certificate (MMC). This complex regulatory landscape may negatively influence seafarer RTW. Drawing upon a sociolegal study, we find that MMC-related human rights complaints against the federal government highlight the legal challenges seafarers face in the RTW process. Interview findings suggest that to ensure a valid MMC and employment eligibility, injured seafarers might avoid filing compensation claims or RTW before recovery. We recommend the federal-provincial agencies adopt more efficient coordination policies to support seafarers' RTW.

Migrant agricultural workers employed through Canada's Temporary Foreign Worker Program face serious occupational health and safety hazards, with compounded difficulties in accessing workers' compensation (WC) if they are sick or injured by the job. Little is known, however, about their ability to return to work (RTW) upon recovery-a fundamental right included in the conception of WC, but complicated by their restrictive work permits and precarious immigration status. Based on interviews with injured migrant workers in two Canadian provinces (Quebec and Ontario), our research suggests that workers' RTW process is anything but straightforward. This article highlights three key issues-pressure to return to work prematurely, communication and bureaucratic challenges with WC agencies, and impacts of injury/illness and failure to return to work on workers' long-term well-being. Consequences and opportunities for reform are discussed.

This is an extended version of the speech given by Garrett Brown in accepting the Alice Hamilton Award from the Occupational Health and Safety Section of the American Public Health Association. The award recognizes the life-long contributions of individuals who have distinguished themselves through a career of hard work and dedication to improve the lives of workers. Alice Hamilton (1869-1970) was considered the founder of occupational health in the U.S. and was a tireless activist and physician who dedicated her life to improving the health and safety of workers. She was committed to science, service, and compassion.

Over a century ago, Connecticut industry began using chrysotile asbestos. Chrysotile found a home in several factories that used it exclusively or predominantly. The occurrence of mesothelioma in 4 of those factories is the subject of this paper-2 have been reported previously and are updated here with new information; one was the subject of a prior internal corporate study that was never published; one is reported here for the first time. Twenty-four cases of mesothelioma have been identified among these workers, including several who had no known amphibole exposure. It is likely that additional cases of mesothelioma have been missed. The full scale of the hazard may never be completely known, but reports such as the present one add to the weight of evidence that chrysotile causes mesothelioma in humans and that the full extent of the epidemic is probably wider than retrospective studies have revealed. Continued vigilance is required.

An ever-increasing number of workplaces are becoming heat-exposed due to rising temperature extremes. However, a comprehensive review of Canadian safety materials available to support workplaces in managing this critical hazard has not previously been conducted. We undertook a review and a content analysis of heat stress materials on safety-based ministry, association, and agency websites in Canada (n = 155) to identify content related to heat stress (n = 595). Each document was qualitatively analyzed using NVivo. The most dominant components identified were heat stress control measures (n = 492, 83%), training and education (n = 414, 70%), workplaces and workers at risk (n = 361, 61%), exposure limits and monitoring practices (n = 344, 58%), and emergency response and reporting (n = 249, 42%). However, the content within these programming components was highly variable. While we found that organizations across Canada provide heat stress content, there was evidence of inconsistencies and considerable gaps in the availability of material and the strategies presented to control the critical risk posed by heat.

This study investigated workforce characteristics, work practices, protective measures, and health symptoms among nail salon workers in New York and New Jersey following the implementation of local exhaust ventilation (LEV) regulations in New York. An online survey conducted from 2022 to 2023 targeted registered nail salons and manicurists in both states (N = 146). The majority of respondents were Asian, primarily Korean (52.1%) and Chinese (26%). In New York, 79% of salons had a mechanical ventilation system, including LEV, while in New Jersey, where no ventilation regulation exists, only 52% of nail salons had mechanical ventilation systems. A substantial proportion of manicurists reported health-related concerns (40.5%) and symptoms related to chemical exposure (67.6%). The study emphasizes the need for continuous and improved illness prevention strategies, including the use of safer products, comprehensive health and safety training, and effective ventilation practices, to better protect nail salon workers.