Documents Hogstedt, Christer 10 results

"Equity in health is endorsed by most governments. But there is no progress in reducing the relative differences between different socioeconomic groups linked to the professional status. There are obvious reasons for class differences that include poverty, low education and certain life style factors. But do we know the true background of the differences? Why do blue-collar workers have less favourable health than white-collar workers? Is it due to selection of unhealthy workers to bad workplaces or due to the working conditions? This volume provides an overview of the importance of working conditions for social class differences in health. The magnitude of social class differences in health and the importance of working conditions for these differences are described for seven European countries and Massachusetts, USA. In a summary chapter conclusions are drawn regarding to what extent social class differences in health can be explained by working conditions. An agenda for future research is presented. "

"The globalisation of the economies has enormous implications for work and labour market structures. Demands for rapid adjustment and flexibility can be perceived as threatening to the employees' need for security and can cause ill health, but it is also important to try to foresee the possible benefits that could result and the constructive adaptations that individuals make. These changing conditions raise new issues and research questions concerning health consequences and people's actions and constructive adaptation. The interdisciplinary research conference in Stockholm on Health Hazards and Challenges in the New Working Life covered areas such as health and social consequences of unemployment, job insecurity, labour market constraints, flexibility in working conditions, and new forms of employment relations and contracts. The proceedings give an overview of the latest research results on these issues, which will be of the utmost importance to working life in the next millennium. The book presents a selection of contributions from highly qualified researchers in psychology, occupational health and sociology and covers three main sections: unemployment and downsizing, flexibilization and stress, and opportunities and constraints in the labour market. It provides an excellent summary and overview of earlier research, together with new findings about adaptation and actions among the unemployed, the effects of new and changing employment contracts upon health, and the polarization of the labour market and its exclusion of vulnerable groups."

"Several of the contributors to this volume have noted the growing interest in more participatory methods of health and social research. This chapter explores these methods in more depth, highlighting ways in which in the workplace in particular the traditional divide between the ‘experts' and the subjects of research is beginning to be challenged. The implications of these new approaches are explored through an examination of studies undertaken in Europe, Africa and Latin America. The authors identify settings where health and safety professionals collaborate with workers' representatives to ensure that the research being undertaken is relevant to their needs and interests. They also outline a more radical approach where traditional modes of scientific endeavour are challenged and workers themselves are given a more active role in occupational health research and in the development of policies to promote healthier workplaces."

"In this discussion paper, we describe the history of the science and societal action resulting in the mitigation of neurotoxic disorders from exposure to organic solvents at the workplaces in Sweden. When alkyd paints were introduced in large scale in construction painting in the 1960s and 1970s, Scandinavian unions voiced increasing concern as members reported symptoms like headache and vertigo, supported by participatory studies and case studies. Although acute and chronic neurotoxic effects were established for some specific solvents such as carbon disulphide, this was not the case for those used in the new paints. Union advocacy promoted formal epidemiological studies, providing increasing evidence for chronic neurotoxicity at levels far below current occupational exposure levels. The results were widely disseminated and accepted and led to concerted action with preventive measures, most importantly substitution of the organic solvents in paints for indoor use, but also drastic reductions in occupational exposure limits. The findings also resulted in funding of further research on solvent toxicity and the establishment of expert groups to advice authorities on occupational standards for exposure to chemicals. The substitution strategy was subsequently adopted in many other countries and occupational exposure limits were lowered, although several years or even decades later.
While the societal context in Sweden was unique in many ways, we conclude that there are lessons to be learned from this preventive success when addressing current challenges."