Ana Maria Seifert

Mutant frequency of radiotherapy technicians appears to be associated with recent dose of ionizing radiation.

The frequency of hypoxanthine phosphoribosyl transferase (HPRT) mutants among peripheral T-lymphocytes of radiotherapy technicians primarily exposed to 60Co was measured by the T-cell cloning method. Mutant frequencies of these technicians in 1984 and 1986 were significantly higher than those of physiotherapy technicians who worked in a neighboring service, and correlated significantly with thermoluminescence dosimeter readings recorded during the 6 mo preceding mutant frequency determination. Correlations decreased when related to dose recorded over longer time intervals. HPRT mutant frequency determination in peripheral lymphocytes is a good measure of recently received biologically effective radiation dose in an occupationally exposed population.

Can safety risks of blue-collar jobs be compared by gender?

Studies of accident rates use denominators which vary in their precision and detail. These imprecisions may impact differentially on accident rates of men and women, given their distribution across the labour market. Difficulties in making male/female comparisons were illustrated by a study of accidents and health symptoms among blue collar workers. We examined occupational health claims presented to the Quebec Occupational Health and Safety Commission by male and female municipal workers in 1989–1990, and interviewed 55 male and 58 female workers, asking questions on health symptoms and difficulties experienced on the job. No increase in accidents was found among permanent women workers compared with their male equivalents, and precipitating events and sites of injury were similar. However, the statistics were not strictly comparable. Four factors complexified the male-female comparisons of accident rates: (1) gender differences in hours worked, (2) gendered task assignments within industrial classifications, occupations and job titles, (3) gender differences in age/seniority, and (4) gender differences in the interaction between equipment and tool dimensions and work activity. Women were less senior, worked fewer hours and were assigned to a small minority of job titles. Interviews revealed a gendered division of labour within many supposedly integrated jobs, and use of different methods to do the same tasks. Men and women reported different musculoskeletal symptom profiles, which could be attributed to differences in tasks, biology or work methods. In view of these results, we suggest that comparing male and female accident rates be done with extreme prudence, taking into account womens and mens specific situations in the workplace.

Qualitative research using numbers: an approach developed in france and used to transform work in north america.

Qualitative research is often opposed to quantitative research. But numbers can play an important role in illustrating analyses in qualitative research. Their persuasive, concrete nature can help ensure the success of a workplace intervention, especially in the North American context, where numbers are treated very seriously. We describe a method of work analysis and transformation developed at the Conservatoire national des arts et métiers in Paris, where the meaning of the numbers used is critical. We think that the numbers used in work analysis have a different meaning from that in a “pure” quantitative study, where they are submitted to statistical procedures for hypothesis testing. Using examples from recent studies carried out in Québec and Canada in collaboration with unions or joint health and safety committees, we show that counting can be part of qualitative analysis, enrich our portrait of organizational and physical aspects of the work process, and help indicate pathways for workplace improvement.

Repetitive Strain in Nonrepetitive Work: A Case Study

In a Québec factory, a woman in a nontraditional job suffered from epicondylitis whereas her male coworkers were unaffected. A study was undertaken in order to enumerate the operations at risk for epicondylitis. Workers were interviewed in order to identify difficult operations and systematic observations were done over 4 work days. Although tasks were extremely varied, certain movements at risk for epicondylitis were repeated many times. Fifty-three valves were turned against resistance as part of this job, and one valve requiring a particularly difficult movement was turned 20 times in one day. There were at least 61 operations at risk for epicondylitis per day over a 4-day period. Strain on the elbow joint was particularly intense for the woman worker because the design of the workplace gave an advantage to taller workers with larger hands. Although this case study does not permit us to conclude that the workers epicondylitis was due to her job, it enables us to suggest that it would be wise to adapt the dimensions of relevant equipment and worksites to a wider range of potential worker sizes. We also raise some questions about the definition of repetitive strain in epidemiological studies. We suggest that it may be necessary to consider not only the cycle time but also the total of forces exerted on a joint in order to study workplace injuries to the musculoskeletal system.

Comprendre les représentations du personnel soignant face aux infections nosocomiales au Clostridium difficile au Québec pour mieux en promouvoir la santé

Au cours des dernières années, la transmission des infections nosocomiales, notamment des infections à Clostridium difficile, est devenue une importante préoccupation au Québec. Pour éviter leur transmission, les experts recommandent notamment la formation du personnel. Dans cet article, nous décrivons la représentation que se font certaines catégories de personnel de la santé à propos des risques reliés à la transmission du Clostridium difficile et leur perception des messages de prévention, afin d’identifier des avenues permettant de contribuer à cette formation. Nous avons effectué 27 entrevues et 186 heures d’observation auprès d’infirmières, infirmières auxiliaires, préposés aux bénéficiaires et préposés à l’entretien sanitaire expérimentés, dans deux unités de soins de courte durée et deux de longue durée d’un hôpital à Montréal. Résultats : le personnel se préoccupe de la transmission du C difficile envers les patients et envers leurs propres familles davantage que des conséquences immédiates sur leur propre santé. Les pratiques pour éviter de transporter le microorganisme à leur maison sont décrites. Malgré l’application de mesures de prévention, certains participants pensent s’être contaminés et être porteurs sains du C difficile, qui persisterait dans leur organisme et pourrait s’activer s’ils sont affaiblis ou sous antibiotiques. Cette contamination surviendrait à cause de situations mettant en échec la prévention : les patients non diagnostiqués et les délais de diagnostic, un manque de formation sur les mesures de prévention et sur les mesures pratiques pour les appliquer et un manque d’information sur les produits désinfectants, ces deux dernières mesures affectant surtout les préposées aux bénéficiaires. Nous concluons sur la nécessité de prendre en compte les préoccupations du personnel dans les interventions éducatives ; de formations pratiques, adaptées au travail et sur le besoin d’information quant aux raisons de changements de produits.