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Abstract #150131

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Lisa Pompeii, PhD, COHN-S, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Texas, 1200 Herman Pressler, W-1038, Houston, TX 77030, 713-500-9474, lisa.pompeii@uth.tmc.edu, Bonnie Rogers, DrPH, COHN-S, Occupational Health Nursing, UNC Shcool of Public Health, Rm 343 1700 Airport Rd, Chapel Hill, NC 27515, Trude Bennett, PhD, Maternal and Child Health, UNC Shcool of Public Health, CB 7445, Rosenau Hall, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7445, and Steve Wing, PhD, School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, CB#7435, McGavran-Greenberg Hall, Chapel Hill, NC 27599.

Following a grievance filed by housekeepers in the lowest pay grades, the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill commissioned a report from the School of Public Health to assess the effects of employment policies and practices on housekeepers. This Housekeepers' Health Study involved five areas of data collection including a review of prior studies about health conditions among housekeepers, a review of UNC work policies, focus groups, walk-through assessments, and a health survey. Photographs were taken during the walk-through assessments to document observed hazards and work conditions. Almost 70% (n = 210) of the UNC housekeepers responded to the health survey, which was personally delivered by the researcher to each housekeeping department. Six focus groups were also conducted where concerns about working conditions were discussed. A number of significant health hazards were identified, including exposure to blood products, poor security at night, extreme temperatures, lifting heavy equipment, fire hazards, and inconsistent safety and training programs. We also identified poor working conditions such as dirty break rooms and lack of opportunities for advancement. Almost half of the respondents reported that they did not feel respected for what they do. Most felt that they could talk to their supervisor about poor working conditions, but half felt that they did not get enough support. A mix of qualitative and quantitative techniques allowed us to successfully engage workers who are often considered difficult to reach, and to document a number significant health hazards and concerns.

Learning Objectives: Participants should be able to

• Describe health concerns among housekeepers employed in a university setting.
• Identify the mix of study methods used by researchers to successfully gather information from housekeepers about workplace health and safety concerns.

Keywords: Vulnerable Populations,

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

• Audio (mp3) recording
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• Multimedia recording