208670 Work organization: Findings from U.S. union-represented paper mills

Tuesday, November 10, 2009: 9:30 AM

Tobi Mae Lippin, MEd , New Perspectives Consulting Group, Inc., Durham, NC
Jon Geenen , United Steelworkers, Menasha, WI
Leeann Anderson , United Steelworkers, Pittsburgh, PA
James Frederick, MS , Health, Safety and Environment Department, USW, Pittsburgh, PA
Allan Yoder , Local 2-01033, United Steelworkers, Three Rivers, MI
Thomas H. McQuiston, DrPH , USW Tony Mazzocchi Center for Health, Safety and Environmental Education, Chapel Hill, NC
Kristin Bradley-Bull, MPH , New Perspectives Consulting Group, Inc., Durham, NC
  
Presenters will share findings about the prevalence of work organization issues such as understaffing, combining job classifications and lack of capital improvements, as well as union leader perceptions about how these issues contribute to health and safety. Data was gathered via surveys completed by over 80% of US paper mills represented by the USW. Over 200 mills responded to the study developed by a team of rank and file workers, union leaders, staff and consultants from the USW's Tony Mazzocchi Center and New Perspectives Consulting Group.

Learning Objectives:
1. Explain the extent of work organization issues in paper mills and the perceptions of union leaders regarding the contributions of these issues to worker health and safety. 2. Discuss the methods, benefits and limitations of staff and worker involvement in all phases of assessment research.

Keywords: Occupational Health, Labor

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Lead participatory labor-based research and evaluation Presented on this subject in the past MEd
Any relevant financial relationships? No

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.

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