230261 One foot in the 19th century, one in the 21st: Paper mill health and safety participatory study results

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Tobi Mae Lippin, MEd , New Perspectives Consulting Group, Inc., Durham, NC
Thomas H. McQuiston, DrPH , USW Tony Mazzocchi Center for Health, Safety and Environmental Education, Chapel Hill, NC
Allan Yoder , Local 2-01033, United Steelworkers, Three Rivers, MI
Steve Sallman , USW Tony Mazzocchi Center for Health, Safety and Environmental Education, Pittsburgh, PA
Kristin Bradley-Bull, MPH , New Perspectives Consulting Group, Inc., Durham, NC
James Frederick, MS , Health, Safety and Environment Department, USW, Pittsburgh, PA
Nancy Lessin, MS , United Steelworkers - Tony Mazzocchi Center for Health, Safety and Environmental Education, Boston, MA
Leeann Anderson , United Steelworkers, Pittsburgh, PA
Jon Geneen, MPA , United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union (U, Pittsburgh, PA
We report on the results of our Paper Research Action Project (RAP), a community-based, participatory research (CBPR) project assessing health and safety conditions in U.S. paper mills. Among the main findings from survey respondents and the literature: corporate restructuring and organizing of work are making major contributions to other health and safety problems; behavioral safety and related programs are widespread and shift focus away from identifying and correcting hazards; existing safety systems are inadequate, particularly at mills with highly hazardous chemicals; and other major hazards such as dust and machine safety need addressing.

Learning Areas:
Occupational health and safety
Public health or related laws, regulations, standards, or guidelines
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
1. Describe the primary health and safety issues plaguing paper mill workers. 2. Explore the relationship of various corporate decisions (e.g., regarding restructuring and organizing of work or complying with federal regulations) and the impact on worker health and safety. 3. Examine how participatory research can be part of an industry-wide health, safety and environment campaign.

Keywords: Occupational Health, Labor

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have worked in occupational health training, research and writing since 1982. I have participated in APHA Occupational Health section for about 20 years.
Any relevant financial relationships? Yes

Name of Organization Clinical/Research Area Type of relationship
USW/TMC occupational health Independent Contractor (contracted research and clinical trials)

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.

Back to: 4114.1: Occupational Health and Safety Roundtable Presentations II