unhealthy work logo, unhealthywork.org

Initial Proposed Panels:

Colleagues,
 
Our followup meeting regarding the APA NIOSH 2013 Conference will be held this coming Tuesday July 10th in the same location as the last meeting – that is in the  McDonald Lab MRL 2-740 — from  10 am to Noon.
 
As you know we have had two very positive meetings regarding the forthcoming APA NIOSH meeting. Minutes from both have been distributed as we suggest reviewing them prior to the meeting.
 
Below is a list of proposed panels that various participants have suggested. We need to firm up our choices and identify panel participants and who will organize them. So please review the panels below from both SC and NC and think about your role or the of some colleagues we know.
 
Also, we must discuss this coming week:
Continuing education, sponsorship of panels and possible fund raising, student involvement as well as student involvement. Also conference related activities – such as special meetings, etc. and  whether their is further interest in developing a statewide action plan/white paper.
 
HERE are the PROPOSED PANELS:
 
Proposed by SoCal participants:
 
Discussion on issues to focus on for panels (condensed into four main areas):
 
1. Impact of the economy on CA workers – how globalization affects workers/cross-country comparisons (with India, China (e.g. FoxConn) vs. CA workers: unemployment, increase in contingent work, work intensification (impact on surviving workers), increase in workplace violence, impact on public sector (budget cuts) lag behind private sector, impact on vulnerable workers (immigrant workers, contingent workers), major resource cuts, what is the future of OH in CA because of lack of resources…
 
a. High risk (vulnerable working populations in Southern CA linked with local labor organizations/union campaigns, to highlight) – transportation workers (port truckers, San Pedro, CA), waste recycling workers in Los Angeles, home care/domestic workers (CA bill of rights), car wash workers, janitors.
 
2. Total Worker Health in CA – how jobs/workplaces can promote health (examples of healthy work, salutogenic effects), are there successful examples of integrated workplace health protection and promotion in CA, critiques, employer-based health care – incentivizing health promotion (Section 1201 of Affordable Care Act – 20-30% of premiums back to employees to participate in “reasonably designed” workplace wellness programs), recent OSHA study shows safety inspections help productivity
 
3. Changing nature of work, definitions of work (might be linked with 1) – no permanent jobs, re-training across the life course (decreasing stability of jobs/insecurity), technology is erasing boundaries between work and life (robotics/automation, remote work, monitoring of performance), effects of an international economy (immigrant workers, outsourcing).
 
4. Role of Public Policy and Advocacy in CA Occupational Health – failure of the safety net for some workers already covered, but workers “off-the-grid” trying to get into the “safety net” at the same time it is failing (e.g. informal sector workers – janitors, car wash workers, gardeners, domestic workers), examples of countries that have better “safety nets”/labor standards (Scandinavian countries, Europe, Pacific Rim – are these better models), what government regulation is in place that could be leveraged to improve WHS in CA (e.g. Affordable Care Act, insurer/employee incentive programs, enforcement of existing OHS standards.
 
Panel formats – could include 1) California case examples (local), 2) Links beyond California (US/International examples), 3) advocacy/policy – government representatives, 4) future steps for CA (resources needed/policy needed)
 
Proposed by NorCal participants:
 
Possible conference panels suggested included:
 
1. by Kevin – A panel on occupations unique to California – film industry, Silicon Valley, Agriculture . Unclear one panel on each or all on one panel (will depend oninterest in organizing and available speakers)
 
2. By Niklas Krause – low wage workers (Niklas offered to help organize this, Julia volunteered to present)
 
3.Organizational vs individual change at the workplace, the strengths/weaknesses of the Total Worker Health concept
 
4. Kaiser’s approach to workers – Labor-management partnership
 
5. Obesity – what are the causes/ what are the cures. Possible two panels – varying views on each (or one on contributing factors, one on interventions).  Peter Schnall offered to work on this.
 
6. Work hours as a theme – long hours, intensification, sleep deprivation – health outcomes. Multiple perspectives.  Must workers sacrifice so that businesses are “more competitive”
 
7. by many – Health care industry – possibly including San Francisco General rebuild.
 
8. Drivers – Barbara Burgel indicated that June Fisher and Niklas Krause might be interested in a panel.  This might be an example of the combinations of health issues (e.g. sleep loss, obesity (and sleep apnea), depression/anxiety, safety, work hours, job strain, smoking).
 
Deadline for panel abstracts will be October 1.
 
Best,
Peter Schnall and Julia Faucett
 

Comments are closed.

© 2024 Unhealthy Work  |  For more information regarding this site, please contact us