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Unions and researchers work together to lift a ton of feathers: Gaining recognition for women’s OHS problems in Québec. "L'invisible qui fait mal“ ( Invisible that hurts ). Partnership between - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Unions and researchers work together to lift a ton of feathers: Gaining recognition for women’s OHS problems in Québec
"L'invisible qui fait mal“ "L'invisible qui fait mal“ ((Invisible that hurtsInvisible that hurts))
Partnership between Partnership between – the 3 major trade union centrals in Québec, the 3 major trade union centrals in Québec,
represented by their women’s committees represented by their women’s committees and health and safety committeesand health and safety committees
– and a multidisciplinary research group and a multidisciplinary research group (ergonomics, law, communications…) at the (ergonomics, law, communications…) at the Université du Québec à MontréalUniversité du Québec à Montréal
Formal partnership since 1993, Formal partnership since 1993, supported by Québec government fundssupported by Québec government funds
Reasons for the « invisible » Reasons for the « invisible » partnershippartnership
(1) Understand why women workers (1) Understand why women workers report more pain and more difficult report more pain and more difficult conditions when they appear to have conditions when they appear to have easy, safe jobseasy, safe jobs– Sewing machine operatorsSewing machine operators– CashiersCashiers– TeachersTeachers– Hotel workersHotel workers
Reasons for the « invisible » Reasons for the « invisible » partnershippartnership
(2) Help produce (2) Help produce changechange– In the workplaceIn the workplace– In policyIn policy– In compensationIn compensation
Women are concentrated in Women are concentrated in a few sectors, a few a few sectors, a few professionsprofessions
In Canada, men areIn Canada, men are 55% 55% of the of the workforceworkforce; ; 30%30% of men are in of men are in salessales/services o/services orr administration/ administration/ financesfinances..
Women areWomen are 45% 45% of the of the workforce;workforce; 60%60% of women are in of women are in salessales/services o/services orr administration/ administration/ financesfinances..
Research theme
N Jobs %women in the job
Accidents 19 16 24,3% Noise 9 5 5,4% PPE 8 8 10,9% Tool safety 22 20 2,4% Toxic agents
36 23 13.1%
MSD 30 17 28,7% Other 5 2 38,5% TOTAL 129 91 15,6%
Québec research in occupational health, 1999
Proportion of
workforce that is
female = 46%
Priorities for intervention*, Priorities for intervention*, Québec, 2007Québec, 2007
Sector
1 (construction)
2 (metallurgy)
3 (public admin.)
4 (commerce)
5 (services)
6 (health, educ.)
%
15
15
31
42
48
64
Danger for pregnancy
4.6/1000
17.6/1000
5.9/1000
17.6/1000
13.8/1000
14.6/1000
*inspections, health and safety representation, committee, action plan, etc.
Refused claims for Refused claims for musculoskeletal disorders, by musculoskeletal disorders, by
sex, 314 Québec appeals sex, 314 Québec appeals decisions, 1992-1998decisions, 1992-1998
Women’s claims Women’s claims more often more often refusedrefused
((64% vs. 50%, p 64% vs. 50%, p =.016, =.016, 2 test test))
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Women Men
accepted
refused
Lippel, 2002
Risks not recognized
Little research:Risks not identified
Problems erroneously attributed to
women’s “nature”
Prevention not done
Vézina, Courville 1990Vézina, Courville 1990
Plastics factory labourerPlastics factory labourer 51 rolls of plastic @ 18 51 rolls of plastic @ 18
kg, 51 rods @ 7.3 kg, kg, 51 rods @ 7.3 kg, lifted 2xlifted 2x
25972597 kg kg +Waste +Waste 1515 kg kg
Sewing machine operators Sewing machine operators 1869 pants, 265g1869 pants, 265g 1869 hooks, 60g1869 hooks, 60g lifted many times = lifted many times = 20652065 kg kg + cut thread + cut thread 14201420 kg kg + pedal + pedal 1682116821 kg kg
A ton of lead A ton of feathers
Total upper limb 3486 Total upper limb 3486 kgkg
- lower limb 16 821 kg- lower limb 16 821 kg
Total upper limb 2612 kgTotal upper limb 2612 kg
These women have a These women have a hard time when they hard time when they fall illfall ill
« I’m not lying, I « I’m not lying, I really felt pain really felt pain ….I’m telling the ….I’m telling the truth »truth »
Haitian immigrant Haitian immigrant sewing machine sewing machine
operator with operator with uncompensated uncompensated
MSDMSD
Québec Health and Social Québec Health and Social Survey, 2000Survey, 2000
Foot pain
%
Lower limb pain
% Men
Usually stand 8
14
Usually sit 1 3
Women Usually stand
13
18
Usually sit 1 3
Pain often or all the time
0
10
20
30
40
50
can sit long walk shortwalk
fixed
% o
f th
e ti
me
WomenMen
*** ***
***
*** significant differences, w/m
Usual working posture, Québec, 1998
Hotel room cleanersHotel room cleaners
Union rep – The women are all Union rep – The women are all (85%) complaining of MSDs but they (85%) complaining of MSDs but they are mostly over 35. We want to are mostly over 35. We want to know whether there is a reason for know whether there is a reason for their complaining.their complaining.
http://dbacon.igc.org/Work/beverly00.html
ManagementManagement
« The women are complaining but they « The women are complaining but they are refusing to use the new ergonomic are refusing to use the new ergonomic carts we bought for them »carts we bought for them »
« They need training by an « They need training by an ergonomist »ergonomist »
Ana María Seifert, Ana María Seifert, an ergonomist, did an ergonomist, did a studya study
Hotel studyHotel study 146 hours of observations, 2 hotels146 hours of observations, 2 hotels
– Posture analysis: bed making, Posture analysis: bed making, bathroom cleaning, cart handlingbathroom cleaning, cart handling
– Examine 82 carts: weigh, check effort Examine 82 carts: weigh, check effort to push, check contents, state of repairto push, check contents, state of repair
– Analyse inspection reports on quality Analyse inspection reports on quality of cleaningof cleaning
– Check state of linenCheck state of linen
Cleaners’ cartCleaners’ cart
Cart weight =122-154 kgCart weight =122-154 kg Hard to turnHard to turn
new
The fear of change… these women are ageing
oldold
Workload – bed Workload – bed makingmaking
Source of work accidents and painSource of work accidents and pain Mattress lifted 8 – 13 timesMattress lifted 8 – 13 times 67% of the time, back is bent67% of the time, back is bent Time: Time:
– Double bed 3m33sDouble bed 3m33s– King 5m37sKing 5m37s– VIP 8m30sVIP 8m30s– More if sheets (26%) or pillowcases More if sheets (26%) or pillowcases
(34%) are damaged (outsourcing of (34%) are damaged (outsourcing of laundry)laundry)
Risky tasksRisky tasks
90% of cleaning shift is spent cleaning 90% of cleaning shift is spent cleaning the rooms, 13 – 90 min/room the rooms, 13 – 90 min/room depending on its state, type, location.depending on its state, type, location.
Most difficult operations are:Most difficult operations are:– Bed makingBed making– Toilet cleaningToilet cleaning– Cart pushing, handling, turning, tiltingCart pushing, handling, turning, tilting
Together, these three take 60% of Together, these three take 60% of cleaners’ timecleaners’ time
ResultsResults Recognition for the difficulties led to
union actions, demonstrations, strike, negotiation of union contract (rotating strikes this summer)
Cleaners’ assignments decreased from 15 rooms to 14 or 13 (if two beds)
Attention to linen problem
Project to redesign the cart
Workspeed in elementary schoolsWorkspeed in elementary schools
Explanations 1st year 4th year
Average 8,7 s 14,4 s
Maximum 34 s 55 s
Messing et al. 1997
Enseignement magistral
Enseignement interactif
Aide individuelle
Supervision
Utilisation de l'ordinateur
Autres activités
Soutien affectif
Soutien académique
Rapports sociaux
Gestion du temps
Note les présences
Enseignement d'un comportement
Maintien de la stimulation à un niveau optimal
Préparation et organisation
Évaluation et corrections
Contrôle de l'environnement physique
Classe Hors de la classe Salle des enseignants
08:00:00 09:00:00 10:00:00 11:00:00 12:00:00 13:00:00 14:00:00 15:00:00
Time use in secondary Time use in secondary school teaching school teaching (87h -J. (87h -J.
Riel)Riel)Teaching (academic)Teaching (academic) 67%67%
Teaching behaviourTeaching behaviour 13%13%
Optimal stimulationOptimal stimulation 9%9%
Academic supportAcademic support 34%34%
Emotional supportEmotional support 12%12%
Preparation, administationPreparation, administation 30%30%
Physical environmentPhysical environment 16%16%
OtherOther 19%19%
TotalTotal 200%200%
**0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Femme, sec. 1,2 annéesd'ancienneté
Homme, sec. 3,12 annéesd'ancienneté
TF = 10h51min
TH = 7h52min
** *
**
**
Acad. Teach Emot.
support
Acad.
support
Teach
Behav.
Differences in French teaching
between a man and a woman (% time)
M
W
J. Riel
A ton of feathersA ton of feathers
WorkspeedWorkspeed ConcentrationConcentration Bad airBad air Too dryToo dry ViolenceViolence Lack of supportLack of support Prolonged Prolonged
standingstandingElementary school Elementary school teachersteachers
Some changesSome changes Recognition of the hidden workload in Recognition of the hidden workload in
traditional women’s worktraditional women’s work Recognition of importance of women’s Recognition of importance of women’s
teamworkteamwork Some changes in labour contractsSome changes in labour contracts Training sessions for those who represent Training sessions for those who represent
workers for compensationworkers for compensation Training for judgesTraining for judges Improvement in women’s rate of Improvement in women’s rate of
compensation for MSDscompensation for MSDs