The Experts below are selected from a list of 10035 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform
Paul A Demers - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Cancer and Occupational Exposure to Pentachlorophenol and Tetrachlorophenol (Canada)
Cancer Causes & Control, 2006Co-Authors: Paul A Demers, Aleck Ostry, Ruth Hershler, Clyde Hertzman, Melissa C Friesen, Hugh W Davies, Kay TeschkeAbstract:Objective The objective of this study is to assess the carcinogenicity of pentachlorophenol and tetrachlorophenol using data from the BC sawmill workers cohort study. Methods The cohort consisted of 27,464 men employed by 14 Sawmills for 1 year or more between 1950 and 1995. Fatal (1950–1995) and incident (1969–1995) cancers were identified using national registries. Plant records and systematic interviews with senior employees were used to estimate dermal exposure. Comparisons were made with the general BC population and dose-response relationships were assessed using Poisson regression. Results There were 1,495 fatal cancer and 2,571 incident cancers. There were no large or statistically significant excesses of any of the specific cancers were observed compared to the general population. Internal analyses showed strong dose-response relationships for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and kidney cancer. These relationships were strongest when exposure was restricted to pentachlorophenol. The strength of the dose-response increased when exposure was lagged by 20 years. Conclusions Dermal exposure to pentachlorophenol was associated with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and kidney cancer, but not with other cancers of a priori interest.
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predicting historical dust and wood dust exposure in Sawmills model development and validation
Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, 2005Co-Authors: Melissa C Friesen, Steve Marion, Kay Teschke, Hugh W Davies, Paul A DemersAbstract:Nonspecific dust measurements are used as a surrogate for wood dust exposure in Sawmills. However, the wood dust component of dust has been found to vary by job and work area. Thus, the use of nonspecific dust exposure levels in epidemiologic studies may introduce exposure misclassification when assessing wood-related health effects. To improve exposure assessment in a retrospective cohort of 28,000 sawmill workers, we developed and evaluated the validity of two empirical models of exposure: one for nonspecific dust and one for wood dust. The dust model was constructed using 1395 dust measurements collected in 13 Sawmills for research or regulatory purposes from 1981 to 1997. Inter-sampler conversion factors were used to obtain inhalable dust equivalents if necessary. The wood dust model was constructed after applying adjustment factors to subtract nonwood components of the dust from the original measurements. The validity of the two models was tested against measurements (n = 213) from a technologically ...
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beta 1 3 glucan exposure levels among workers in four british columbia Sawmills
Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine, 2003Co-Authors: Lisa A Ronald, Kay Teschke, Hugh W Davies, Karen H Bartlett, Susan M Kennedy, Jacques Spithoven, Martine Dennekamp, Paul A DemersAbstract:glucans were extracted from wood dust samples taken during the summer of 1997 at four British Columbia Sawmills. Personal dust samples were collected using a GSP-sampler for inhalable dust and the sampling strategy targeted all production and maintenance jobs at least once at each mill. Potential exposure determinants data were documented concurrently, including weather conditions, log VWRUDJHPHWKRGVZRRGFRQGLWLRQVVSHFLHVSURGXFWLRQOHYHOMREVDQGWDVNV:- glucans were measured by enzyme inhibition immunoassay (EIA). A total of 223 SHUVRQDO :-glucan samples were analyzed. 45.7% were below the limit of detection (LOD). Geometric mean concentration ranged from 3.5 to 18.9 µg/m 3 across the four mills. The highest levels were measured at the Interior mills, particularly in the log processing and sawmill areas. Multivariate regression models indicated that land- based log storage, clean-up jobs, high wood dust concentration, lumber yard department and the interaction between land-based log storage method and log processing department were associated with increasHG:-glucan concentration.
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effect of de industrialisation on working conditions and self reported health in a sample of manufacturing workers
Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 2002Co-Authors: Aleck Ostry, Maria Cristina Barroetavena, Ruth Hershler, Shona Kelly, Paul A Demers, Kay Teschke, D HertzmanAbstract:Study objective: To explore the impact of de-industrialisation over a 20 year period on working conditions and health among sawmill workers, in the province of British Columbia (BC), Canada. Design and Setting: This investigation is based on a sample of 3000 sawmill workers employed in 1979 (a year before the beginning de-industrialisation) and interviewed in 1998. The sample was obtained by random selection from an already gathered cohort of approximately 28 000 BC sawmill workers. Change in working conditions from 1979 to 1998 are described. Self reported health status, in 1998, was used as a dependent variable in logistic regression after controlling for confounders. Main results: Downsizing in BC Sawmills eliminated 60% of workers between 1979 and 1998. Working conditions in 1998 were better for those who left the sawmill industry and obtained re-employment elsewhere. Workers who remained employed in restructuring Sawmills were approximately 50% more likely to report poor health than those re-employed elsewhere. Conclusions: Working conditions and health status were better for workers who, under pressure of de-industrialisation, left the sawmill industry and obtained re-employment outside this sector.
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downsizing and industrial restructuring in relation to changes in psychosocial conditions of work in british columbia Sawmills
Scandinavian Journal of Work Environment & Health, 2000Co-Authors: Aleck Ostry, Ruth Hershler, Shona Kelly, Paul A Demers, Kay Teschke, Steve Marion, Lawrence W Green, Clyde HertzmanAbstract:Objectives This paper investigates changes in the psychosocial and physical work conditions of the sawmill industry in British Columbia, Canada, over the past 35 years. Methods Shifts in work conditions were examined within the context of historical changes in sawmill labor demography and job taxonomy as the industry was both downsized and restructured, largely in response to an economic recession in the early 1980s. Results and conclusions Downsizing eliminated approximately 60% of the work force and 1/4 of sawmill job titles. Although all the job categories in restructured Sawmills showed increased levels of control, the gradient in control across job categories was steeper in 1997 than in 1965; this change may have important health implications particularly for the unskilled workers in the restructured mills.
Kay Teschke - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Cancer and Occupational Exposure to Pentachlorophenol and Tetrachlorophenol (Canada)
Cancer Causes & Control, 2006Co-Authors: Paul A Demers, Aleck Ostry, Ruth Hershler, Clyde Hertzman, Melissa C Friesen, Hugh W Davies, Kay TeschkeAbstract:Objective The objective of this study is to assess the carcinogenicity of pentachlorophenol and tetrachlorophenol using data from the BC sawmill workers cohort study. Methods The cohort consisted of 27,464 men employed by 14 Sawmills for 1 year or more between 1950 and 1995. Fatal (1950–1995) and incident (1969–1995) cancers were identified using national registries. Plant records and systematic interviews with senior employees were used to estimate dermal exposure. Comparisons were made with the general BC population and dose-response relationships were assessed using Poisson regression. Results There were 1,495 fatal cancer and 2,571 incident cancers. There were no large or statistically significant excesses of any of the specific cancers were observed compared to the general population. Internal analyses showed strong dose-response relationships for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and kidney cancer. These relationships were strongest when exposure was restricted to pentachlorophenol. The strength of the dose-response increased when exposure was lagged by 20 years. Conclusions Dermal exposure to pentachlorophenol was associated with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and kidney cancer, but not with other cancers of a priori interest.
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predicting historical dust and wood dust exposure in Sawmills model development and validation
Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, 2005Co-Authors: Melissa C Friesen, Steve Marion, Kay Teschke, Hugh W Davies, Paul A DemersAbstract:Nonspecific dust measurements are used as a surrogate for wood dust exposure in Sawmills. However, the wood dust component of dust has been found to vary by job and work area. Thus, the use of nonspecific dust exposure levels in epidemiologic studies may introduce exposure misclassification when assessing wood-related health effects. To improve exposure assessment in a retrospective cohort of 28,000 sawmill workers, we developed and evaluated the validity of two empirical models of exposure: one for nonspecific dust and one for wood dust. The dust model was constructed using 1395 dust measurements collected in 13 Sawmills for research or regulatory purposes from 1981 to 1997. Inter-sampler conversion factors were used to obtain inhalable dust equivalents if necessary. The wood dust model was constructed after applying adjustment factors to subtract nonwood components of the dust from the original measurements. The validity of the two models was tested against measurements (n = 213) from a technologically ...
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beta 1 3 glucan exposure levels among workers in four british columbia Sawmills
Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine, 2003Co-Authors: Lisa A Ronald, Kay Teschke, Hugh W Davies, Karen H Bartlett, Susan M Kennedy, Jacques Spithoven, Martine Dennekamp, Paul A DemersAbstract:glucans were extracted from wood dust samples taken during the summer of 1997 at four British Columbia Sawmills. Personal dust samples were collected using a GSP-sampler for inhalable dust and the sampling strategy targeted all production and maintenance jobs at least once at each mill. Potential exposure determinants data were documented concurrently, including weather conditions, log VWRUDJHPHWKRGVZRRGFRQGLWLRQVVSHFLHVSURGXFWLRQOHYHOMREVDQGWDVNV:- glucans were measured by enzyme inhibition immunoassay (EIA). A total of 223 SHUVRQDO :-glucan samples were analyzed. 45.7% were below the limit of detection (LOD). Geometric mean concentration ranged from 3.5 to 18.9 µg/m 3 across the four mills. The highest levels were measured at the Interior mills, particularly in the log processing and sawmill areas. Multivariate regression models indicated that land- based log storage, clean-up jobs, high wood dust concentration, lumber yard department and the interaction between land-based log storage method and log processing department were associated with increasHG:-glucan concentration.
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effect of de industrialisation on working conditions and self reported health in a sample of manufacturing workers
Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 2002Co-Authors: Aleck Ostry, Maria Cristina Barroetavena, Ruth Hershler, Shona Kelly, Paul A Demers, Kay Teschke, D HertzmanAbstract:Study objective: To explore the impact of de-industrialisation over a 20 year period on working conditions and health among sawmill workers, in the province of British Columbia (BC), Canada. Design and Setting: This investigation is based on a sample of 3000 sawmill workers employed in 1979 (a year before the beginning de-industrialisation) and interviewed in 1998. The sample was obtained by random selection from an already gathered cohort of approximately 28 000 BC sawmill workers. Change in working conditions from 1979 to 1998 are described. Self reported health status, in 1998, was used as a dependent variable in logistic regression after controlling for confounders. Main results: Downsizing in BC Sawmills eliminated 60% of workers between 1979 and 1998. Working conditions in 1998 were better for those who left the sawmill industry and obtained re-employment elsewhere. Workers who remained employed in restructuring Sawmills were approximately 50% more likely to report poor health than those re-employed elsewhere. Conclusions: Working conditions and health status were better for workers who, under pressure of de-industrialisation, left the sawmill industry and obtained re-employment outside this sector.
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downsizing and industrial restructuring in relation to changes in psychosocial conditions of work in british columbia Sawmills
Scandinavian Journal of Work Environment & Health, 2000Co-Authors: Aleck Ostry, Ruth Hershler, Shona Kelly, Paul A Demers, Kay Teschke, Steve Marion, Lawrence W Green, Clyde HertzmanAbstract:Objectives This paper investigates changes in the psychosocial and physical work conditions of the sawmill industry in British Columbia, Canada, over the past 35 years. Methods Shifts in work conditions were examined within the context of historical changes in sawmill labor demography and job taxonomy as the industry was both downsized and restructured, largely in response to an economic recession in the early 1980s. Results and conclusions Downsizing eliminated approximately 60% of the work force and 1/4 of sawmill job titles. Although all the job categories in restructured Sawmills showed increased levels of control, the gradient in control across job categories was steeper in 1997 than in 1965; this change may have important health implications particularly for the unskilled workers in the restructured mills.
Clyde Hertzman - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Cancer and Occupational Exposure to Pentachlorophenol and Tetrachlorophenol (Canada)
Cancer Causes & Control, 2006Co-Authors: Paul A Demers, Aleck Ostry, Ruth Hershler, Clyde Hertzman, Melissa C Friesen, Hugh W Davies, Kay TeschkeAbstract:Objective The objective of this study is to assess the carcinogenicity of pentachlorophenol and tetrachlorophenol using data from the BC sawmill workers cohort study. Methods The cohort consisted of 27,464 men employed by 14 Sawmills for 1 year or more between 1950 and 1995. Fatal (1950–1995) and incident (1969–1995) cancers were identified using national registries. Plant records and systematic interviews with senior employees were used to estimate dermal exposure. Comparisons were made with the general BC population and dose-response relationships were assessed using Poisson regression. Results There were 1,495 fatal cancer and 2,571 incident cancers. There were no large or statistically significant excesses of any of the specific cancers were observed compared to the general population. Internal analyses showed strong dose-response relationships for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and kidney cancer. These relationships were strongest when exposure was restricted to pentachlorophenol. The strength of the dose-response increased when exposure was lagged by 20 years. Conclusions Dermal exposure to pentachlorophenol was associated with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and kidney cancer, but not with other cancers of a priori interest.
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downsizing and industrial restructuring in relation to changes in psychosocial conditions of work in british columbia Sawmills
Scandinavian Journal of Work Environment & Health, 2000Co-Authors: Aleck Ostry, Ruth Hershler, Shona Kelly, Paul A Demers, Kay Teschke, Steve Marion, Lawrence W Green, Clyde HertzmanAbstract:Objectives This paper investigates changes in the psychosocial and physical work conditions of the sawmill industry in British Columbia, Canada, over the past 35 years. Methods Shifts in work conditions were examined within the context of historical changes in sawmill labor demography and job taxonomy as the industry was both downsized and restructured, largely in response to an economic recession in the early 1980s. Results and conclusions Downsizing eliminated approximately 60% of the work force and 1/4 of sawmill job titles. Although all the job categories in restructured Sawmills showed increased levels of control, the gradient in control across job categories was steeper in 1997 than in 1965; this change may have important health implications particularly for the unskilled workers in the restructured mills.
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the relationship between unemployment technological change and psychosocial work conditions in british columbia Sawmills
Critical Public Health, 2000Co-Authors: Aleck Ostry, Ruth Hershler, Shona Kelly, Lawrence W Green, Stephen A Marion, K Teshke, Clyde HertzmanAbstract:In the early 1980s, the sawmill sector in British Columbia (BC), Canada experienced economic recession which was followed by industrial restructuring in many mills. This is an investigation of the relationship between unemployment, which occurred in the recession and the new psychosocial and physical work conditions in restructured workplaces using a cohort of approximately 29,000 sawmill workers in 14 BC Sawmills. The purpose of this investigation is to describe the changes in the cohort's job structure and labour demography in order to best frame future health studies on the effects of unemployment and restructuring. Downsizing reduced the number of workers by 60% and the number of job titles by 25%. The youngest workers were downsized and job titles with the least control and most demand were eliminated by restructuring. Although psychosocial conditions of work (assessed using 'expert' raters) improved after restructuring, these better work conditions were available to fewer workers. Four main lessons ...
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level and distribution of employee exposures to total and respirable wood dust in two canadian Sawmills
American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal, 1994Co-Authors: Kay Teschke, Clyde Hertzman, Brenda J MorrisonAbstract:Personal respirable (N=230) and total (N=237) dust measurements were made in two coastal British Columbia Sawmills using a sampling strategy that randomly selected workers from all jobs in the mills over two seasons. Information about job title, department, season, weather conditions, location of the job relative to wood-cutting machines, and control measures also was collected at the time of sampling. Only 16 respirable wood dust samples were above the detection limit of 0.08 mg/m3; all 16 had levels ≤ 0.20 mg/m3. Total wood dust concentrations were also low (36% less than the detection limit), with a mean of 0.51 mg/m3, and ranging from < 0.08 to 52 mg/m3. Measurements of exposure taken close to chippers, planers, and multiple saws had the highest total wood dust levels. Sawmill department and booth enclosures also were associated with wood dust concentrations, while local exhaust ventilation and weather conditions were not. Wood dust levels in this study were generally lower than in other studies of th...
Aleck Ostry - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Cancer and Occupational Exposure to Pentachlorophenol and Tetrachlorophenol (Canada)
Cancer Causes & Control, 2006Co-Authors: Paul A Demers, Aleck Ostry, Ruth Hershler, Clyde Hertzman, Melissa C Friesen, Hugh W Davies, Kay TeschkeAbstract:Objective The objective of this study is to assess the carcinogenicity of pentachlorophenol and tetrachlorophenol using data from the BC sawmill workers cohort study. Methods The cohort consisted of 27,464 men employed by 14 Sawmills for 1 year or more between 1950 and 1995. Fatal (1950–1995) and incident (1969–1995) cancers were identified using national registries. Plant records and systematic interviews with senior employees were used to estimate dermal exposure. Comparisons were made with the general BC population and dose-response relationships were assessed using Poisson regression. Results There were 1,495 fatal cancer and 2,571 incident cancers. There were no large or statistically significant excesses of any of the specific cancers were observed compared to the general population. Internal analyses showed strong dose-response relationships for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and kidney cancer. These relationships were strongest when exposure was restricted to pentachlorophenol. The strength of the dose-response increased when exposure was lagged by 20 years. Conclusions Dermal exposure to pentachlorophenol was associated with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and kidney cancer, but not with other cancers of a priori interest.
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effect of de industrialisation on working conditions and self reported health in a sample of manufacturing workers
Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 2002Co-Authors: Aleck Ostry, Maria Cristina Barroetavena, Ruth Hershler, Shona Kelly, Paul A Demers, Kay Teschke, D HertzmanAbstract:Study objective: To explore the impact of de-industrialisation over a 20 year period on working conditions and health among sawmill workers, in the province of British Columbia (BC), Canada. Design and Setting: This investigation is based on a sample of 3000 sawmill workers employed in 1979 (a year before the beginning de-industrialisation) and interviewed in 1998. The sample was obtained by random selection from an already gathered cohort of approximately 28 000 BC sawmill workers. Change in working conditions from 1979 to 1998 are described. Self reported health status, in 1998, was used as a dependent variable in logistic regression after controlling for confounders. Main results: Downsizing in BC Sawmills eliminated 60% of workers between 1979 and 1998. Working conditions in 1998 were better for those who left the sawmill industry and obtained re-employment elsewhere. Workers who remained employed in restructuring Sawmills were approximately 50% more likely to report poor health than those re-employed elsewhere. Conclusions: Working conditions and health status were better for workers who, under pressure of de-industrialisation, left the sawmill industry and obtained re-employment outside this sector.
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downsizing and industrial restructuring in relation to changes in psychosocial conditions of work in british columbia Sawmills
Scandinavian Journal of Work Environment & Health, 2000Co-Authors: Aleck Ostry, Ruth Hershler, Shona Kelly, Paul A Demers, Kay Teschke, Steve Marion, Lawrence W Green, Clyde HertzmanAbstract:Objectives This paper investigates changes in the psychosocial and physical work conditions of the sawmill industry in British Columbia, Canada, over the past 35 years. Methods Shifts in work conditions were examined within the context of historical changes in sawmill labor demography and job taxonomy as the industry was both downsized and restructured, largely in response to an economic recession in the early 1980s. Results and conclusions Downsizing eliminated approximately 60% of the work force and 1/4 of sawmill job titles. Although all the job categories in restructured Sawmills showed increased levels of control, the gradient in control across job categories was steeper in 1997 than in 1965; this change may have important health implications particularly for the unskilled workers in the restructured mills.
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the relationship between unemployment technological change and psychosocial work conditions in british columbia Sawmills
Critical Public Health, 2000Co-Authors: Aleck Ostry, Ruth Hershler, Shona Kelly, Lawrence W Green, Stephen A Marion, K Teshke, Clyde HertzmanAbstract:In the early 1980s, the sawmill sector in British Columbia (BC), Canada experienced economic recession which was followed by industrial restructuring in many mills. This is an investigation of the relationship between unemployment, which occurred in the recession and the new psychosocial and physical work conditions in restructured workplaces using a cohort of approximately 29,000 sawmill workers in 14 BC Sawmills. The purpose of this investigation is to describe the changes in the cohort's job structure and labour demography in order to best frame future health studies on the effects of unemployment and restructuring. Downsizing reduced the number of workers by 60% and the number of job titles by 25%. The youngest workers were downsized and job titles with the least control and most demand were eliminated by restructuring. Although psychosocial conditions of work (assessed using 'expert' raters) improved after restructuring, these better work conditions were available to fewer workers. Four main lessons ...
Ruth Hershler - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Cancer and Occupational Exposure to Pentachlorophenol and Tetrachlorophenol (Canada)
Cancer Causes & Control, 2006Co-Authors: Paul A Demers, Aleck Ostry, Ruth Hershler, Clyde Hertzman, Melissa C Friesen, Hugh W Davies, Kay TeschkeAbstract:Objective The objective of this study is to assess the carcinogenicity of pentachlorophenol and tetrachlorophenol using data from the BC sawmill workers cohort study. Methods The cohort consisted of 27,464 men employed by 14 Sawmills for 1 year or more between 1950 and 1995. Fatal (1950–1995) and incident (1969–1995) cancers were identified using national registries. Plant records and systematic interviews with senior employees were used to estimate dermal exposure. Comparisons were made with the general BC population and dose-response relationships were assessed using Poisson regression. Results There were 1,495 fatal cancer and 2,571 incident cancers. There were no large or statistically significant excesses of any of the specific cancers were observed compared to the general population. Internal analyses showed strong dose-response relationships for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and kidney cancer. These relationships were strongest when exposure was restricted to pentachlorophenol. The strength of the dose-response increased when exposure was lagged by 20 years. Conclusions Dermal exposure to pentachlorophenol was associated with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and kidney cancer, but not with other cancers of a priori interest.
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effect of de industrialisation on working conditions and self reported health in a sample of manufacturing workers
Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 2002Co-Authors: Aleck Ostry, Maria Cristina Barroetavena, Ruth Hershler, Shona Kelly, Paul A Demers, Kay Teschke, D HertzmanAbstract:Study objective: To explore the impact of de-industrialisation over a 20 year period on working conditions and health among sawmill workers, in the province of British Columbia (BC), Canada. Design and Setting: This investigation is based on a sample of 3000 sawmill workers employed in 1979 (a year before the beginning de-industrialisation) and interviewed in 1998. The sample was obtained by random selection from an already gathered cohort of approximately 28 000 BC sawmill workers. Change in working conditions from 1979 to 1998 are described. Self reported health status, in 1998, was used as a dependent variable in logistic regression after controlling for confounders. Main results: Downsizing in BC Sawmills eliminated 60% of workers between 1979 and 1998. Working conditions in 1998 were better for those who left the sawmill industry and obtained re-employment elsewhere. Workers who remained employed in restructuring Sawmills were approximately 50% more likely to report poor health than those re-employed elsewhere. Conclusions: Working conditions and health status were better for workers who, under pressure of de-industrialisation, left the sawmill industry and obtained re-employment outside this sector.
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downsizing and industrial restructuring in relation to changes in psychosocial conditions of work in british columbia Sawmills
Scandinavian Journal of Work Environment & Health, 2000Co-Authors: Aleck Ostry, Ruth Hershler, Shona Kelly, Paul A Demers, Kay Teschke, Steve Marion, Lawrence W Green, Clyde HertzmanAbstract:Objectives This paper investigates changes in the psychosocial and physical work conditions of the sawmill industry in British Columbia, Canada, over the past 35 years. Methods Shifts in work conditions were examined within the context of historical changes in sawmill labor demography and job taxonomy as the industry was both downsized and restructured, largely in response to an economic recession in the early 1980s. Results and conclusions Downsizing eliminated approximately 60% of the work force and 1/4 of sawmill job titles. Although all the job categories in restructured Sawmills showed increased levels of control, the gradient in control across job categories was steeper in 1997 than in 1965; this change may have important health implications particularly for the unskilled workers in the restructured mills.
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the relationship between unemployment technological change and psychosocial work conditions in british columbia Sawmills
Critical Public Health, 2000Co-Authors: Aleck Ostry, Ruth Hershler, Shona Kelly, Lawrence W Green, Stephen A Marion, K Teshke, Clyde HertzmanAbstract:In the early 1980s, the sawmill sector in British Columbia (BC), Canada experienced economic recession which was followed by industrial restructuring in many mills. This is an investigation of the relationship between unemployment, which occurred in the recession and the new psychosocial and physical work conditions in restructured workplaces using a cohort of approximately 29,000 sawmill workers in 14 BC Sawmills. The purpose of this investigation is to describe the changes in the cohort's job structure and labour demography in order to best frame future health studies on the effects of unemployment and restructuring. Downsizing reduced the number of workers by 60% and the number of job titles by 25%. The youngest workers were downsized and job titles with the least control and most demand were eliminated by restructuring. Although psychosocial conditions of work (assessed using 'expert' raters) improved after restructuring, these better work conditions were available to fewer workers. Four main lessons ...
