Psychology of work organization - 534 entries found

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• Psychology of work organization

2006

CIS 08-237 Ahola K., Honkonen T., Kivimäki M., Virtanen M., Isometsä E., Aromaa A., Lönnqvist J.
Contribution of burnout to the association between job strain and depression: The Health 2000 study
The objective of this study was to investigate the contribution of burnout to the association between job strain and depression. A representative sample of 3270 Finnish employees aged 30 to 64 years responded to the Maslach Burnout Inventory General Survey and the Beck Depression Inventory and participated in an interview based on the Composite International Diagnostic Questionnaire. High strain compared with low strain was associated with 7.4 times higher odds of burnout, 3.8 times higher odds of depressive symptoms and 1.7 times higher odds of depressive disorders. The risk for depressive symptoms and for depressive disorders of high strain was reduced by 69% or more after adjusting for burnout. Burnout is strongly related to job strain and may in part mediate the association between job strain and depression.
Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Oct. 2006, Vol.48, No.10, p.1023-1030. 57 ref.

CIS 08-246 Acting on relational suffering at work - Manual for the responsible persons faced with situations of conflict, bullying and indoctrination
Agir sur les souffrances relationnelles au travail - Manuel de l'intervenant confronté aux situations de conflit, de harcèlement et d'emprise au travail [in French]
Van meningsverschil tot hyperconflict - Gids voor wie beroepsmatig tussenkomt en geconfronteerd wordt met conflicten en grensoverschrijdend gedrag op het werk [in Dutch]
This guide to the prevention of relational suffering is the result of a research programme during which various methodological approaches were used. A first chapter is devoted to concepts and phenomena, as well as to the different phases during the evolution of a conflict. Next, the prevention of these problems is discussed and four main intervention methods are explained. Finally, good pluridisciplinary practices are addressed in a specific chapter.
Service public fédéral Emploi, travail et concertation sociale, rue Ernest- Blerot 1, 1070 Bruxelles, Belgium, Nov. 2006. 151p. Illus. 140 ref.
http://www.emploi.belgique.be/WorkArea/showcontent.aspx?id=5884 [in French]
http://www.werk.belgie.be/WorkArea/showcontent.aspx?id=5110 [in Dutch]

CIS 08-245 Violence, bullying and sexual harassment: organizational risk factors
Violences, harcèlement moral ou sexuel au travail: facteurs de risque organisationnels [in French]
Ongewenst grensoverschrijdend gedrag op het werk: organisatorische risicofactoren [in Dutch]
Often, cases of violence, bullying or sexual harassment at work are attributed to the personality of the perpetrator, overlooking the role played by the organization, the work team and the tasks to be accomplished. This study examines the contribution of these risk factors to the incidence, development and persistence of abusive and violent behaviour at work. It involved a literature survey, interviews and questionnaire surveys.
Service public fédéral Emploi, travail et concertation sociale, rue Ernest- Blerot 1, 1070 Bruxelles, Belgium, Sep. 2006. 47p. Illus.
http://www.emploi.belgique.be/WorkArea/showcontent.aspx?id=8714 [in French]
http://www.werk.belgie.be/WorkArea/showcontent.aspx?id=8714 [in Dutch]

CIS 07-1497 Cherry N.M., Chen Y., McDonald J.C.
Reported incidence and precipitating factors of work-related stress and mental ill-health in the United Kingdom (1996-2001)
The objective of this study was to estimate the incidence of work-related stress and mental illness reported by occupational physicians and psychiatrists in the United Kingdom. Annual average incidence rates were calculated by sex, occupation and industry against appropriate populations at risk. For the period between 1996 and 2001, annual averages of 3624 new cases were reported by psychiatrists, and 2718 by occupational physicians. The rates were higher for men in reports based on the former and for women on the latter. Most diagnoses were of anxiety and depression or work-related stress, with post-traumatic stress accounting for around 10% of cases reported by psychiatrists. High rates of mental ill-health are observed among professional and associated workers and in those in personal and protective services. Factors (such as work overload) intrinsic to the job and issues with interpersonal relations were the most common causes overall.
Occupational Medicine, 2006, No.56, p.414-421. Illus. 15 ref.

CIS 07-1495 Ishizaki M., Kawakami N., Honda R., Nakagawa H., Morikawa Y., Yamada Y.
Psychosocial work characteristics and sickness absence in Japanese employees
This cross-sectional study was undertaken to examine the association between sickness absence in Japanese employees and job demand/control and occupational class as psychosocial work characteristics. Data were collected by means of a questionnaire from 20,464 male and 3,617 female employees. A comparison was made between the group with more than six days of sickness absence in the preceding year and the group with 0-6 days of sickness absence. Job demands, job control, and worksite support from supervisors and colleagues were analysed by the Job Content Questionnaire and the NIOSH Generic Job Stress Questionnaire. Both low job control and low support at the worksite were associated with a high frequency of sickness absence. But there was no clear relationship between job demands and sickness absence. The lowest sickness absence rate was found in male managers and the highest in male and female labourers. Other findings are discussed.
International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, Sep. 2006, Vol.79, No.8, p.640-646. 33 ref.

CIS 07-1243 Notelaers G., Einarsen S., De Witte H., Vermunt J.K.
Measuring exposure to bullying at work: The validity and advantages of the latent class cluster approach
Although bullying is a complex phenomenon, the dominant method used in bullying surveys only distinguishes two groups: victims versus non-victims. Hence, the complex nature of workplace bullying may not be accounted for. A latent class cluster approach is suggested to model data obtained from the Negative Acts Questionnaire (NAQ) administered to 6175 employees in Belgium. In this study, six latent classes emerged: "not bullied," "limited work criticism," "limited negative encounters," "sometimes bullied," "work related bullied," and "victims." The results show that compared to the traditional operational classification method, the latent class cluster approach shows higher construct and higher predictive validity with respect to self-assessments and indicators of strain and well-being at work.
Work and Stress, Oct.-Dec. 2006, Vol.20, No.4, p.289-302. 31 ref.

CIS 07-1241 Nakata A., Ikeda T., Takahashi M., Haratani T., Hojou M., Fujioka Y., Swanson N.G., Araki S.
Impact of psychosocial job stress on non-fatal occupational injuries in small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises
This study examined the association between psychosocial job stress and occupational injuries among workers in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Subjects included 1049 men and 721 women from 244 SMEs. Perceived job stress was evaluated with the Japanese version of the generic job stress questionnaire, which covered 14 job stress variables. Occupational injury was assessed by self-report during the last one-year period. Workers with high quantitative workload (odds ratio (OR) 1.55 for men, 1.62 for women), high cognitive demands (OR 1.70 for men, 1.53 for women) and low job satisfaction (OR 1.33 for men, 1.93 for women) had a significantly increased risk of occupational injury in the multivariate model. Other findings are discussed.
American Journal of Industrial Medicine, Aug. 2006, Vol.49, p.658-669. Illus. 44 ref.

CIS 07-1232 Job pressure in the construction industry
Pression du travail dans la construction [in French]
This article presents the summary of a study on job pressure and stress in the construction industry, according to which "sustainable work" depends on four factors: occupational stress, motivation, learning possibilities and work-life balance.
Prevent Focus, Dec. 2006. p.14-16. Illus. 1 ref.

CIS 07-1236 Bourbonnais R., Brisson C., Vinet A., Vézina M., Abdous B., Gaudet M.
Effectiveness of a participative intervention on psychosocial work factors to prevent mental health problems in a hospital setting
This article describes the evaluation of a workplace intervention aimed at reducing adverse psychosocial work factors (psychological demands, decision latitude, social support, and effort-reward imbalance) and mental health problems among care providers of a Quebec hospital. Participants were interviewed by phone before and one year after the intervention. One year after the intervention, there was a reduction of several adverse psychosocial factors in the experimental group, whereas no such reduction was found in the control group. Results suggest positive effects of the intervention. See CIS 07-1235 for details of the development and implementation phases of the study.
Occupational and Environmental Medicine, May 2006, Vol.63, No.5, p.335-342. 34 ref.

CIS 07-1235 Bourbonnais R., Brisson C., Vinet A., Vézina M., Lower A.
Development and implementation of a participative intervention to improve the psychosocial work environment and mental health in an acute care hospital
This article describes the development and implementation phases of a participative intervention aimed at reducing adverse psychosocial work factors and their mental health effects among 500 care providers in a Quebec hospital. A prior risk evaluation was performed and showed a high prevalence of adverse psychosocial factors and psychological distress among care providers compared to a reference population. Psychosocial variables at work associated with psychological distress were high psychological demands (prevalence ratio (PR)=2.27), low social support from supervisors and co-workers (PR=1.35), low reward (PR=2.92), and effort-reward imbalance (PR=2.65). Qualitative methods permitted the identification of 56 adverse conditions. It was decided to target interventions towards team work and team spirit, staffing processes, work organization, training, communication, and ergonomics. See CIS 07-1236 for an assessment of the effectiveness of the intervention.
Occupational and Environmental Medicine, May 2006, Vol.63, No.5, p.326-334. 40 ref.

CIS 07-760 Op De Beeck R., Dufrasne D.
Comment on occupational accidents and safety culture
Des accidents du travail et de la culture de sécurité [in French]
An in-depth analysis of the causes of accidents attributed to human error reveals that they are mostly due to faulty technical design or to organizational weaknesses. This article discusses the importance of work organization and safety culture in avoiding accidents attributable to human error.
Prevent Focus, Nov. 2006,, No.9 p.14-17. Illus. 2 ref.

CIS 07-998 Harvey S., Courcy F., Petit A., Hudon J., Teed M., Loiselle O., Morin A.
Organizational interventions and mental health in the workplace: A synthesis of international approaches
This report summarizes knowledge relating to organizational intervention programmes and strategies to improve mental health in the workplace. Frameworks for the understanding of stress interventions at work are described and an evidence-based framework is proposed. This requires the establishment of proof as to the presence of sources of stress and a clear description of the sources, symptoms and consequences of this stress in order to design and evaluate appropriate interventions. Evidence of the effectiveness of organizational interventions is reviewed and recommendations for future research and methodology are proposed.
Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail du Québec (IRSST), 505 boul. de Maisonneuve Ouest, Montreal (Quebec) H3A 3C2, Canada, 2006. iv, 48p. Illus. 94 ref. Price: CAD 7.42. Downloadable version (PDF format) free of charge.
http://www.irsst.qc.ca/files/documents/PubIRSST/R-474.pdf [in French]
http://www.irsst.qc.ca/files/documents/PubIRSST/R-480.pdf [in English]

CIS 07-767 Suplido-Westergaard M.L.
Recognizing national culture as a determinant of safety subculture
Safety culture includes the sum of beliefs, attitudes, competencies and behaviours shared by a group, affecting its safety and health. Current discourse on safety culture highlights interactions between persons, jobs and organizational factors. This article discusses the role of national culture in shaping safety culture, taking the example of Filipino migrant workers in Asia.
Asian-Pacific Newsletter on Occupational Health and Safety, Mar. 2006, Vol.13, No.1, p.19-23. Illus. 13 ref.
http://www.ttl.fi/NR/rdonlyres/40A4C040-6BE7-4DFC-858C-6D16C799DA53/0/Aasian_Pacific_Newsletter_12006.pdf [in English]

CIS 07-747 Niedhammer I., Chastang J.F., David S., Barouhiel L., Barrandon G.
Psychosocial work environment and mental health: Job-strain and effort-reward imbalance models in a context of major organizational changes
This cross-sectional study explored the association between the two job-stress models, job-strain and effort-reward imbalance, and mental health outcomes in a working population exposed to major organizational changes. It involved 680 subjects, 504 men and 176 women. Psychosocial factors at work included psychological demands, decision latitude, social support, effort, reward, and overcommitment. Mental health outcomes were depressive symptoms and psychiatric disorders. Job strain, low decision latitude, effort-reward imbalance and especially job instability were found to be associated with depressive symptoms and/or psychiatric disorders among men. Overcommitment at work was a risk factor for both men and women. Social support at work played a role in reducing depressive symptoms for women. These findings emphasize the deleterious effects of the psychosocial work environment on mental health during major organizational changes.
International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health, Apr.-June 2006, Vol.12, No.2, p.111-119. 40 ref.

CIS 07-737 Vink P., Koningsveld E.A.P., Molenbroek J.F.
Positive outcomes of participatory ergonomics in terms of greater comfort and higher productivity
This literature survey focuses on the factors that enable participatory ergonomics to improve the working environment. Evidence is found in the literature that a positive approach has benefits in terms of shareholder value, productivity and comfort. Participation of end-users and management contributes to success. It is essential to have a good inventory of the problems, a structured approach, a steering group responsible for guidance and end-user involvement in the testing of ideas and prototypes. It is hypothesized that the chance of success increases with empowerment and positive experiences of end-users. Four cases of participatory ergonomics are presented, involving an office environment, installation work, assembly work and a construction site.
Applied Ergonomics, July 2006, Vol.37, No.4, p.537-546. Illus. 33 ref.

CIS 07-745 Holman G.T., Carnahan B.J., Thomas R.E.
Using surveys to identify stressors in generalized jobs: A direct clustering method
The objective of this study was to develop a method for identifying the physiological and psychological stress factors associated with various work tasks. The resulting method consisted of a three-section survey followed by a short interview. The first two sections of the survey provide descriptive information concerning both employee demographics and the physiological burden being placed on the employees, in terms of stress exhibited on specific body parts and the severity of that stress. The third survey section and interview then focuses on identifying correlations between job task and perceived stressors. This method was tested in a fisheries operation, considered as a pilot study. It identified eight high-risk tasks. Subsequent on-site analysis quantitatively verified that each of these tasks had been correctly classified by the presented method.
International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics, July 2006, Vol.36, No.7, p.671-677. 14 ref.

CIS 07-578 Smith D.R., Wei N., Zhang Y.J., Wang R.S.
Musculoskeletal complaints and psychosocial risk factors among physicians in mainland China
The aim of this study was to investigate musculoskeletal complaints (MSC) among a cross-section of physicians in China. A total of 361 doctors were surveyed, with MSC categories focusing on the neck, shoulder, upper back and lower back regions. The 12-month MSC period-prevalence at any region was 67.5%. Complaints were most commonly reported at the lower back (43.7%), followed by the neck (42.3%), shoulder (37.8%) and upper back (29%). Female gender was associated with an increased likelihood of MSC at any region (odds ratio, OR 3.05). Working in the internal medicine department was associated with an increased likelihood of MSC at the neck (OR 1.85), shoulder (OR 2.06), upper back (OR 2.19) and any region (OR 2.85). Psychosocial risk factors were also identified as follows: too much overtime (OR 2.04-2.65), high mental pressure (OR 2.28), inadequate work support (OR 3.62) and inadequate work discussion (OR 3.07).
International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics, June 2006, Vol.36, No.6, p.599-603.13 ref.

CIS 07-744 St-Vincent M., Denis D., Imbeau D., Trudeau R.
Symptoms of stress related to the characteristics of customer service in warehouse superstores
The stress symptoms of 91 sales clerks and 28 managers in six warehouse superstores of a large chain specializing in office supplies were documented with the Karasek and Maslach questionnaires. The results show different stress symptoms in the two populations. In managers, stress appears to be a result of an overinvestment in work. Stress in sales clerks is related to customer service characteristics, which were studied through work observation, interviews and the analysis of a daily journal. It was found that the time that can be allotted to each customer service intervention is less than one minute. In more than a third of such interventions, sales clerks must serve more than one customer at a time. On average, they cannot work continuously on the same task more than 1.5 min. Sales clerks are also stressed by difficult customers. Solutions are proposed mainly to reduce interruptions that lead to mistakes, stress, degraded performance and increased workload.
International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics, Apr. 2006, Vol.36, No.4, p.313-321. Illus. 25 ref.

CIS 07-498 Chouanière D.
Stress and psychosocial risk factors: Concepts and prevention
Stress et risques psychosociaux: concepts et prévention [in French]
The first part of this review article describes the current understanding of stress and psychosocial risk factors, in particular external violence (from persons external to the enterprise), internal violence (from persons within the enterprise) including bullying, suffering and ill-being at work. Chronic stress is the cause of adverse health effects, including cardiovascular diseases, mental health disorders and musculoskeletal diseases. The second part of the article is devoted to stress prevention measures and more broadly to the prevention of psychosocial risk factors. This needs to be undertaken within the broader context of hazard evaluation (compilation of the single document) and the definition of prevention plans.
Documents pour le médecin du travail, 2nd Quarter 2006, No.106, p.169-186. Illus. 44 ref.
http://www.dmt-prevention.fr/inrs-pub/inrs01.nsf/IntranetObject-accesParReference/TC%20108/$File/TC108.pdf [in French]

CIS 07-497 Nielsen M.L., Rugulies R., Smith-Hansen L., Christensen K.B., Kristensen T.S.
Psychosocial work environment and registered absence from work: Estimating the etiological fraction
This study of the relationship between the psychosocial work environment and sickness absenteeism involved 1919 workers (68% women) in mainly low-skilled jobs from 52 Danish workplaces. Data on psychological demands, decision authority, skill discretion, social support from colleagues or supervisor, predictability and meaning of work were assessed with questionnaires at baseline. Sickness absence was followed-up in employers' registers during a subsequent two-year period. Aetiologic fractions were calculated with the most favourable quartiles as reference: decision authority (12%), social support from supervisors (8%), psychological demands, (6%) and predictability (5%). Results suggest that improving the psychosocial work environment among the less favourable 75% may prevent substantial amounts of absence.
American Journal of Industrial Medicine, Mar. 2006, Vol.49, No.3, p.187-196. Illus. 19 ref.

CIS 07-496 Leroux I., Brissson C., Montreuil S.
Job strain and neck-shoulder symptoms: A prevalence study of women and men white-collar workers
The objective of this cross sectional study of 1543 white-collar workers was to examine the association between psychosocial factors at work and the prevalence of neck and shoulder symptoms. Psychological demands and decision latitude at work were measured with Karasek's questionnaire. Workers exposed to high job strain had a higher prevalence of neck and shoulder symptoms (prevalence ratio (PR) 1.54). No effect of gender was observed in this association. The effect of job strain was stronger in workers with low social support (PR 1.84). These results suggest that primary prevention of neck and shoulder symptoms among white-collar workers should consider job strain, especially when workers have low social support at work.
Occupational Medicine, Mar. 2006, Vol.56, No.2, p.102-109. 37 ref.

CIS 07-474 Feuerstein M., Nicholas R.A.
Development of a short form of the workstyle measure
"Workstyle" or how workers respond behaviourally, cognitively and physiologically to increased or stressful work demands, has been proposed to help explain the link between ergonomic and psychosocial factors in work related upper limb disorders (WRULD). The objective of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of a shortened version of the original workstyle measure. It was reduced from 91 to 32 items and tested on a sample of 282 office workers by means of a questionnaire that also included measures of socio-demographics, work history, upper limb symptoms, ergonomic exposures, work stress and upper limb pain. Workstyle scores were significantly associated with pain, functional limitations and adverse mental and physical health. The short form demonstrated acceptable psychometric properties, confirming its potential utility in research on WRULD.
Occupational Medicine, Mar. 2006, Vol.56, No.2, p.94-99. 26 ref.

CIS 07-240 Burton J.
Psychosocial risk management: What every business manager should know!
This information note explains the concept of psychosocial hazards related to work organization and workplace stress and shows how these conditions can give rise to physical and mental ill-health among workers and increased costs for the company. Strategies to help companies control psychosocial risks are outlined.
Industrial Accident Prevention Association (IAPA), Centre for Health & Safety Innovation, 5110 Creekbank Road, Suite 300, Mississauga, Ontario L4W 0A1, Canada, 2006. 2p.
http://www.iapa.ca/pdf/2006_hwp_psychosocial_risk.pdf [in English]

CIS 07-144 Larcher C., Kouloumdjian M.F., Cohen-Montandreau V.
Telework - A dream or a reality
Le télétravail: rêve ou réalité [in French]
This article presents an overview of the current situation in France with respect to telework. Topics addressed: growing importance of telework; enterprises that have recourse to telework; consequences of the distance between workers and their management; charter on telework signed by labour and management representatives; time management; forms of telework (networks, shared workplaces, mobile work and home work); summary of the findings of a survey on telework.
Travail et sécurité, June 2006, No.663, p.18-23. Illus. 4 ref.
http://www.travail-et-securite.fr/ArchivesTS/ArchivesTS.nsf/(allDocParRef)/TS663page18_1/$File/TS663page18.pdf?OpenElement [in French]

CIS 07-230 Kondo K., Kobayashi Y., Hirokawa K., Tsutsumi A., Kobayashi F., Haratani T., Araki S., Kawakami N.
Job strain and sick leave among Japanese employees: A longitudinal study
The objective of this study was to investigate the association between job stress and sickness absenteeism among Japanese workers. Subjects included 448 men and 81 women who had taken no sick leave in the year preceding the baseline (1997). All were observed until 1999. Data on socio-demographic variables, occupations, health-related behaviour, job content and the number of absences due to sickness were collected by means of self-administered questionnaires. Data were subjected to logistic regression analyses. Compared to the lowest tertile of the ratio of demand to control (job strain), the highest tertile was significantly associated with an increased risk of sickness absence of five days or more per year (odds ratio 3.02) at follow-up. A dose-response relationship also was found. However, individual variables of job demand, job control, and worksite social support were not significantly associated with the risk of sickness absenteeism.
International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, Mar. 2006, Vol.79, No.3, p.213-219. 27 ref.

CIS 07-229 Laaksonen M., Rahkonen O., Martikainen P., Lahelma E.
Associations of psychosocial working conditions with self-rated general health and mental health among municipal employees
The objective of this study was to examine associations between various occupational psychological factors and self-rated general health and mental health. Data were collected through a postal survey addressed to middle-aged employees of the city of Helsinki. A total of 5,829 responses were received (response rate 67%). All working conditions studied were strongly associated with both general and mental health but the associations weakened after various adjustments. Of the two organizational fairness measures considered, procedural fairness remained independently associated with both health outcomes. The associations between working conditions and different outcomes also depended strongly on occupational class.
International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, Mar. 2006, Vol.79, No.3, p.205-212. 47 ref.

CIS 07-228 Bauer J., Stamm A., Virnich K., Wissing K., Müller U., Wirsching M., Schaarschmidt U.
Correlation between burnout syndrome and psychological and psychosomatic symptoms among teachers
Burnout is the main cause of the increasing rates of premature retirement among schoolteachers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between occupational burden and the psychological strain of teachers who are still in work. A sample of 408 teachers at ten German high schools was evaluated. Modes of coping with occupational burden were determined using the coping capacity questionnaire (MECCA). Psychopathological and psychosomatic symptoms were determined using the SCL90R questionnaire. Findings are discussed. Burnout was significantly correlated with psychological and psychosomatic symptoms. Burnout was significantly higher among women, divorced teachers and teachers working part-time. Besides high numbers of pupils per class, teachers regarded the destructive and aggressive behaviour of pupils as the primary stress factor.
International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, Mar. 2006, Vol.79, No.3, p.199-204. Illus. 28 ref.

CIS 07-227 Barzilai-Pesach V., Sheiner E.K., Sheiner E., Potashnik G., Shoham-Vardi I.
The effect of women's occupational psychologic stress on outcome of fertility treatments
The objective of this study was to examine the association between women's occupational stress and the outcome of fertility treatments. A prospective cohort study was performed, involving a group of 75 working women who had attended fertility clinics in 1999 and 2000. Data on burnout, job strain and job satisfaction were collected by means of a structured questionnaire. Workload was assessed by the number of working hours and the existence of shift work. Women who perceived their job as more demanding were less likely to conceive (relative risk (RR) 0.6). Among women who conceived after receiving a fertility treatment, the actual workload measured in terms of hours worked per week was found to be significantly associated with a lower likelihood to successfully complete a pregnancy (RR 0.3).
Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Jan. 2006, Vol.48, No.1, p.56-61. 29 ref.

CIS 06-1485 Cloutier E., David H., Ledoux E., Bourdouxhe M., Teiger C., Gagonon I., Ouellet F.
Importance of work organization as support for the protective strategies of FSAs and nurses in home care and support services
Importance de l'organisation du travail comme soutien aux stratégies protectrices des AFS et des infirmières des services de soins et de maintien à domicile [in French]
The aging of the population and the reorganization of the health care sector have resulted in a major expansion of the home care sector. It is in this context that this report analyses the occupational safety and health conditions of family and social auxiliaries (FSA) and nurses. Somewhat older and dealing with diverse and not extensively documented risk factors, home care personnel have developed protective strategies that are supported by organizational factors. The report summarizes the role of work organization in facilitating the development of protective strategies by experienced workers and novices, mainly in high-risk work situations. It proposes a model of work organization that ensures the protection of home health care staff
Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail du Québec (IRSST), 505 boul. de Maisonneuve Ouest, Montreal (Quebec) H3A 3C2, Canada, 2006. iii, 36p. Illus. 31 ref. Price: CAD 6.36. Downloadable version (PDF format) free of charge.
http://www.irsst.qc.ca/files/documents/PubIRSST/RR-453.pdf [in French]

CIS 06-1500 And what if there were stress within your enterprise?
Et s'il y avait du stress dans votre entreprise? [in French]
This booklet is aimed at managers of small enterprises. It explains the causes and signs of occupational stress, the effects of stress on the health of employees and on the enterprise, warning signs that should alert employers to stress and ways to address the issue.
Institut national de recherche et de sécurité, 30 rue Olivier-Noyer, 75680 Paris Cedex 14, France, Feb. 2006. 19p. Illus. 3 ref. Price: EUR 4.00. Downloadable version free of charge.
http://www.inrs.fr/INRS-PUB/inrs01.nsf/inrs01_catalog_view_view/AA5F5B282A69C8A4C125717300538FD3/$FILE/ed973.pdf [in French]

2005

CIS 10-0444 Tehrani N.
Bullying at work: Beyond policies to a culture of respect
This guide to dealing more effectively with bullying, harassment and interpersonal conflict at work aims to help human resources professionals and line managers move on to the next stage of tackling bullying at work, placing an emphasis on defining the positive behaviours, accepting responsibility for behaviour and actions, accepting responsibility for finding solutions and top management behaviour which is vital in reinforcing positive behaviours and creating a culture that goes beyond paying lip service to fairness. Contents: background to bullying; what is bullying; impact of bullying; what can be done about bullying; risk assessment; strong management, healthy conflict and bullying; policy for dealing positively with bullying; training to create dignity at work; approaches to dealing with claims of bullying at work; supporting the employees involved; psychological help for victims and bullies; conclusions.
Chartered Institute of Personnel Development, 151 The Broadway, London SW19 1JQ, United Kingdom, 2005. 48p. 25 ref.
Bullying_at_work.pdf [in English]

CIS 08-1020 Rouilleault H., Conjard P., Sarazin B., Alour C., Rousseau T., Guérin G.
Building intergenerational cooperation
Construire la coopération entre les générations [in French]
Collection of articles on workers' cooperation. Topics addressed: knowledge transfer between generations; points of view of university professors, a sociologist and a training manager in a construction enterprise; role of Intranets in the transfer of skills; approaches implemented by a producer of pre-stressed concrete and a steelworks; study carried out within three enterprises of a French region; main points to consider when implementing a strategy aimed at transferring skills within the enterprise; review of a publication on occupational safety and health; further reading.
Travail & changement, Nov.-Dec. 2005, No.305, p.1-15 (whole issue). Illus. Bibl.ref.
http://www.actal.aract.fr/RessourcesSite/TC/TC305.pdf [in French]

CIS 08-1019 Weill M., Sarazin B., Alour C., Fauconier D.
Innovative participation: Workers in the forefront
Innovation participative: les salariés en première ligne [in French]
Collection of articles on workers' participation. Topics addressed: how to arouse creativity among employees; points of view of human resource consultants and a trade union representative; approaches adopted by an automobile manufacturer, an urban transport service, a hotel chain and a logistics enterprise; main points to consider with respect to workers' participation; review of a publication on creativity; further reading.
Travail & changement, July-Aug. 2005, No.303, p.1-15 (whole issue). Illus. Bibl.ref.
http://www.actal.aract.fr/RessourcesSite/TC/TC303.pdf [in French]

CIS 07-971 Gheorghiu M.D., Moatty F.
Conditions of work in teams
Les conditions du travail en équipe [in French]
This publication presents the findings of a survey aimed at further validating the responses to an earlier questionnaire survey on cooperation and support relations in health care institutions. Topics addressed: definition of cooperation; effect of changes in working conditions on cooperation; effects of professional level and mediation systems; solidarity and team spirit.
Centre d'études de l'emploi, Le Descartes, 29, Promenade Michel Simon, 93166 Noisy-le-Grand Cedex, France, 2005. 291p. 97 ref. Price: EUR 50.00. Downloadable version free of charge.
http://www.cee-recherche.fr/fr/doctrav/travail_equipe_43.pdf [in French]

CIS 07-600 Yee T., Crawford L., Harber P.
Work environment of dental hygienists
This study sought to evaluate how musculoskeletal disorders and workplace psychosocial factors affect dental hygienists' work hours and productivity. A survey was mailed to dental hygienists in Los Angeles and Orange Counties, California. It was found that musculoskeletal pain caused 27% of hygienists to decrease work hours and 8.7% to change work locations. Hand/wrist pain caused the most missed workdays. Conversely, conflicts with the dentist caused 28.2 % of dental hygienists to change jobs and 12.7% to decrease work hours, while conflicts with staff caused 17.1% to change work locations but only 7.0% to decrease work hours. This pattern was confirmed with multiple logistic regression analyses. It is concluded that musculoskeletal and psychosocial factors affect dental hygienists differently. Musculoskeletal discomfort is more likely to cause dental hygienists to decrease their working hours, whereas professional and social conflicts are more likely to lead to a change in work location.
Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, June 2005, Vol.47, No.6, p.633-639. Illus. 41 ref.

CIS 07-748 Work, stress and mental health
This special issue includes articles on: occupational stress; assessment of the physiological effects of work-related stress; depression and work; prevention and management of work-related stress; discontinuous employment and health risk; work engagement (positive occupational wellbeing); mental work strain of farmers; and the mental health of journalists following changes in the work environment.
Työterveiset - Newsletter of the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, 2005, Special Issue 1, p.1-27. Illus. Bibl.ref.

CIS 07-141 Age management
La gestion des âges [in French]
Topics addressed by this information sheet on the issue of employee age management within the enterprise: general aspects on the ageing of the workforce; taking the age differences among employees into account; changes that need to be implemented to allow employees to work longer; refresher training and human resources management; avoiding occupational weariness; facilitating cooperation and the transfer of skills among employees.
Agence Nationale pour l'Amélioration des Conditions de Travail, 4, quai des Etroits, 69321 Lyon Cedex 05, France, Dec. 2005. 6p. Illus.
http://www.anact.fr/pls/portal/docs/1/15995.PDF [in French]

CIS 07-248 Bertin J., Fraix N., Paljkovic G., Sasso M.O.
Workload, absenteeism and occupational weariness
Charge, absentéisme et usure au travail [in French]
This information sheet presents examples of methods adopted by enterprises for addressing issues of absenteeism, excessive workload, stress, violence and burnout. Sectors covered include a call centre, a vocational training centre, health care institutions and a local government administration.
Agence Nationale pour l'Amélioration des Conditions de Travail, 4, quai des Etroits, 69321 Lyon Cedex 05, France, Mar. 2005. 6p. Illus. 17 ref.
http://www.aravis.asso.fr/upload/files/FILE20050407170548_Fiche17.pdf [in French]

CIS 06-1493 Bobak M., Pikhart H., Kubinova R., Malyutina S., Pajak A., Sebakova H., Topor-Madry R., Nikitin Y., Caan W., Marmot M.
The association between psychosocial characteristics at work and problem drinking: A cross-sectional study of men in three East European urban populations
To examine the association between occupational psychology and alcoholism, a cross-sectional study was conducted in Novosibirsk (Russia), Krakow (Poland), and Karvina (Czech Republic). The 694 male participants in full employment completed a questionnaire that included effort-reward at work, job control, various socio-demographic factors and alcohol intake. It was found that all indices of alcohol consumption and problem drinking were associated with the effort-reward ratio. Adjustment for material deprivation did not change the results but adjustment for depressive symptoms reduced the estimated effects. Job control was not associated with any of the alcohol related outcomes.
Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Aug. 2005, Vol.62, No.8, p.546-550. 47 ref.

CIS 06-1081 Attridge M., Herlihy P.A., Maiden R.P.
The integration of employee assistance, work/life, and wellness services
This publication comprises a series of articles on the integration of employee assistance, work/life, and wellness services. This in-depth examination of the concepts and practical application of integrated programs provides strategies for making human resource services more useful, and thus helping employees be more productive. The latest research is presented, with a wide-ranging review of current programme models in various organizations that illustrate the most effective approaches. It examines the unique aspects of integrated programmes at universities, large enterprises, consulting firms and government institutions in the United States, as well as examples from Australia, the United Kingdom and Ireland.
The Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street, Binghampton, NY 13904-1580, USA, 2005. xxxiii, 439p. Illus. Bibl. ref. Index. Price: USD 59.95.

CIS 06-1244 Lund T., Labriola M., Christensen K.B., Bültmann U., Villadsen E., Burr H.
Psychosocial work environment exposures as risk factors for long-term sickness absence among Danish employees: Results from DWECS/DREAM
This study examined the effects of psychosocial risk factors on long-term sickness absence. A total of 5357 employees were interviewed in 2000 regarding work environment and followed up during the following eighteen months regarding long-term sickness absence. It was found that long-term sickness absence among female employees was associated with role conflict, low reward and poor management quality. Demands for hiding emotions and high emotional demands predicted long-term sickness absence among men. No significant interactions between psychosocial and physical exposures were found for either female or male employees.
Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Nov. 2005, Vol.47, No.11, p.1141-1147. 27 ref.

CIS 06-1243 Borritz M., Bültmann U., Rugulies R., Christensen K.B., Villadsen E., Kristensen T.S.
Psychosocial work characteristics as predictors of burnout: Findings from 3-year follow up of the PUMA study
The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of psychosocial work characteristics on burnout. A total of 1772 workers in various human service sector organizations were eligible for the cross-sectional analyses (baseline) and 952 for the prospective analyses. Fourteen psychosocial work characteristics and three types of burnout were measured. Linear regression models were used for analysing associations between psychosocial work characteristics at baseline and burnout at baseline and after three years of follow up. Low possibilities for development, high meaning of work, low predictability, high quality of leadership, low role clarity and high role conflicts predicted burnout after three years of follow up after the psychosocial work characteristics were adjusted for each other, potential confounders and burnout level at baseline.
Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Oct. 2005, Vol.47, No.10, p.1015-1025. 56 ref.

CIS 06-1130 Cloutier E., David H., Ledoux E., Bourdouxhe M., Teiger C., Gagnon I., Ouellet F.
Importance of work organization in support of the protective strategies of family and social auxiliaries and nurses in home care and support services
Importance de l'organisation du travail comme soutien aux stratégies protectrices des auxiliaires familiales et sociales et des infirmières des services de soins et de maintien à domicile [in French]
This study examined the occupational safety and health conditions of home health care workers and nurses and investigated the role of work organization in the development of protective strategies by both experienced workers and novices. The study included interviews with health care staff and management and analysis of personnel data and data on occupational injuries and sickness absence. The main health hazards recorded were musculoskeletal disorders and psychological problems. Results indicated the existence of several strategies used by these workers to protect their physical and psychological health by reducing the physical, cognitive and emotional workload. A model of work organization is proposed to ensure the protection of home health care staff.
Institut de recherche Robert Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail (IRSST), 505 boul. de Maisonneuve Ouest, Montreal (Quebec) H3A 3C2, Canada, 2005. xii, 261p. Illus. 113 ref. Price: CAD 21.00. Downloadable version (PDF format) free of charge. Some appendices are available only on CD-ROM (included).
http://www.irsst.qc.ca/files/documents/PubIRSST/R-429.pdf [in French]

CIS 06-987 Malinauskiene V., Theorell T., Grazuleviciene R., Azaraviciene A., Obelenis V., Azelis V.
Psychosocial factors at work and myocardial infarction among men in Kaunas, Lithuania
The association between job demand and job control and first nonfatal myocardial infarction was studied among the male population aged between 25 and 64 years in the city of Kaunas, Lithuania. The Swedish version of the demand-control questionnaire was filled-in by 203 men diagnosed in 2001-2002 with a first nonfatal myocardial infarction and by 287 randomly selected male controls. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the odds ratio (OR) for developing myocardial infarction in relation to self-reported job demand and job control after correcting for possible confounders. The adjusted ORs were 0.56 and 1.53 for demand and control, respectively. The OR for workers with low demand and low control was 1.89 compared with low demand and high control. The risk of myocardial infarction for men in passive jobs (low demand and low control) was twice that of the other respondents.
Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health, June 2005, Vol.31, No.3, p.218-223. 24 ref.

CIS 06-997 Wieclaw J., Agerbo E., Mortensen P.B., Bonde J.P.
Occupational risk of affective and stress-related disorders in the Danish workforce
This nested case-control study was carried out to quantify the risk of affective and stress-related disorders according to occupation. All 28,971 incident hospital patients and outpatients aged 18-65 years who received a first-time-ever diagnosis of an affective disorder or stress-related condition in Denmark from 1995 to 1998 were identified in the Danish Psychiatric Central Research Register. Relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals for 25 occupational categories with clerical staff as the reference were calculated. Eight occupations were associated with significantly elevated risks (RR range 1.20-1.58) among the women, while eight occupations were associated with a significantly reduced risk (RR range 0.50-0.76) among the men. The risks were highest for the teaching (RR 1.58) and health (RR 1.53) professions. Both male and female social workers and professionals caring for disabled person faced an elevated risk (women RR 1.72, men RR 2.09).
Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health, Oct. 2005, Vol.31, No.5, p.343-351. 51 ref.

CIS 06-979 Wahlström J.
Ergonomics, musculoskeletal disorders and computer work
This literature review summarizes knowledge regarding ergonomics and musculoskeletal disorders associated with computer work. A model of musculoskeletal disorders and computer work is proposed, which emphasizes the associations between work organization, psychosocial factors and mental stress on the one hand and physical demands and physical load on the other. It is hypothesized that perceived muscular tension is an early sign of musculoskeletal disorder, which arises as a result of organizational and psychosocial factors as well as from physical load and individual factors. Interventions aimed at reducing musculoskeletal disorders due to computer work should be directed at physical, ergonomic, organizational and psychosocial factors. Interventions should be carried out with management support and the active involvement of workers.
Occupational Medicine, May 2005, Vol.55, No.3, p.168-176. Illus. 105 ref.

CIS 06-996 Berg A.M., Hem E., Lau B., Håseth K., Ekeberg Ø.
Stress in the Norwegian police service
The objectives of this study were to develop a new instrument to measure job stress in the police; to assess the most severe and frequent police stressors; to compare levels of stress according to demographic and organizational factors; and to study stress in relation to personality traits, work locus of control and coping strategies. It was carried out in the form of a comprehensive questionnaire survey of 3272 Norwegian police at all hierarchical levels. Work injuries were appraised as the most stressful but least frequent stressor and job pressure was reported the least severe but most frequent stressor. Women experienced job stressors less frequently, but appraised them as more severe than men did. Older police officers reported more job pressure severity and fewer work injuries. The police in districts with more than 50,000 inhabitants perceived the lack of support more severely than others.
Occupational Medicine, Mar. 2005, Vol.55, No.2, p.113-120. 21 ref.

CIS 06-994 Ertel M., Pech E., Ullsperger P., von dem Knesebeck O., Siegrist J.
Adverse psychosocial working conditions and subjective health in freelance media workers
In recent years, there has been a steady growth of non-standard work contracts, characterized by the increased flexibility of work arrangements and increased job instability, particularly in the media industry. This pilot study analysed associations of work stress with subjective health in a group of 290 German freelancers working in the media industry. The measurement of work stress was based on the effort-reward imbalance model. Results of logistic regression analyses indicate significant effects of high effort in combination with low reward (money, esteem, promotion prospects, job security) on subjective health in men and women, with the effects being higher in men. Moreover, among men a critical pattern of coping with work stress enhanced the reported effect.
Work and Stress, July-Sep. 2005, Vol.19, No.3, p.293-299. 21 ref.

CIS 06-976 Nishikitani M., Nakao M, Karita K., Nomura K., Yano E.
Influence of overtime work, sleep duration, and perceived job characteristics on the physical and mental status of software engineers
To investigate the impact of overtime work, sleep duration, and perceived job characteristics on physical and mental status, this cross-sectional survey was conducted among 377 workers in an information-technology company. Data were collected by means of questionnaires, including the Job Content Questionnaire, and interviews with occupational physicians and subjected to statistical evaluation. Findings are discussed. Although overtime work was associated with physical and mental complaints, sleep duration and the job strain index seemed to be better indicators for physical and mental distress in overloaded workers.
Industrial Health, Oct. 2005, Vol.43, No.4, p.623-629. 27 ref.
http://www.h.jniosh.go.jp/en/indu_hel/2005/pdf/43-4-2.pdf [in English]

CIS 06-992 Grosjean V., Ribert-Van de Weerdt C.
Towards an ergonomic psychology of well-being and emotions: Effects of supervision in call centres
Vers une psychologie ergonomique du bien-être et des émotions: les effets du contrôle dans les centres d'appels [in French]
This study investigated the effects on workers' well-being of the emotionally-intensive work required in call centres and the reactions of operators to the constant supervision made possible by information technology. Information was collected by observation of emotions expressed during work, interviews and an analysis of the reactions and values emerging from workers. Findings highlight the need to adapt supervision to the nature of the task. They confirm that workers suffer more from the management and supervision systems perceived to be intrusive and from the difficulty in planning their work than from relations with customers, which at first sight appear to carry a high emotional load.
Travail humain, Dec. 2005, Vol. 68, No.4, p.355-378. Illus. 31 ref.

CIS 06-734 Violante F.S., Graziosi F., Bonfiglioli R., Curti S., Mattioli S.
Relations between occupational, psychosocial and individual factors and three different categories of back disorder among supermarket workers
This cross-sectional study on low back pain (LBP) involved 3,702 subjects working in a large Italian supermarket chain. Data regarding the various departments were collected by questionnaires and medical examinations conducted by qualified occupational physicians. The overall 12-month prevalence of LBP was 34.5% (36.6% for women and 30.7% for men), with few differences being found between supermarkets and hypermarkets. Different types of LBP showed significant associations with stress-related psychosomatic symptoms, but not with job satisfaction, which was high overall. These encouraging data provide support for the effectiveness of an active management commitment to ergonomic and job-satisfaction policies which were evident in this supermarket chain.
International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, Sep. 2005, Vol.78, No.8, p.613-624. 39 ref.
http://www.springerlink.com/media/gpt919gvwlcurgeugxuq/contributions/x/4/8/0/x4806q2213h23r08.pdf [in English]

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