How Does Work Affect the Health of the U.S. Population? Free Data from the 2010 NHIS-OHS Provides the Answers

You whitethorn person immoderate hypotheses astir really activity affects nan wellness of nan U.S. population, but collecting information from a nationally typical sample is costly and time-consuming. What if location was free information disposable astatine your fingertips? You’re successful luck!

NIOSH sponsored an Occupational Health Supplement (OHS) to nan 2010 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), and nan information is publicly available. See nan NIOSH Topic Page for much information. Over 17 1000 existent and caller U.S. workers supplied accusation connected their industry, occupation, and nan workplace wellness conditions and exposures listed below. Initial results person been published successful nan June rumor of nan American Journal of Industrial Medicine. We person provided a summary of nan investigation and links to nan articles below. What caller associations mightiness you beryllium capable to find concerning your area of interest? We would besides for illustration your input connected topics to screen successful nan 2015 survey. See nan extremity of this station for accusation connected really to propose ideas.

Work Organization Characteristics: Non-standard activity arrangements; Temporary positions; Alternative Shifts

The changing quality of activity has led to activity statement characteristics that whitethorn adversely effect health. In 2010, non-standard activity arrangements which see independent contracting aliases consulting, freelancing, being on-call, and moving done a impermanent agency aliases contractor were held by 19% of U.S. workers and 7% were employed successful impermanent positions. Among each U.S. workers, 29% worked an replacement displacement (a displacement different than a regular time shift) and almost 19% worked 48 aliases much hours per week. For much accusation connected these topics, and to spot which industries and occupations reported nan highest rates of exposure, position nan full article.

Psychosocial Factors: Job insecurity; Work-family imbalance; Hostile activity environment

Monitoring psychosocial factors is important successful preventing workplace accent and promoting intelligence and beingness health. In 2010, 32% of U.S. workers knowledgeable occupation insecurity, 16% had trouble combining activity and family responsibilities, and astir 8% were bullied aliases harassed astatine work. For much accusation connected these topics, position nan full article.

Hazardous Exposures: Skin hazards; Outdoor work; Secondhand smoke; Other respiratory hazards (Vapors, gas, particulate and fumes )

Did you deliberation that hazardous workplace beingness and chemic exposures were a point of nan past? In 2010, astir 20% of U.S. workers knowledgeable predominant occupational tegument interaction pinch chemicals, and almost 25% often worked outdoors. Despite increases successful smoke-free workplace policies, 10% of non-smoking U.S. workers were exposed to secondhand fume astatine work. And, erstwhile asked astir their longest-held jobs, 25% reported chronic vulnerability to vapors, dust, gas, aliases fumes. For much accusation connected these topics, and to spot which industries and occupations reported nan highest rates of exposure, position nan full article.

Common Work-related Health Conditions: Carpal passageway syndrome, Dermatitis, Asthma

Carpal passageway syndrome affected almost 5 cardinal workers successful 2010, and 2/3 of cases were attributed to work. For much accusation connected this topic, position nan full article.

Dermatitis affected complete 15 cardinal workers successful 2010, and was particularly communal among healthcare workers. For much accusation connected this topic, position nan full article.

Among U.S. workers, complete 11 cardinal had asthma and astir 7% of these cases were attributed to work. For much accusation connected this topic, position the afloat article.

What’s next?

More free data! NHIS will see different Occupational Health Supplement successful 2015. Some projected ideas for nan 2015 study see ergonomic exposures, work-related debased backmost pain, work-related chronic associated pain, information culture, and nan wide effect of activity connected health. What occupational wellness related questions would you for illustration to spot connected nan adjacent survey? Please supply feedback successful nan remark conception below. We’ll request your ideas by November 2013.

Sara E. Luckhaupt, MD, MPH; Dara L. Burris, BS

Dr. Luckhaupt is simply a aesculapian epidemiologist successful nan NIOSH Division of Surveillance, Health Evaluations and Field Studies.

Ms. Burris is an ORISE Fellow in nan NIOSH Division of Surveillance, Health Evaluations and Field Studies.