Effect of de-industrialisation on working conditions and self reported health in a sample of manufacturing workers

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...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Journal of epidemiology and community health (1979) Vol. 56; no. 7; pp. 506 - 509
Main Authors:	Ostry, A S, Barroetavena, M, Hershler, R, Kelly, S, Demers, P A, Teschke, K, Hertzman, D
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	London BMJ Publishing Group Ltd 01-07-2002 BMJ Publishing Group BMJ BMJ Publishing Group LTD BMJ Group
Subjects:	Adult Aged Biological and medical sciences British Columbia - epidemiology Cohort Studies de-industrialisation Economic recessions Employment Follow-Up Studies Forestry Forestry research Havana Paper Health aspects Health Status Humans Industrialization Industry Job titles Layoffs Long term Manufacturing industries Medical sciences Middle Aged Miscellaneous Occupational classification Occupational Health Occupational health and safety Occupational medicine Officials and employees Personnel Downsizing Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine Recessions Saw mills Sawmills Unemployment Workers Working conditions British Columbia Human Industry Self evaluation Health Evolution Influence Worker Self perception Manufacturing Working condition Occupational medicine Public health
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Summary:	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.
Bibliography:	Correspondence to:  Dr A Ostry, Department of Health Care and Epidemiology, University of British Columbia, Mather Building, 5804 Fairview Avenue, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z3; e-mail:  ostry@interchange.ubc.ca istex:989AE8FF0C55659744F21D5594C2517240042DFF ark:/67375/NVC-LM3W9FF5-H local:0560506 href:jech-56-506.pdf PMID:12080157 ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23
ISSN:	0143-005X 1470-2738
DOI:	10.1136/jech.56.7.506