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

Women’s physical Women’s physical workload appears workload appears lighterlighter

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

Prolonged Prolonged standingstanding - cashiers- cashiers

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

                                                                                                                                                                                

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Height just right for the average man of European

origin

Why do they « complain »?

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

A ton of feathers: how A ton of feathers: how it all adds upit all adds up

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

Working together we Working together we can lift a ton of can lift a ton of feathersfeathers