PAPERS/ROUND TABLES Both in men and women workers the most frequent risk factors related to physical burden were: keeping the same position (21.7% of men and 24.7% of women) and do hand-arm repetitive movements (26.4% of men and 29.0% of women). The proportion of women exposed to static positions depending on field of activity was larger in chemical industries, (41.7% of those asked who work in this field are exposed); followed by manufacturers (37.9%). By level of studies it was noted that the adoption of static positions has an ascending lineal trend (the higher the level of studies, the more it prevails). The rate of women who did hand-arm repetitive movements was larger in the metal field (46.4%) and the chemical industry (42.6% of the poll). By level of studies it is noted that workers with primary studies make more repetitive movements (33.2%). Regarding the fourth indicator, on mental load factors and those of a psychosocial nature they were asked according to an ordinal scale, what were the characteristics of their tasks in relation to 21 psychosocial and organisational factors. Exposed was considered the most extreme answer in the scale which classified exposure frequency in each of the factors as “always or very often”. Of the 21 indicators chosen, the most common among women was dealing with the public, (51.6% of workers); followed by high or very high levels of attention (37%). Comparing men and women it is noted that the latter deals directly with the public and works with computers more frequently. To a lesser extent an unbalance has also been found in carrying out short time repetitive tasks; having to carry out several tasks at the same time; not being able to have outside help or not being free to decide the holiday period. The average number of psychosocial factors accumulated by a worker was almost four (3.80 factors in average), this being slightly higher in women (3.9 factors as opposed to 3.7 in men). The number of accumulated factors, disregarding sex, tends to be higher in industry. And so, while women working at industries accumulated an average of 4.3 factors, in the service sector the average went down to 3.9. The fields of industry accumulating a higher average of psychosocial agents among women were the chemical and metal industries. In services the average offered by workers belonging to the fields of health, veterinary and social services stands out. Safety in the workplace is the fifth indicator. Workers were asked what the main risks of accident were in carrying out their job. In order to make identification easier 19 options were provided, being able to choose all those they identified as potential risks. While 77% of men workers identified one or more risks, only 57% of women did. These differences were still larger when industry workers were asked (perceiving risk of work accident 84.9% and 61% respectively). On analysing in the sample of women workers the average accumulated risk of accident identified with their position it is noted that the risk agents perceived were higher among women with primary studies, workers of the primary sector and those working in health and veterinary. Also those who have had some training in SST and those who have had some risk assessment in their work position. Regarding postural complaints (sixth indicator), workers were asked to indicate the three main areas in their bodies where they had complaints accountable to work postures and efforts and they were shown a list of 11 body locations. Among men, 70.6% identified a painful area while women did so in 75.3%. The three areas of the back (nape, spine and lumbar) were the most frequently mentioned by both men and women. Nonetheless, in women areas such as nape/neck, spine (higher part of back) and legs were more often mentioned. In services the unbalance between genres was even higher than in industry. There are more different painful segments here, it being more frequent among women pains in the neck/nape; arms/forearms; hands/wrists; higher section of back; lower section of back and legs. 38
PREVECAN 09 2nd Canary Islands Conference on Prevention of Occupational Risks
Finally, given the amount of associated variables, real or accidentally, to this indicator, an analysis was carried out in order to determine how much some of them influenced on presenting or not osteo-muscle complaints accountable to postures or efforts at work. The osteo-muscle complaint related to work is indeed more related to females; it has a direct lineal relation with age and the number of years worked; and inverse with the level of studies. Besides, the risks of suffering these complaints increases not only with factors associated to physical load but they are also modified in the presence of psychosocial factors. The seventh indicator deals with psychosomatic symptoms. Among women the most frequent symptoms were sleep alterations (12.5%), tiredness (13.7%), migraine (13.2%) and irritability (9.4%). In general, these four symptoms were more frequent among employees who had worked for longer years and those of extreme educational levels (either primary or university). The eighth indicator, on risk management activities, was analysed from three points: the training and information received regarding safety and health at the workplace; risk assessment at the workplace and the offering by the employer to have a medical check-up. Regarding training and information received on safety and health at the workplace, they were asked if in the last two years they had received either training or information on the risks for their health and safety related to their job. 57.9% of men and 48.8% of women answered yes, this difference being statistically significant. That is, comparatively, women received less information than men. This unbalance remained when industry and services were analysed separately. Regarding assessment and analysis of risks in their positions they were asked if in the last 12 months any study or assessment of the risks for their health or safety at their work stations had been carried out. 36.2% of men and 29.3% of women answered yes, this difference being statistically significant. This unbalance remained when industry and services were analysed separately. On the other hand they were asked whether in the past twelve months the company had offered them the possibility of having a medical check-up. 66.4% of men and 55% of women said yes, this difference being statistically significant. This unbalance remained when industry and services were analysed separately. In general the groups more affected by a lack of these three types of risk management were: women (as opposed to men); workers with primary level studies, young workers, those who have not been long in the company (there being a lineal relationship: the less number of years worked, the more lack there was and services (as opposed to industry). Finally, the ninth indicator dealt with the inability or unavailability to answer a series of questions which could be deemed fundamental in pinpointing the shortcomings in the correct management of risk. A larger tendency not to answer or not knowing how to answer certain questions (on safety, risk management organisation, and risk assessment) was noticed in women workers (as opposed to males). A fact that discloses the need to increase training and awareness in women regarding risk management. In conclusion, Marta Zimmermann stated that the analysis of the information gathered through the method of polls has detected differences in working and health conditions between men and women workers. Unbalances affecting a large number of items have been described ranging from risk management to the view of risks. Moreover, within the group of Different realities women workers, there have emerged groups who “In the group of women workers, are especially vulnerable who suffer this inequality there have emerged groups who are more intensely, which could act as a guideline to the especially vulnerable and suffer this intervention of these critical and top priority points inequality more intensely” which can be improved. 39