PowerPointprsentation

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Participatory action research
at a wind turbine factory
Rasmussen K., Carstensen O., Hansen ON., Jepsen
JF., Glasscock D., Hildebrandt L. Dep . of
Occupational Medicine , Herning Hospital

Herning DENMARK


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Background

• A shift from polyester based plastics
  (Styrene) to epoxy based plastics
• A cluster of epoxy eczema
• High incidence rates of work injuries

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Aim of study

• Initiate preventive measures in the context of
  worker participation
• Development of stategies and methods for
  participatory action research
• Identification of risk factors for eczema and
  allergy
• Use of questionaire as screening instrument
• Other sub-aims

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Design

• A quasi-experimental intervention study.
• Pre-post measurements in a 4 year follow-up
  1999- 2003.
  
• Trial grp. wing factory N 500-900 workers
• Control grp. machine shop N 300

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Epoxy PrePreg
Epoxy coat paint
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(No Transcript)
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Finish grinding polishing
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Survey

• METHODS PURPOSE
• Work observationsWork environment safety
  culture
• Interview ( focus group ) Safety culture
  work organization
• Anthropological field studiesSafety culture
  safety learning
• Questionnaire.Eczema , injuries ,
  
  safety culture ,
  psycho-social
• Medical examination Prevalence of
  allergens and
  dermatitis . Identification of
• 
  allergens substitution
• 
  

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Change processes / Intervention

• Organisational changes
• - fewer levels of middle
  management
• -
  semi-autonomous production teams
• (
  responsibility competence)
• 2) Dialog-based courses on safety team
  building
• development of new ideas
  and answers through
  employee interaction
• 3) Safety audit ( 1 safety rep.,1 shop
  steward , 2 blue collars )
• - internal ( own
  department) 1 x month
• - external 1
  x quarter

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Change processes ( cont.)

• 4) Participatory learning ( Vestas School )
  
• - 1 ½ week introduction
• - 9 week course for
  supervisors
• - 6 week course for shop
  stewards
• 5) Communication
• - meetings blue collars / shop
  steward 1 x week
• - new work instruction (
  readable for workers )
• - a Vestas man
  learning from occupational accidents.
• 6) Technical changes
• - safety wear instruction
• - substitution of
  chemicals

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Results Incidence of eczema pr. year / 1000
workers

• 1998 37 cases / 1000 w. / year
• 1999 68
• 2000 57
• 2001 21
• 2002 11

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Results work injuries pr. mill. work hours

• 1998 66.3
• 1999 70.3
• 2000 59.0
• 2001 - 48.0
• - 74.0
• 2002 47.3

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Conclusions

• Intervention as participatory action research.
• A new approach to a more holistic type of
  occupational medicine - total work environment
• -
  work organization
• -
  employee participation
• Final lasting results have yet to be
  demonstrated.