Workplace threats to health and job turnover among women workers.
Is job turnover related to concern about workplace health risks? Using data from a national sample of working women, we examined the relationships among workplace risk communications, worker concerns about workplace threats from hazardous substances, indoor air quality, and job change. Eight percent reported changing a job as a result of concern over workplace threats to health. Previous workplace injury predicted concern about hazardous materials and indoor air quality as well as job change, but employer communication about workplace health risks was associated with less job change and less concern about indoor air quality. Women worry about workplace threats to their health enough to change their jobs, but employers may have the power to cut turnover costs and reduce disruption to workers' lives through the use of risk communication programs.
Gucer
Patricia W
PW
Occupational Health Program, School of Medicine, University of Maryland-Baltimore, 405 W. Redwood Street, 2nd Floor, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. pgucer@medicine.umaryland.edu
Oliver
Marc
M
McDiarmid
Melissa
M
D000328:Adult; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000009:adverse effects; D003142:Communication; D004496:Education, Continuing; D005260:Female; D015386:Hazardous Substances / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D010563:Personnel Turnover; D014481:United States; D016387:Women's Health; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards
D015386:Hazardous Substances