Self-employment in joinery: an occupational risk facor?
OBJECTIVE
Only a few studies have analyzed the health of self-employed workers. This cross-sectional study is the first to compare health status among craftsmen joiners and paid joiners.


METHODS
Clinical and paraclinical data for self-employed craftsmen and employees were collected by occupational health doctors according to a standardized protocol and compared. Health data and professional status relationships were analyzed by logistic regression.


RESULTS
A total of 171 craftsmen and 196 paid workers were included. Craftsmen had more dermatologic pathologies (odds ratio (OR) = 2.67, p < 0.05), ear/nose/throat symptoms (OR = 3.38, p < 0.001), pulmonary symptoms (OR = 2.46, p < 0.05), musculoskeletal symptoms (OR = 3.09, p < 0.001), and abnormal audiogram (OR = 3.50, p < 0.001). The FEV1 was significantly lower among craftsmen (p < 0.01), independently of tobacco smoke exposure.


CONCLUSIONS
This survey high-lights a high morbidity rate among self-employed craftsmen, suggesting that among woodworkers, professional status can be a risk factor for health. The preventive medical system for craftsmen has to be rethought to guarantee better safety for this population.
Department of Occupational Diseases, University Hospital of Reims, Reims, France, fxlesage@chu-reims.fr.
Francois-Xavier
FX
Lesage
Julie
J
Salles
Frederic
F
Deschamps
D000328:Adult; D060389:Construction Industry; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004651:Employment / Q000145:classification*; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D016272:Occupational Health; D010038:Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology