Working conditions and health
A large number of employees of a sociocultural institution were suffering from symptoms of stress (tension, fatigue) and a lack of motivation. The management contacted IST to have a study carried out on staff health and working conditions. IST agreed and put forward a three-part offer: a diagnosis of the state of health of the individual employees, an observation of their working activity and finally a set of proposals for making improvements.
The first phase revealed potential risk factors with the aid of an appropriate questionnaire, individual interviews and group discussion workshops. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the problems encountered by the social workers in their professional practice as well as the personnel resources they develop on a day-to-day basis to overcome these difficulties. A psychologist from IST followed them as they performed their activities and observed their working environment. Based on this stock-taking, the Institute proposed possible ways of improving the situation. These measures included encouraging action to improve the visibility and recognition of the profession among partners. Another priority was to strengthen the structure of the institution and define the jobs and roles of its staff more clearly. Finally IST recommended action relating to the layout of the premises and workstations.
The institution adopted the majority of the changes detailed in the final report from IST so that a better climate and better working conditions gradually became re-established. Support in introducing changes was not part of the terms of reference in this case, but a growing number of company managers are opting for this service from IST.
Measuring workers’ exposure to hazardous substances
In order to conform with the requirements of Directive MSST, a paint shop manager asked IST to measures his employees’ exposure to hazardous substances.
Based on air samples collected by our specialists, we were able to confirm that the paint shop premises were intelligently designed and provided effective ventilation. We also observed that the protection equipment was scrupulously worn during painting activities. However, this individual protective gear proved unnecessary because the exposure was very low during paint application. By contrast, during surface preparation activities, such as finishing and tool cleaning, which took place outside the ventilated premises, the exposure level was very high but no protective measures were taken.
IST therefore recommended better ventilation of the preparation area as well as the wearing of individual protective gear during certain, very selective activities. Our intervention enabled this company to reduce its procedures by making more rational use of the individual protective equipment. It also provided the head of the paint shop with valuable support when dealing with his employees because his efforts at raising awareness about occupational health had been recognized and confirmed by experts.
Occupational health consultation
An attending physician referred one of his patients, a hairdresser, to us in order to check whether her respiratory problems (cough, difficulty in breathing), which got worse during working hours, might be linked to her occupation.
During the medical consultation which resulted from this first contact, the hairdresser described her work, the salon which she owned, the substances she used and the symptoms she had. Additional investigations were requested in view of her occupational history which suggested occupational asthma. The pneumology investigations confirmed the presence of asthma and allergy tests revealed sensitisation to thioglycolic acid, which is found in perming solutions. A diagnosis of occupational asthma was therefore made and an occupational disease notification was sent to the accident insurance scheme. We made the following recommendations: as it was not possible to replace the perming products and thioglycolic acid is present in most of the brands on the market, this lady was encouraged to reorganise her work as much as possible. She could either stop doing perms or have them done by someone else in her absence; she could install a better air change system in the salon (opening doors and windows, even getting an air extraction/expulsion ventilation system installed).
From a health insurance point of view, this lady is unable to benefit from an unfitness to work decision by SUVA because of her self-employed status. Instead, she was advised that to resort to disability insurance (AI) in order to benefit from redeployment measures if her asthma persisted despite the technical and organisational measures implemented and to prevent the condition from becoming chronic. It seems that, at present, this person is continuing to work as a hairdresser, except for doing perms, and she has not had any more respiratory problems.