Is Fixed-Term Employment a New Risk for Adverse Physical Working Conditions?

Abstract

Relationships between employment type and the physical work environment were studied among blue-collar workers (n = 1,127). Based on survey data, we set out to compare the evaluations of environmental load and physical strain at work given by fixed-term (17% of all) and permanent workers. The type of employment was not related to environmental load. However, working on a fixed-term basis increased the risk of physical strain at work. Analyses revealed that this connection was evident only among fixed-term construction workers. The results did not support the much-cited view that the disintegration of standard employment has given rise to a new series of work environment problems. Such problems are concentrated in an area with a long tradition of work environment problems, that is, in the construction industry.

Gender, precarious work, and chronic diseases in South Korea

“…According to a study of worker's compensation claims data (1987)(1988)(1989)(1990)(1991)(1992)(1993)(1994)(1995) collected from the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, nonstandard work, particularly in construction and assembly, appears to produce a high risk of upper extremity disorders due to repetitive and heavy work [Silverstein et al, 1998]. Thus, our results with musculoskeletal disorders are in line of reasoning [Saloniemi et al, 2004]. On the other hand, female nonstandard workers in the lowest-income group (Q1) showed higher odds of musculoskeletal disorder, after testing the interaction between employment contract and income.…”

Temporary employment and health: a review

“…4,63,64 In a similar vein, studies on 'low instability' fixed-term jobs in Scandinavia have not indicated large differences in work conditions between fixed-term and permanent workers. 65,66 However, as legislative protection for temporary work Figure 2 The Association between the national unemployment rate and morbidity of temporary employees arrangements varies between countries, 67,68 exposure to health risks may differ even within a certain group of temporary employees (e.g. temporary agency workers).…”

Temporary workers in Washington State

“…The findings have varied considerably from no difference in health outcomes [Virtanen et al, 2001[Virtanen et al, , 2003Bardasi and Francesconi, 2004], to significant findings of higher rates and severity of occupational injuries [Saha et al, 2004;Benavides et al, 2006]. Studies have also shown differences in risk between temporary and standard employment to be based more on the industry than the type of employment arrangement [Saloniemi et al, 2004]. Much of the discrepancy in research findings for contingent, flexible or alternative work arrangements may be due to differential classification among countries of what constitutes a contingent worker.…”