The Cotton Dust Papers: Science, Politics, and Power in the Discovery of Byssinosis in the U.S.

Levenstein, Charles; DeLaurier, Gregory F.; Dunn, Mary Lee

doi:10.2190/tcd

Cited by 5 publications

(4 citation statements)

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“…The resulting production of practical policy guidance has also been previously identified as contributing to the success of this type of collaboration. 6 This case study builds on an emerging tradition of health professionals supporting worker-led struggles for safer work environments in the service industries (and building on a longer, complicated history of such collaboration in mining and manufacturing 55,56 ). A recent hotel worker study led by the union UNITE HERE resulted in contractual decreases in workload due to demonstrated associations between overwork and musculoskeletal injuries.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reducing Hazardous Cleaning Product Use: A Collaborative Effort

et al. 2009

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Workplace hazards affecting vulnerable populations of low-wage and immigrant workers present a special challenge to the practice of occupational health. Unions, Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health (COSH) groups, and other organizations have developed worker-led approaches to promoting safety. Public health practitioners can provide support for these efforts. This article describes a successful multiyear project led by immigrant cleaning workers with their union, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 615, and with support from the Massachusetts COSH (MassCOSH) to address exposure to hazardous chemicals. After the union had identified key issues and built a strategy, the union and MassCOSH invited staff from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health's Occupational Health Surveillance Program (OHSP) to provide technical information about health effects and preventive measures. Results included eliminating the most hazardous chemicals, reducing the number of products used, banning mixing products, and improving safety training. OHSP's history of public health practice regarding cleaning products enabled staff to respond promptly. MassCOSH's staff expertise and commitment to immigrant workers allowed it to play a vital role.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reducing Hazardous Cleaning Product Use: A Collaborative Effort

et al. 2009

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“…While not dismissing the important role of these epistemic fields in their potential to develop knowledge and provide evidence about occupational disease (through epidemiological studies, bio-monitoring, X-rays, etc. ), it has been argued that the problem of occupational disease is highly influenced by, and interconnected with, social and political factors (Dembe, 1996;Levenstein et. al., 2002;McIvor, 2012;Rosner and Markowitz, 2006;Tataryn, 1979).…”

Section: The Problem Of Occupational Disease Recognitionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…their advocates to have physically and psychologically healthy workplaces on the other hand. 6 Class conflict is an important element not only in the struggle to recognize diseases as occupationally related but also for action to be taken against unhealthy workplaces and labour processes (Levenstein et. al., 2002).…”

Section: The Problem Of Occupational Disease Recognitionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A fourth direction for further research would be to study a specific disease in order to identify and analyse the complexities of unknowns and how they affect the recognition of that particular disease. Social science literature has identified the challenge of recognizing diseases that closely tie in with industrial processes, such as silicosis (Rosner and Markowtiz, 2002) and byssinosis (Levenstein et al, 2002). Focus has also been directed to the challenges of unknowns in recognizing diseases that challenge the premise of biomedical knowledge, as they can happen through low-level chemical exposures and the physiological effects are not readily observable or quantifiable.…”

Section: Directions For Further Sociological Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Complexities of Unknowns: Knowledge Contestations and Occupational Disease Recognition

Pich-Bavastro¹

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In decision-making processes, competing knowledge claims create tensions, contestations, and negotiations between various social actors in their efforts to reach a decision. While attention to questions of knowledge (such as how certain knowledge gains legitimacy and authority) are useful in examining the dimensions and stakes of knowledge contestations, broadening the analysis to consider the complex role of unknowns can provide fruitful and nuanced insights into these contestations. Through a qualitative methodological research design, in this dissertation I focus on knowledge contestations in relation to the challenges of recognizing occupational diseases in the context of the Ontario workers' compensation system. The research questions that drive this investigation are as follows: (1) how do unknowns complicate knowledge contestations, specifically those surrounding the recognition of occupational diseases; (2) how do various types of knowledges and unknowns become mobilized in these recognition processes;(3) what counts as evidence in recognition processes, and what role does evidence play in supporting various knowledge claims; and (4) how do social and political factors influence the recognition of occupational disease? In exploring these questions, I primarily draw on three theoretical resources: new materialism, sociology of knowledge, and ignorance studies. I find that multiple dimensions of unknowns play a pivotal role in knowledge contestations over occupational disease recognition. The forms that such unknowns tend to take complicate and obscure connections between occupational factors and the development of disease. The mobilization of unknowns in contestations over disease recognition presents further challenges due to conflicting economic and other interests of the various social actors involved in these decisionmaking processes, as well as the broader influence of the dominant biomedical model in knowledge about disease and the body.iii

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2002

New Political Science

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The Cotton Dust Papers: Science, Politics, and Power in the Discovery of Byssinosis in the U.S.

Cited by 5 publications

References 0 publications

Reducing Hazardous Cleaning Product Use: A Collaborative Effort

Reducing Hazardous Cleaning Product Use: A Collaborative Effort

The Complexities of Unknowns: Knowledge Contestations and Occupational Disease Recognition

Selected books received

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