1st Edition
At the Point of Production The Social Analysis of Occupational and Environmental Health
"At the Point of Production", a compilation of contributions to "New Solutions Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health Policy", locates workers' health and safety problems in the broad political economy. It argues that without a deep understanding of the social/political/economic context of particular industries or workplaces, we cannot fully grasp the process of recognition and control of industrial hazards. The contributors report on a series of case studies, all of which used the 'point of production' framework to investigate particular problems or industries.The focus of the first section is on globalization, the impact of privatization on the health and safety of workers and communities in Brazil and Mexico. The next section addresses environmental issues: the unintended effects of environmental regulation on workers, the situation of hazardous waste workers and emergency responders, the implementation of toxics use reduction, and the role of workers in pollution prevention. In the third section the contributors explore the intersection of labor relations with gender relations at the point of production. A final chapter deals with some of the practical issues involved in conducting occupational health research in the contested terrain of the workplace.
Introduction, Charles Levenstein
SECTION 1. GLOBALIZATION AND DEVELOPMENT
Chapter 1. Work and Health in the Global Economy: Lessons from Developing and Industrialized Countries on the Impact of Work on Health
C. Eduardo Siqueira, Blanca Lemus, and Charles Levenstein
Chapter 2. New Points of Production: Homework and Shoemaking in Asia
Pia Markkanen and Charles Levenstein
Chapter 3. Robbers Aboard: Workplace Violence and (In)Security in Public Transport in Salvador, Brazil
Eduardo Paes Machado and Charles Levenstein
SECTION 2. ENVIRONMENT INTERACTIONS
Chapter 4. The Story of the Alar Ban: Politics and Unforeseen Consequences
Beth Rosenberg
Chapter 5. Health and Safety Organizing: OCAW'S Worker-to-Worker Health and Safety Training Program
Craig Slatin
Chapter 6. Low-Hanging Fruit: Social Values and Industry Discretion in Toxics Use Reduction Policy
Richard Campbell and Charles Levenstein
Chapter 7. Joint Occupational and Environmental Pollution Prevention Strategies: A Model for Primary Prevention
Karla Armenti, Rafael Moure-Eraso, Craig Slatin, and Ken Geiser
SECTION 3. GENDER
Chapter 8. Sexual Harassment: Labor Relations by Other Means
Eve Spangler
Chapter 9. Gender and Cleaner Production: Toward a Framework for Including Gender Analysis When Developing Strategies and Designing Solutions
Sally Edwards and Margaret Quinn
Chapter 10. The Boston-Area HASWIC Research Circle: An Innovative Participatory Method for Coloring in the Picture of a Special Work Environment
Susan Moir and Lenore S. Azaroff
SECTION 4. ETHICAL IMPLICATIONS
Chapter 11. Good Practice Guidelines for Occupational Health Research Funded by the Private Sector
Margaret Quinn, Charles Levenstein, and Gregory F. DeLaurier
Index
Biography
Charles Levenstein
