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Self-employment in joinery: An occupational risk facor?

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health

Abstract

Objectives

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.

Material and 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.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Occupational Diseases, University Hospital of Reims, Reims, France

    Francois-Xavier Lesage, Julie Salles & Frederic Deschamps

  2. Department of Occupational Diseases, University Hospital of Reims, 48 rue de Sébastopol, 51100, Reims, France

    Francois-Xavier Lesage

Authors
  1. Francois-Xavier Lesage
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  2. Julie Salles
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  3. Frederic Deschamps
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Correspondence to Francois-Xavier Lesage.

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Cite this article

Lesage, FX., Salles, J. & Deschamps, F. Self-employment in joinery: An occupational risk facor?. IJOMEH 27, 355–363 (2014). https://doi.org/10.2478/s13382-014-0261-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/s13382-014-0261-0

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