Illness absences among beryllium sensitized workers

J.P. Watkins, E.D. Ellis, D.J. Girardi, D.L. Cragle and B.S. Richter

American Journal of Public Health, 2014, vol. 104, issue 11, e165-e169

Abstract: Objectives. This study examined absence rates among US Department of Energy workers who had beryllium sensitization (BeS) or were diagnosed with chronic beryllium disease (CBD) compared with those of other workers. Methods. We used the lymphocyte proliferation test to determine beryllium sensitivity. In addition, we applied multivariable logistic regression to compare absences from 2002 to 2011 between workers with BeS or CBD to those without, and survival analysis to compare time to first absence by beryllium sensitization status. Finally, we examined beryllium status by occupational group. Results. Fewer than 3% of the 19 305 workers were BeS, and workers with BeS or CBD had more total absences (odds ratio [OR] = 1.31; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.18, 1.46) and respiratory absences (OR = 1.51; 95% CI = 1.24, 1.84) than did other workers. Time to first absence for all causes and for respiratory conditions occurred earlier for workers with BeS or CBD than for other workers. Line operators and crafts personnel were at increased risk for BeS or CBD. Conclusions. Although not considered "diseased," workers with BeS have higher absenteeism compared with nonsensitized workers. © 2014, American Public Health Association Inc. All rights reserved.

Keywords: beryllium, absenteeism; adult; berylliosis; female; human; male; medical leave; middle aged; occupational exposure; statistical model; statistics and numerical data; survival, Absenteeism; Adult; Berylliosis; Beryllium; Female; Humans; Logistic Models; Male; Middle Aged; Occupational Exposure; Sick Leave; Survival Analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://hdl.handle.net/10.2105/AJPH.2014.302132

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2014.302132_8

DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2014.302132

Access Statistics for this article

American Journal of Public Health is currently edited by Alfredo Morabia

More articles in American Journal of Public Health from American Public Health Association
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Christopher F Baum ().