Occupational Skill Level and Hazardous Exposures among Working Victorians

Anthony LaMontagne () and Deborah Vallance
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Anthony LaMontagne: University of Melbourne
Deborah Vallance: University of Melbourne

Australian Journal of Labour Economics (AJLE), 2008, vol. 11, issue 1, 47-70

Abstract: This paper examines the patterning of exposures to occupational hazards in relation to occupational skill level as a proxy for pay rate, testing the general hypothesis that exposures to occupational hazards increase in prevalence with decreasing skill level. A population-based telephone survey was conducted on a random sample of working Victorians (N = 1,101). A set of 10 indicators of exposure to occupational hazards were analysed individually and as a summary scale in multivariate regression models. A significant increasing trend in hazardous working conditions from the highest to lowest occupational skill level was observed, with those in lower skill level jobs twice as likely to be exposed as those at the highest skill level. This overall trend was driven primarily by higher exposure in the middle skill level group (technicians and skilled trades) as well as the lowest (labourers and elementary clerical), the two main blue-collar groups. Findings provided partial support for the hypothesised relationship.

Keywords: Labor Standards; Working Conditions; Health; Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health Safety; Job Satisfaction; Related Public Policy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I18 J28 J81 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2008
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