Article

Identifying and prioritizing gaming workers' health and safety concerns using mapping for data collection†

  1. Margaret M. Keith PhD cand.1,‡,*,
  2. Beverley Cann2,
  3. James T. Brophy BA, PhD cand.1,‡,
  4. Deborah Hellyer MD, FRCP(C), FCCP, CIME3,
  5. Margaret Day4,
  6. Shirley Egan5,
  7. Kathy Mayville3,
  8. Andrew Watterson PhD6

Article first published online: 2 JAN 2001

DOI: 10.1002/1097-0274(200101)39:1<42::AID-AJIM4>3.0.CO;2-I

Issue

American Journal of Industrial Medicine

American Journal of Industrial Medicine

Volume 39, Issue 1, pages 42–51, January 2001

Additional Information

How to Cite

Keith, M. M., Cann, B., Brophy, J. T., Hellyer, D., Day, M., Egan, S., Mayville, K. and Watterson, A. (2001), Identifying and prioritizing gaming workers' health and safety concerns using mapping for data collection. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 39: 42–51. doi: 10.1002/1097-0274(200101)39:1<42::AID-AJIM4>3.0.CO;2-I

Author Information

  1. 1

    Faculty of Health and Community Studies, DeMontfort University, Leicester, UK

  2. 2

    Occupational Health Nurse, MFL Occupational Health Centre, Inc.

  3. 3

    Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers-Windsor, Windsor, Ontario, Canada

  4. 4

    Health and Safety Representative, Manitoba Government Employees Union, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

  5. 5

    Health and Safety Representative, CAW Local 444

  6. 6

    Public Health and Occupational Health Effectiveness Group, University of Stirling, Stirling, Scotland

  1. ‡

    Public Health and Occupational Health Effectiveness Group, University of Stirling, Scotland

*Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers, Sarnia-Lambton. 171 Kendall Street, Point Edward, Ontario, Canada N7V 4G6.

  • †

    Institution at which work was performed: Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers (OHCOW), Windsor Occupational Health Information Service (WOHIS), MFL Occupational Health Centre, Inc. (MFL OHC), Manitoba Government Employees Union (MGEU), CAW-Canada: National Automobile, Aerospace, Transportation and General Workers Union of Canada (CAW) Local 444. The participating organizations self-funded this study.Consent and Approval: Every participant completed a signed consent form permitting the authors to publish the findings. No personal identifiers have been included in the manuscript.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 2 JAN 2001
  2. Article first published online: 2 JAN 2001
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 1 AUG 2000

SEARCH

SEARCH BY CITATION

ARTICLE TOOLS

Get PDF (117K)

Keywords:

  • participatory action research;
  • mapping;
  • casino workers;
  • gaming workers;
  • dealers;
  • environmental tobacco smoke;
  • stress;
  • occupation;
  • ergonomics

Abstract

Background

This research was prompted by the clinical presentation of workers from a variety of gaming occupations with injuries and illnesses and multiple health and safety concerns.

Methods

Using participatory action research principles, 51 gaming workers in Ontario and 20 gaming workers in Manitoba were consulted during a series of focus group sessions. Mapping exercises were used to survey the participants about their health concerns, perceived occupational hazards and the impact of working conditions on their personal lives. Participants were then asked to prioritize their concerns and make recommendations for improvements.

Results

Gaming workers from both provinces identified similar health, hazard and psycho-social concerns. They prioritized the issues of stress, ergonomics, indoor air quality (including second-hand smoke and temperature), biological hazards, physical hazards and noise.

Conclusions

This study points to a need to more fully investigate and address health and safety issues in the gaming industry. It also demonstrates the effectiveness of a worker-driven, participatory consultation. Am. J. Ind. Med. 39:42–51, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Get PDF (117K)