Citation

Tateishi S, Igarashi Y, Hara T, Ide H, Miyamoto T, Kobashi M, Inoue M, Matsuoka J, Kawashima M, Okada T, Mori K. J. Occup. Environ. Med. 2015; 57(8): 836-844.

Affiliation

From the Occupational Health Training Center (Drs Tateishi, Igarashi, Hara, Ide, Miyamoto, Kobashi, Inoue, Matsuoka, Kawashima, Okada, and Mori), University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu; Nishinihon Occupational Health Service Center (Dr Hara), Kitakyushu, Fukuoka; Mitsui Chemicals, Inc., Iwakuni-Otake Works (Dr Ide), Iwakuni, Yamaguchi; Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation, Kimitsu Works (Dr Miyamoto), Kimitsu, Chiba; and Department of Occupational Health Practice and Management, (Dr Mori), University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/JOM.0000000000000494

PMID

26247636

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To identify occupational health needs arising after disasters.

METHODS: Using semistructured interviews with expert informants, we jointly analyzed the needs arising in eight disaster cases that threatened the lives or health of workers in Japan.

RESULTS: Various types of health issues occurred in a wide range of employees. In total, we identified 100 needs in six phases after disasters and classified them across nine categories of worker characteristics. The proportion of health needs on the list that were applicable in each case varied from 13% to 49%. More needs arose when the companies were responsible for the disaster and when employee lives were lost. We also assessed the list as fairly comprehensive.

CONCLUSIONS: The list developed in this study is expected to be effective for anticipating occupational health needs after disasters.

Language: en