Citation

Wareham-Fowler S, Fowler K. Pol. Pract. Health Saf. 2010; 8(1): 43-60.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (Great Britain))

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Fibreglass boat-building and repair plays an important economic and cultural role in Newfoundland and Labrador, and in many cases is one of the few viable businesses in economically depressed rural areas. However, the process of constructing and repairing fibreglass vessels requires the use of styrene, a known neurotoxin, excessive exposure to which can have negative impacts on physical and mental health. Based on the concerns of provincial health and safety regulators who have suggested that workers are not using their personal protective equipment, citing a lack of perceived health risk concerning styrene exposure, the purpose of this study was to assess the attitudinal, cognitive, organisational and economic factors that may have an impact on perceptions of risk and safety behaviours. Given that this industry has never been the subject of previous occupational safety and health inquiry into employee attitudes and behaviour, the research objectives were quite fundamental. Accordingly, an exploratory approach was taken to address the objectives of this study. Questionnaires were distributed to all fibreglass boat-building and repair plants operating in the province, resulting in an 80 per cent response rate (n = 43). Findings suggest that while workers do perceive health risks concerning styrene exposure, they appear to lack specific knowledge about the various types. It was also observed that workers have strong connections to their community, are worried about the viability of their communities, and have notable feelings concerning employment precarity, factors which may play a key role in the degree to which employees perceive risk and engage in safety behaviours. The implications of these findings are discussed, specifically those concerning the roles that social, cultural and economic factors may play in terms of perceptions of risk and safety behaviour.