Citation

Scott J, Boggess B, Timm E. J. Occup. Environ. Med. 2018; 60(4): 331-336.

Affiliation

Assistant Professor, School of Social Work, College of Human Sciences & Education, Louisiana State University (Jennifer Scott); Research Coordinator, Workers Defense Project (Bethany Boggess); Senior Organizing Director & Director of Research and Policy, Workers, Defense Project (Emily Timm).

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/JOM.0000000000001203

PMID

29065058

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of city Rest Break Ordinance (RBO) policies in expanding access to rest at work.

METHODS: We use data from surveys of construction workers in Austin and Dallas, Texas, in 2009, 2012 and 2015 (n = 557) to calculate the odds of receiving a rest break in pre- versus post-RBO Austin and in post-RBO Austin versus pre-RBO Dallas, controlling for demographic and employment characteristics.

RESULTS: Construction workers were 35% more likely to report receiving a rest break in Austin post-RBO and 16% less likely in Dallas without a RBO as compared to Austin with a RBO.

CONCLUSIONS: The increased likelihood of receiving rest breaks at work in a RBO city suggests that, in the absence of enforceable national standards, city-level RBOs can be an important first step to effective prevention of HRIs and heat-related fatalities at work.

Language: en