MEDICAL SURVEILLANCE PRACTICES OF BLUE-COLLAR AND WHITE-COLLAR HAZARDOUS-WASTE WORKERS

Given the occupational risks of hazardous waste workers, this study wa s conducted to explore possible differences in medical surveillance pr actices among blue and white collar workers. Demographic and medical s urveillance data were collected from 636 white collar and 206 blue col lar trainees, enrolled in health and safety training courses. Overall, 4.5% of the trainees reported being ill or injured because of hazardo us substances. Significant differences (P < .0001) were noted between groups; blue collar trainees were more likely to have been ill or inju red. Differences also existed for medical surveillance enrollment; 32% of the white collar trainees report enrollment compared to 19% of the blue collar trainees (P = .004). This study indicates that blue colla r trainees are more likely to be injured and less likely to be enrolle d in medical surveillance programs. Issues of illness and injury, as w ell as medical surveillance enrollment, must be addressed; ensuring th at all workers receive medical surveillance needed to prevent occupati onal illness in the hazardous waste field.