WORKING-CONDITIONS AND STATE OF HEALTH

In the present study details about disruptive factors in working condi tions, elements injurious to health or general well-being, personal at titudes to work etc. have been obtained by means of a representative s urvey of about 2000 employed persons in Switzerland. The most frequent disruptive factors in working conditions (> 30%) are noise and too li ttle time for family and friends. A relatively large number of employe d persons (20-25%) complain about unsatisfactory ventilation, air poll ution due to dust, smoke etc., draughts, uncomfortable temperature, dr y air, lifting and carrying heavy weights, uncomfortable body position s at work, unsuitable working hours, as well as pressure on time, too much concentration required, pressure of responsibility, insufficient recognition and lack of information about the planning and results of work being done. In the field of health complaints, back problems and nervous tension are at the top of the list (39%), followed by fatigue, sleeping problems, neck or leg problems, burning eyes, and stomach an d intestinal problems (25-34%). The analysis shows that interrelations hips exist - sometimes in the sense of a vicious circle - between comp laints about disruptive factors in work conditions, professional group s, health problems and attitudes to professional live. The results pro vide a comprehensive survey of the incidence of problems in the fields of worker protection.