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International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health

Erschienen in:

01.10.2012 | Original Article

The recognition of occupational diseases attributed to heavy workloads: experiences in Japan, Korea, and Taiwan

verfasst von: Yawen Cheng, Jungsun Park, Yangho Kim, Norito Kawakami

Erschienen in: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health | Ausgabe 7/2012

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Abstract

Objective

Health problems caused by long working hours and work stress have gained growing concerns in Japan, Korea, and Taiwan. In all the three countries, cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and mental disorders attributed to heavy workloads or stressful work events are considered compensable occupational diseases by workers’ compensation systems. This study compared the trends of such cases and correlated the trends with changes in working hours during the period from 1980 to 2010.

Methods

Data on occupational diseases were obtained from official statistics of the workers’ compensation systems. Information on working hours was obtained from official statistics and national surveys of employees.

Results

While occupational cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and mental disorders attributed to work stress were increasingly compensated in all the three countries, the averaged working hours and the percentage of employees with long working hours had been in decline discordantly.

Conclusion

Findings of this study suggested that reducing working hours alone is unlikely to reduce the problems of work stress. There is an urgent need to monitor and regulate a wider range of psychosocial work hazards. Especially, precarious employment and its associated health risks should be targeted for effective prevention of stress-related health problems in the workplace.

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Titel: The recognition of occupational diseases attributed to heavy workloads: experiences in Japan, Korea, and Taiwan
verfasst von: Yawen Cheng
Jungsun Park
Yangho Kim
Norito Kawakami
Publikationsdatum: 01.10.2012
Verlag: Springer-Verlag
Erschienen in: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health / Ausgabe 7/2012
Print ISSN: 0340-0131
Elektronische ISSN: 1432-1246
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-011-0722-8

Springer Medizin

Abstract

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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