Health inequalities according to plant size--comparison of small- and medium-sized enterprises.

Abstract

Assessing plant size-related differences based on self-reported working conditions and their influence on perceived symptoms at workplace. A total of 799 metal workers from 9 small-sized enterprises (SE) and 10 medium-sized enterprises (ME) German metal working plants were interviewed in 2007/2008. Inclusion criteria were "wet work" and willingness to participate (response rate: 58% in ME, 67.7% in SE). Workers in SE complained more often of hand eczema (20.2% vs 13.8%) whereas workers in ME more frequently reported breathing problems (4.2% vs 0.9%). Work safety was higher in ME. The higher rate of skin impairment in SE might be explained by a lower level of work safety. However, the higher frequency of perceived respiratory symptoms in ME seems to contradict this assumption and except plant size there might exist another potential confounder, especially for breathing impairment.