HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Boden, L I Articles by Cabral, H Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Boden, L I Articles by Cabral, H

Company characteristics and workplace medical testing.

L I Boden and H Cabral

Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, MA 02118, USA.

OBJECTIVES. This study measures the relative impact of company economic characteristics and workplace hazards on the prevalence of several types of medical testing. It uses the results to assess likely public health impacts of testing. METHODS. We used data on potential exposure to workplace hazards, medical testing, unionization, firm size, and turnover from the National Occupational Hazards Survey and the National Occupational Exposure Survey. Other sources provided industry-specific data on wages and turnover. Logistic regression analysis estimated the relationship of economic variables and workplace health risks to the prevalence of medical testing. RESULTS. Economic variables were related to the prevalence of testing. However, consistent positive relationships were not found between health hazards and testing. CONCLUSIONS. Employers' testing decisions may not be beneficial to the health of workers and may shift the costs of illness to workers or other employers. Safer firms may provide too much medical testing, and firms that are less safe may provide too little.