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Chemical sensitivity in the workplace
- Authors:
- DECKER James T., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Social Work in Disability and Rehabilitation, 1(4), 2002, pp.45-61.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
The debate continues to rage in the medical community and amongst policy makers. This debate centers on a new disease mechanism commonly known as Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS). Researchers have grouped the theories of etiology of MCS into four broad categories: physical, stress, misdiagnosis, and illness belief. A new name for this illness has recently been advanced as well, toxininduced loss of tolerance (TILT). Problems with chemical sensitivity are especially troubling for workers and their employers. Employees seeking relief under the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) are requesting accommodations based on their reactions to chemicals. Employers are beset with claims for accommodations in the workplace, disability claims, and worker's compensation claims. Courts are trying to make sense of chemical sensitivity with respect to accommodations in the workplace. Court decisions regarding MCS issues are varied and of tentimes highly controversial. Primary social problems and mental health issues associated with chemical sensitivities are economic costs and loss of enjoyment of life by MCS sufferers. Economic costs are spread throughout the system; however, their major manifestations are lost worker production, increased demands on services, and the long-term costs associated with supporting a growing disabled subset of the population comprised of chemically injured workers. Social and mental health costs are seen in escalating cases of depression, divorces, behavioural acting out, isolation, anxiety attacks, and chronic medical problems. Social workers are particularly well suited to advocate for accommodations in the workplace and for social policy change on behalf of those suffering from chemical sensitivity. Their training in systems and ecosystems theory makes them well aware of the importance of the environment on the individual. That training includes knowledge of utilizing strengths based approach to problem solving, and clinical training in mental health, which leads to empowerment for the client. (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street Binghamton, NY 13904-1580)
Illness stories: themes emerging through narrative
- Authors:
- DOCHERTY DEbirah, McCOLL Mary Ann
- Journal article citation:
- Social Work in Health Care, 37(1), 2003, pp.19-39.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
The purpose of this study was to explore the use of narrative as a tool to understand the experience of chronic illness. The study is phenomenological in nature, using elements of grounded theory and social constructionism to consider the data collected. As examples of the issues raised using the narrative approach, the paper describes four themes that were pervasive in the first-person accounts of these individuals: emotional reaction to the diagnosis, because of both the form and content in the narratives, these are described as ‘peak experiences’; impact of stress as a precipitator of symptoms or illness, as an ongoing aggravator of the chronic illness, or as a factor in overall coping with the chronic illness; view of death named by all four individuals as it relates to their view of life; illness meaning, coined by two of the individuals as ‘philosophy of life.' These themes were interpreted in terms of their implications for therapeutic relationships with people with disabilities and chronic illnesses.