Using labor process theory and epidemiologic models as a framework, this study analyzed relationships between task exposures, worker labor process control, perceived safety climate, and three dependent measures of adverse occupational health: workplace injury, exhaustion, and health status among a national sample of employed adults (n = 1,607). Multivariate analyses confirmed that task demands of heavy labor were associated with workplace injury above baseline individual and job characteristics. Consistent with previous research, results indicated worker control was associated with increased health. Reliable co-workers were associated with less exhaustion, and working fast was associated with greater exhaustion. My results implied that increased safety climate was associated with fewer injuries, less exhaustion, and increased health. Safety climate did not account for associations between task exposures, labor process control, and work place injury or exhaustion. Results suggested that part of the influence between labor process control and health status occurs through improvement in safety climate.
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