Integrating gender in ergonomic analysis Many women would rather suffer ill health at work in silence, rather than expose themselves to potential chastisement for moaning 'just like a woman', says the European Trade Union Technical Bureau for Health and Safety (TUTB). To combat the preconception that women's jobs ar... Many women would rather suffer ill health at work in silence, rather than expose themselves to potential chastisement for moaning 'just like a woman', says the European Trade Union Technical Bureau for Health and Safety (TUTB). To combat the preconception that women's jobs are safer than men's, CINBIOSE of the University of Quebec in Montreal - in partnership with the women's committees of Quebec's main trade unions - has developed a research programme focusing on women's workload and risk prevention. The aim is to make visible and increase the recognition of aspects of women's work that are bad for their physical and mental health. The research stems from concerns voiced by female workers and is directed towards achieving practical changes and improvements in their work organisation and jobs. The TUTB has now published its most recent findings in a volume written for a European audience. TUTB says that it has repeatedly pointed out that European Community health and safety Directives ignore the gender dimension of work. They believe that their research underlines a need for this, which should be brought to European attention.
