No Abstract Provided

The current investigation was designed as an evaluation of a worksite health promotion program with the goal of examining its effectiveness in terms of physical and attitudinal changes over the course of a 12-month evaluation. Because of the call for counseling psychologists to examine health through an interdisciplinary lens, the study examined variables from a variety of disciplines including health psychology, vocational psychology, occupational health, and positive psychology. Using a pretest-posttest design, employees completed measures of job satisfaction, career optimism, perceived stress, optimism, absenteeism, and Presenteeism (on the job productivity). In addition, health screening information was compared from the onset to the completion of the evaluation to determine if health factors improved at the organizational level over time. Results indicated that employees did not significantly improve in terms of health indicators (e.g., cholesterol levels, weight loss), levels of job satisfaction, career optimism, or perceived stress. In addition, results revealed no significant relationship between initial optimism levels and either health or psychological outcomes. Potential explanations for the lack of significant results is discussed including the economic climate in which the evaluation occurred, as well as cultural and organizational issues that may have contributed to a lack of improvement in wellness.

The aim of the research was to examine the ways in which occupational therapists construct meaning in their professional lives and, in doing so, shed light on the wider dialogue of the meaning of occupation. A secondary aim was to provide a framework to assist occupational therapists to unravel, articulate and position themselves within the meaning of their work. Hermeneutic phenomenology was chosen as a research approach to enable particpants to examine their own actions and for the insider researcher to be visible via hermeneutic reflection.

Nickel is frequently reported as an agent causing allergic contact dermatitis in humans and was selected as an example for the investigation into the molecular mechanisms of the sensitivity. Nickel, as a hapten, may not constitute the complete antigen. The protein of cellular conjugates of nickel formed in the skin may represent the antigenic complexes, but the number and nature are unknown. In this submission, allergic contact dermatitis to nickel is reviewed; data on the immunological processes from various human and animal-model systems relevant to this problem are appraised and experimental investigations into the antigenic complexes of nickel are described. The albino guinea-pig was selected as a suitable animal model and a test system was developed to induce and elicit allergic contact dermatitis to nickel in this species. Under the exposure conditions of this system, an incidence of the sensitivity of 70-100% in a test population was experimentally induced. This consistently high incidence was not achieved by the use of standard published animal methods. Time-coursed In vivo exposure studies, employing 63NiCl2 as a radiotracer, were performed to qualitatively and quantatively examine the absorption and accumulation of nickel in the skin. The results indicated that soluble nickel salts are poorly absorbed across the skin. Maximum plasma levels were seen after 12 hours of exposure, although these represented only a very small percentage of the appled nickel salts (0.06%). Absorbed nickel was excreted in the urine. Microautoradiography of in vivo exposed skin indicated that transappendageal passage may be the main route of entry into the body. Accumulation of nickel was apparent in the highly keratinized areas of the skin, and labelling of basal and supra-basal epidermal cells was observed. Dermal accumulation was not seen. Fractionation of the in vivo exposed epidermis by zonal ultracentrification and gel filtration revealed four main areas of nickel localization. It was found associated with a microsomal fraction, with albumin, with an epidermal protein fraction (molecular weight 8,700) and with low molecular weight (< 5,000) residues. The antigenicity of each isolated nickel-containing fraction was assessed by in vitro lymphocyte transformation. The primary antigens in this system were the epidermal protein fraction (molecular weight 8,700) and the microsomal fraction. The low molecular weight residues possessed some very weak antigenic properties. Allergic contact dermatitis appears to be a complex sensitivity reaction to more than one antigen in the skin. The recognition of antigen by the immune system is protein-carrier dependant and the processing of haptenic or antigenic information by microsomal constituents may be an importanat function in the induction phase of the dematitis.

O uso intensivo de agrotÃxicos e fertilizantes ocasiona danos ambientais e intoxicaÃÃo humana. Em humanos, essa intoxicaÃÃo se manifesta por vÃrios sinais e sintomas. No municÃpio de Limoeiro do Norte-CE, os trabalhadores do agronegÃcio do abacaxi queixam-se de problemas de saÃde devido à exposiÃÃo aos agroquÃmicos em suas atividades laborais. O objetivo deste estudo à caracterizar os agravos à saÃde humana entre os trabalhadores do agronegÃcio do abacaxi expostos ao uso de agrotÃxico-fertilizantes quÃmicos no municÃpio de Limoeiro do Norte, localizado no Vale do Jaguaribe-CE. Trata-se de um estudo transversal, descritivo, com amostragem intencional, composta de 75 pessoas mobilizadas por redes sociais, utilizando abordagem metodolÃgica quantitativa e qualitativa. Realizou-se a aplicaÃÃo de um formulÃrio estruturado, contendo dados socioeconÃmicos, hÃbitos de vida, histÃria pregressa familiar, caracterizaÃÃo do trabalho, exposiÃÃo do trabalhador, orientaÃÃes para o trabalhador em Ãrea de uso de agrotÃxicos e medidas de controle do risco adotadas pela empresa, relaÃÃes de trabalho, caracterizaÃÃo clÃnico-toxicolÃgica, histÃria clÃnica e exame fÃsico. O processamento dos dados ocorreu no Ele info 6, versÃo 6.04 d, e a anÃlise, no Stata, versÃo 9, considerando intervalo de confianÃa de 95% e valor de P < 0,05. Pela complexidade do objeto em estudo, realizou-se abordagem qualitativa, efetivando-se uma visita a uma empresa do agronegÃcio e dois grupos focais. Para interpretaÃÃo dos sentidos atribuÃdos pelos informantes ao fenÃmeno investigado, foi realizada uma leitura aprofundada das falas nos grupos focais. A amostra à caracterizada por adultos jovens, do sexo masculino, com faixa etÃria entre 19 e 43 anos, renda familiar de 1 a 2 salÃrios mÃnimos em 80,3%. Houve negatividade de 88,0% e de 44,0% para o uso de tabaco e bebida alcoÃlica respectivamente. Cerca de 50,6% dos trabalhadores rurais entrevistados tinham mais de 13 anos de atividade laboral na agricultura e, destes, 82,6% eram assalariados, tendo de 1 a 4 anos na empresa. Entre os entrevistados, 94,6% afirmaram contato com os agrotÃxicos/fertilizantes, sendo que 56,6% consideraram ser indireto. A quase totalidade (98,6%) considerou que o contato poderia causar mal à saÃde, 68,0% nÃo souberam dizer a qual agrotÃxico foram expostos, e 48,0% a qual fertilizante. Dos trabalhadores, 64,0% afirmaram ter algum problema de saÃde, sendo que 34,7% referem de 1-4 sintomas e 18,7% entre 5 e 8 sintomas. Os problemas de saÃde relacionados a sintomas gerais foram 67,0%: 63,0% neurolÃgicos e 59,0% oculares. A cefaleia foi referida por 31,0%, e o ardor ocular, por 45,0%. Os exames de colinesterase plasmÃtica apresentaram-se todos normais; as alteraÃÃes das provas de funÃÃes hepÃticas foram de 53,0%; 13,0% de TGO, 23,5% da TGP e 14,7% de Gama GT. Para a Gama GT, foram observados valores de 107 U/L a 329 U/L em dois trabalhadores. Os valores da FA acima do normal foram em 19,0% dos exames analisados. Entre as bilirrubinas, destacou-se a BD, com 13,0% acima dos valores considerados normais. Clinicamente, foram encontradas doenÃas da pele em 28,0% da amostragem; queixas respiratÃrias em 11,0%; queixas osteomusculares em 18,0% e hipertensÃo de grau leve em 6,7%. As queixas clÃnicas associadas aos sinais e sintomas referidos e alteraÃÃes de alguns exames laboratoriais dos entrevistados sÃo de intoxicaÃÃo crÃnicas e/ou agudas. Portanto a exposiÃÃo a agrotÃxico e a fertilizantes pode causar agravos à saÃde dos trabalhadores do agronegÃcio do abacaxi em Limoeiro do Norte-CE. Estudos prospectivos visando a mensurar o impacto dos agroquÃmicos na vida dos trabalhadores e no sistema de saÃde se fazem necessÃrios. / The intensive use of pesticides and fertilizers cause environmental damage and human poisoning. In humans they can cause poisoning which is manifested by several signs and symptoms. In the town of Limoeiro do Norte-CE/BRAZIL, workers in the pineapple agribusiness area, complain about health problems due to exposure to pesticides in their activities. The objective is to characterize the human health problems among workers exposed to pineapple agribusiness uses of pesticides, chemical fertilizers, in the town of Limoeiro do Norte-CE/BRAZIL, located in the valley of Jaguaribe-CE/BRAZIL. This is a descriptive study, with purposive samples, consisting of 75 people mobilized by social networks, using the quantitative and qualitative methodology. We carried out the implementation of a structured form containing data on socioeconomic, lifestyle, family medical history, characteristics of work, worker exposure, guidelines for field workers in pesticide use area and risk control measures adopted by the company, work relationship, clinical and toxicological characteristics, medical history and physical examination. The data processing occurred in Ele info 6, version 6.04 d, and the analysis in Stata version 9. Considering confidence interval of 95% and P value <0.05. Due to the complexity of the object under study, there was a qualitative approach, resulting to a visit to an agribusiness company and two focus groups. For interpretation about the significance attributed by informants to the investigated phenomenon, we performed a thorough reading of the speeches of focus groups. The sample is characterized by young adults, male, aged between 19 to 43 years. With family incomes from 01 to 02 minimum wages by 80.3%. There was negativity of 88.0% and 44.0% for tobacco use and alcohol consumption. About 50.6% of workers surveyed said they had more than 13 years of labor activity in agriculture, and from these 82.6% were employed, with one to four years in the company. Among the respondents, 94.6% reported contact with pesticides/fertilizers, and 56.6% considered to be indirect. Almost all (98.6%) thought that contact would cause harm to health and that 68.0% could not say to which pesticides they had been exposed to and 48.0% were exposed to fertilizers. 64.0% of workers reported having some health problem, while 34.7% reported symptoms of 1-4 and 18.7% of 5-8 symptoms. Health problems related to general symptoms were 67.0%, neurological 63.0% and 59.0% eyes problems. Headache was reported by 31.0% and 45.0% for ocular burning. The tests showing plasma cholinesterase were all normal, changes in liver function tests were 53.0%, 13.0% of SGOT, SGPT of 23.5% and 14.7% of the Gamma GT. For Gamma GT, values were observed from 107 U/L to 329 U/L in two workers. The values of the FA above normal were in 19.0% of the analyzed exams. Among the bilirubins, the BD was stood out with 13.0% above the normal range. Clinically, skin disease was found in 28.0% of samples; respiratory complaints in 11.0%, 18.0% of musculoskeletal complaints and mild hypertension in 6.7%. The clinical complaints associated with signs and symptoms reported and changes in some laboratory tests by the interviewees are the chronic or acute intoxication. Therefore, exposure to pesticides and fertilizers can be detrimental to the health of workers in the pineapple agribusiness in Limoeiro do Norte-CE/BRAZIL. Prospective studies aimed at measuring the impact of pesticides on workers and on the health system are needed.

No description available.

Purpose. The objective of this thesis was to examine work in mines. Specifically, part #1 performed in-situ time/motion analyses of common mining jobs and part #2 analyzed in-situ energy expenditures while working in a mine. Methodology. Part #1- task and sub-task duration and subjective work intensity were investigated for thirty eight subjects from six different mining jobs. These jobs were then organized into 4 groups for statistical analysis based on precedence: Group 1 (Bolting & Screening (attaching steel mesh to walls and ceiling), Group 2 (Conventional Mining (using a hand-held drilling carriage to drills holes in rock walls and ceiling)), Group 3 (Support Services (mechanic, welder, pipe layer)), Group 4 (Production Drill (using a machine mounted drilling unit), Scooptram(TM) (ore transport with no air conditioner), Shotcrete (concrete applied by spraying)). Part #2- In-situ metabolic energy expenditures were estimated through indirect open circuit calorimetry and deep tissue and skin temperatures were measured for those same groups. Results. Part #1- twenty three common mining tasks were identified with differences identified between various group for time and intensity. Part #2- metabolic requirements between groups were similar with one difference identified between groups 3 and 4 (P &lt; 0.05). Deep tissue and skin temperatures did not change significantly through the course of a work day. Conclusion. Part #1- a variety of tasks is performed by each group and there is no uniform work protocol. Part #2- each mining group's metabolic energy expenditure requirements to perform various mining tasks are similar.

Syfte och frågeställningar: Den här uppsatsens syfte var att ta reda på personalens upplevda hälsa och fysisk arbetskapacitet, fysiska krav i arbetet, samt motionsvanor inom Stockholms Stadsmission. Frågeställningarna var: Hur kan olika individers upplevda hälsa och fysiska krav i arbetet se ut inom skilda yrkesområden på ett och samma företag? Kan den fysiska arbetskapaciteten inom olika yrkesområden påverkas av motionsvanor? Kan rökning vara en faktor som påverkar upplevd hälsa och motionsvanor? Metod: Datainsamlingen bestod av enkätundersökning, stegmätning samt steptest för beräkning av syreupptagningsförmågan. Undersökningen omfattade 48 personer från tre arbetsområden: administration, butik och restaurang. De utgjordes av 31 kvinnor och 17 män i åldrarna 19 till 63 år med en medelålder på 38 ± 14 år. På stegmätningen blev det ett bortfall på fem personer, och på steptestet ett totalt bortfall på 11 personer. Resultat: Flertalet av deltagarna uppgav att de upplevde ett högt mått av glädje/lycka, kontroll/inflytande och meningsfullhet i sitt arbete. Upplevd hälsa skattades som ganska tillfredsställande eller högre. Upplevd fysik och hur den uppfyller kraven i arbetet skattades relativt högt och jämnt fördelat inom samtliga arbetsområden. Inom administration var arbetet mest stillasittande. Arbetet inom butik och restaurang var mer rörligt vilket bekräftades av resultaten från stegmätningen, och innebar även mer lyft. En arbetsställning där nacke/rygg var framåtböjd/sned el vriden var vanlig inom samtliga områden. Sju personer uppgav att de hade besvär i rygg/höfter och 12 personer att de hade besvär i nacke/axlar dagligen. Totalt svarade 12 personer att de rökte, varav åtta arbetade inom butik. Medelvärden på syreupptagningsförmågan från 37 genomförda steptest blev 39 ± 5 ml/kg/min, för butik 40 ± 5 ml/kg/min och för restaurang 42 ± 6 ml/kg/min. Slutsats: Upplevd hälsa och fysik skattades relativt lika inom de tre arbetsområdena, trots stora skillnader i arbetsförhållanden. Den existerande besvärsförekomsten kunde inte kopplas specifikt till något arbetsområde. Det kan dock finnas en risk för framtida uppkomst och ökade besvär framför allt i nacke/axlar och rygg/höfter inom butik och restaurang. Trots att stegmätningen visade att butik och restaurang går nästan dubbelt så mycket på arbetet som administration, verkar inte syreupptagningsförmågan påverkas nämnvärt av att ha ett mer rörligt arbete. Det krävs sannolikt regelbunden fysisk aktivitet av högre ansträngningsgrad för att få positiva effekter på konditionen. Denna studies submaximala konditionstest ger inte en tillförlitlig uppfattning om studiedeltagarnas konditionsstatus, då de var få till antalet. Denna undersökning kunde se ett tydligt samband mellan rökning och lågt utövande av fysisk aktivitet. / Aim and questions: The aim of this survey was to study how the employees experienced their health, their work capacity, frequencies of injuries as well as exercise habits. The questions in the research were: How do different individuals experience health and working conditions in different professional areas within the same company? Could factors like exercise habits affect the physical work capacity within different professional areas? Could smoking be a factor influencing how we experience health and exercise habits? Method: The collection of data was performed by questionnaires, pedometer measuring and a step test for calculation of oxygen consumption. The survey included 48 persons from three different areas of work: administration, shop and restaurant. The group consisted of 31 women and 17 men between the ages of 19 to 63 years; the average age was 38 ± 14 years. In the pedometer testing there was a loss of five persons and in the step test there was a total loss of 11 persons. Results: The participants declared that they experienced an important amount of joy/happiness, control/influence, and meaningfulness in their work. They valued their experienced health as fairly satisfactory or greater. Experienced physical performance and meeting the job requirements were relatively high estimated within all three areas of work. Within the administrative department the job was mostly sedentary. Test persons in the shop and the restaurant were more active which was confirmed by the pedometer testing and their work involved more lifting of things. The body bent forward or the back/neck twisted or flexed during work positions was occurring in all the studied areas. Seven persons described symptoms from back/hips and 12 persons described symptoms from neck/shoulders on a daily basis. On a total 12 persons said they were smokers, out of those, eight persons worked in the shop. The average test result of oxygen consumption during 37 step tests performed was 40 ± 6 ml/kg/min for women and 40 ± 5 ml/kg/min for men. Conclusion: Within the three areas of work the test persons experienced a rather similar degree of health and physical capacity in spite of large differences in work conditions. The prevalence of symptoms could not specifically be connected to any area of work. Nevertheless there is a risk that the test persons working in the shop and the restaurant will show symptoms in the future predominantly from neck/ shoulders and back/hips. Notwithstanding the fact that the pedometer measuring showed that people working in the shop and the restaurant walk almost twice as much as those within administration, the oxygen consumption is barely affected by a more active work situation. There is a probability that it requires a regular and higher level of physical activity in order to receive positive effects on a person's fitness status. The submaximal fitness test in this study does not provide a reliable conception of fitness status of the tested persons since they were too few. This study showed an obvious connection between smoking and low physical activity

Background: Since1994, the EU NickelDirective is limiting the release of nickel from objects that are in prolongedcontact with skin. Despite this, nickel is still the most common cause of contactallergy in industrialized countries. This could implicate that other productswith short contact to the skin, which are not restricted by EU´s legislation inREACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicalsubstances), could be a source of nickel or cobalt exposure. There is no limitfor cobalt release within REACH. To determine if there is cobalt or nickelpresent on the surface of a material and if metal can be released in contactwith the skin, there are quantitative and qualitative methods, such as the DMG(dimethylglyoxime)-test, the cobalt spot-test and a method for releasedetermination according to EN1811.Objectives: Laptops are not included in the REACH legislation. The purpose of thisstudy was to investigate whether nickel or cobalt can be found on computersurfaces and if nickel and cobalt can be released from surfaces that are incontact with skin, during work with laptops. Are there any variations betweendifferent models or different brands of laptops (two years old or less) andwhat levels of nickel and cobalt are released from different surfaces on a specificHP computer, that gave positive results for nickel and cobalt in the spot- tests? Methodand materials: In this study 30laptops (7 Hewlett Packard (HP), 18 Dell, 3 Sony Vaio, 1Fujitsu and 1 Macbook), weretested by using DMG-test and cobalt spot-test. To measure the release of nickeland cobalt on one specific laptop (HP2560p), the standard method EN1811 and amodified version of the method, were used. Results: Laptopsof different models and manufacturers were tested for nickel by using theDMG-test. The test turned out positive for all tested laptops from HP and 4 of18 of the laptops from Dell. For cobalt, onlyone laptop (HP) of the total 30 computers, gave a positive result. The resultsfrom the release test of a specific laptop, was lower than the limit thresholdvalue within REACH (0.5µg/cm2/week). The highest amounts of nickel,0.1μg/cm2/week, were measured for the computer components thatwere derived from the palm rest. All the cobalt levels, except one, were belowthe detection limit for the analysis. Conclusions: Our study indicatesthat laptops are a potential source for nickel deposition onto skin. In this study, computers from five differentmanufacturers have been tested, and it turned out that the tested models from HPand Dell released nickel. Cobalt was only released in very low concentrations,at a level near the LOD for the analysis. / Bakgrund och inledning: Trots att EU:s nickeldirektiv sedan 1994 begränsar nickelfrisättningen från föremål i långvarig kontakt med hud, är nickelallergi fortfarande den vanligaste orsaken till kontaktallergi i de industrialiserade länderna. Detta kan tyda på att även föremål, som är i kortvarig kontakt med huden, kan utgöra en möjlig källa för nickelexponering. Kobolt är mer sensibiliserande än nickel, men för kobolt saknas begränsningar inom EU:s kemikalielagstiftning REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemical substances). För att undersöka om nickel eller kobolt finns på en yta och om metall kan frisättas i kontakt med huden finns ett antal kvalitativa och kvantitativa metoder, exempelvis spot-tester såsom DMG (dimetylglyoxime)-test samt koboltspot-test och frisättningsförsök enligt standarden EN1811. Syfte och frågeställningar: Bärbara datorer omfattas idag inte av REACHs nickelbegränsning. Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka om nickel eller kobolt finns på/frisätts från ytor som kommer i kontakt med hud vid arbete med bärbara datorer. Om så är fallet, finns variationer mellan olika modeller och mellan olika tillverkare av bärbara datorer (som är maximalt två år gamla) och vilka halter av nickel och kobolt frisätts från ytor på en specifik dator, som uppvisat positivt resultat för nickel och kobolt i spot-tester? Material och metod: För att besvara på frågeställningarna screenades 30 stycken bärbara datorer (7 Hewlett Packard (HP), 18 Dell, 3 Sony Vaio, 1 Fujitsu och 1 Macbook) med direktvisande DMG-test samt koboltspot-test. Ett frisättningsförsök med en bärbar dator genomfördes, dels med en modifierad metod av EN1811 och dels med standardmetoden. Resultat: Olika märken och modeller av datorer spot-testades och samtliga testade datorer från HP och 4 av 18 testade Dell-datorer var positiva för nickel. Endast en av de totalt 30 stycken testade datorerna gav ett positivt resultat för kobolt. Genomgående är resultaten från frisättningsförsök med en specifik dator (HP2560p) under gränsvärdet för nickel inom REACH (0,5 µg/cm2/vecka). Den högsta uppmätta nickelhalten var 0,1 µg/cm2/vecka för handlovsstödet. Samtliga kobolthalter, förutom en, var lägre än detektionsgränsen för analysen. Diskussion och slutsats: Vår studie tyder på att bärbara datorer är en möjlig källa till nickelexponering av hud. I denna studie har datorer från fem olika tillverkare testats, varav modellerna från HP och Dell visade sig frisätta nickel. Däremot tycks kobolt inte finnas på eller frisättas i någon större utsträckning från bärbara datorer utifrån denna studie. Kobolt frisattes bara i låga halter, som dessutom låg i närheten av analysens detektionsgräns.

Bakgrund:Arbetsrelaterad stress är något som orsakar problem i samhället, både för individer och för företag. I syfte att på organisatorisk nivå reducera orsaker till stress har ett globalt verkstadsindustriföretag beslutat att genomföra ett stressinterventionsprojekt. Syftet: Utifrån en kartläggning av den psykosociala arbetsmiljön identifieras organisatoriska, stressrelaterade faktorer. Företagshälsovårdens roll att tillsammans med personalavdelningen och cheferna i det aktuella företaget initiera förbättringar av den psykosociala arbetsmiljön observeras och analyseras. Avgränsningar: Magisteruppsatsen behandlar endast den inledande fasen av stressinterventionsprojektet, det vill säga kartläggningen av de stressrelaterade faktorerna i organisationen med fokus på cheferna och deras arbetssituation. Fasen som inbegriper att initiera interventioner och genomföra den uppföljande enkätundersökningen är utanför ramen för denna uppsats. Metod: Kartläggningen utgjordes av två delar, en kvantitativ ansats i form av enkäten "Det nya arbetslivet" och en kvalitativ ansats i form av observationer. Enkäten skickades ut till totalt 331 fast anställda, chefer och medarbetare, svarsfrekvensen var 76 procent. Observationerna ägde rum vid nio resultatrapporteringsmöten där gruppcheferna diskuterade enkätresultaten och tog fram fokusområden för de interventioner som genomfördes vid företaget under hösten 2012. Resultat/Slutsatser: Resultatet visar att både chefer och medarbetare har omfattande arbetsrelaterad stressproblematik. De stressrelaterade faktorer som enkätresultaten visar på var knutna till otydliga roller, brist på delaktighet vid beslut, frånvaro av närmaste chef, höga och motstridiga krav, IT-problem samt brist på resurser och tid. Under observationerna framkom att delar av denna problematik går att härleda till att företaget opererar i en global miljö med otydliga beslutsvägar och att organisationen har en utpräglad utmaningskultur. Dessa slutsatser hade inte kunnat dras utan de uppföljande resultatrapporteringsmötena och den interaktivitet som uppstod där. En viktig slutsats är att för att lyckas med intentionerna för stressinterventionsprojektet är en tydlig markering av legitimitet från företagets ledning nödvändig. / Background: Work related stress exists within all parts of our society and causes suffering for employees as well as organizations. To reduce stress at an organizational level, a major global organization within the engineering industry has decided to that implement a stress prevention project. Aim: To identify stress related organizational root causes from the results of mapping the psychosocial work environment. The occupational health care service and the Human Resources departments’ role, in cooperation with managers, was to initialize improvements of the psychosocial work environment within the organization. Limitations: This study has been limited to the initial phase of the stress prevention project, an analysis of the mapping results of the stress related root causes with a focus on managers working situation. The second phase, including implementing the interventions and the follow up survey, will not be addressed in this thesis. Method: The mapping consisted of two parts. A quantitative approach, the survey "Modern working life" and a qualitative approach, a non-participation observation. The survey was sent out to 331 permanent employees, managers and coworkers, with a response rate of 76 percent. The observations were conducted at nine meetings where the survey results were presented to the managers. During the meetings the managers discussed the survey results and listed stress related root causes which were to be focus areas for upcoming interventions during autumn 2012. Results/Conclusions: The results display stress related problems for both managers and employees. The main problem areas highlighted by the survey were: unclear work roles, lack of participation in decision making, absence of an immediate manager, high and conflicting demands, IT problems, lack of recourses and time. The results from the observations demonstrate that the root causes mentioned above are connected to factors such as the global nature of the company, with an unclear chain of decision-making and a company culture of setting challenges. These connections would not have been discovered without the stress prevention project including meetings where the managers were able to discuss the results. One important conclusion was evident: To succeed with a stress prevention project, the complete support from top management is imperative.