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Environmental Awareness
Interview with Mark R. Cullen, M.D., Director,
Yale Occupational and Environmental Medicine Clinic.
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Business New Haven
1/12/1998
By: Lori Green
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Some local ear, nose and throat
physicians say that more than half of the patients they see have workplace-related health problems. Is this a familiar pattern observed by your staff at the clinic?
Yes, and the ENT people see a lot of it, being close to those who are seeking treatment due to unhealthy environments.
What is the scope of the clinic's activities?
We started out doing diagnostic referrals from physicians who wanted further evaluation of the environment, teaching and training, and a lot of research based on common problems. In the old days, these were lead, asbestos and solvents that occurred frequently in our geographic area. About five years ago we decided to begin working more with local companies.
How are service arrangements with employers
typically structured?
The range is that someone gets sick or hurt, employers call up our nurse or industrial hygienist. Of if someone just got exposed to a gas and is feeling a little lightheaded, they will send them over on a fee-for-service basis. We also have some contractual clients, such as multinational companies to whom we provide a vast array of services, including policy and program management.
Which types of businesses do you work with?
Manufacturers large and small, R&D firms, and service companies, too. The city of Bridgeport, for example, asked us to survey their entire workers comp experience and evaluate whether or not they were using their resources efficiently. Other employers will want either our nurse or industrial hygienist to identify and remedy hazards.
Are there occupational health problems that are
particularly pervasive in the New Haven area?
'Sick building' syndrome is more visible [here] and people are more aware of it. Repetitive trauma and repetitive activities is an area in which we work with many clients trying to reduce the ergonomic stressors and looking at social and organizational issues which may contribute to those areas. It's not life a life-and-death issue the way asbestos and lead were, but it is very serious from the point of view of productivity and insurance costs. From an economic point of view these are issues that can't be readily ignored.
Any success stories?
We've been managing the medical and hygiene affairs at Uretek in Fair Haven, where they make coated fabrics, for eight years. The number of injuries has come down, workers comp costs have tumbled, and we've turned what was once a dangerous work environment into a good one. At Yale-New Haven Hospital, with a 5,000-plus workforce, we succeeded in cutting lost work time and reduced workers comp costs over 50 percent over a three-year period. These are phenomenal savings for a very modest cost. The biggest benefit is from improved morale and productivity. BNH
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