(P1-56) Recent Scientific Writing about Consequences of Disasters on the Health of Worker

Abstract

Recent Scientific Writings about Consequences of disasters on Workers Danielle Maltais, Ph.D. and Simon Gauthier, M.Sc. University of Quebec in Chicoutimi (UQAC) When an application of emergency measures is issued following a natural or technological disaster, or a disaster caused by human negligence, in many countries social workers and nurses play a central role in the support to the victims not only during the period of social disturbance but also at the time of the return to a normal life. These workers sometimes find themselves plunged within various intervention sectors where work conditions are often difficult. Once juxtaposed to the characteristics attached to disasters (nature, suddenness, duration, intensity, etc), the characteristics of the workers (intervention skills, training received, intrinsic efforts made, etc) and to the characteristics of the organizations (expectations towards their employees, organizational support offered to the employees, extrinsic efforts required, etc), these conditions increase their level of vulnerability by exposing them to environments harsh to manage. This vulnerability experienced by the workers in an emergency period can be reflected through symptoms such as anxious disorders and exhaustion. This poster will present the major findings of recent studies in this field (impact of disaster on the psychological health of workers) while under lighting personal, contextual and organizational factors which either contribute to the presence of psychological health issues for the workers or facilitate their resilience.