For this study, the researchers sampled potential participants from the NZ electoral rolls and invited them to take part in a telephone interview, which included questions about current workplace exposures. The investigation assessed differences in the prevalence of self-reported exposure to disease risk factors, including dust and chemicals, physical factors and organisational factors, between 2,344 Māori and 2,710 non-Māori workers. Exposure to occupational risk factors was more likely for Māori than non-Māori. For dust and chemical exposures, the main differences related to Māori working in occupations where these exposures are more common. However, even within the same job, Māori were more likely than non-Māori to be exposed to physical factors such as heavy lifting and loud noise, and organisational factors such as carrying out repetitive tasks and working to tight deadlines.
