Platform scams: Brazilian workers’ experiences of dishonest and uncertain algorithmic management

This article discusses how Brazilian platform workers experience and respond to platform scams through three case studies. Drawing from digital ethnographic research, vlogs/interviews of workers, and literature review, we argue for a conceptualization of “platform scam” that focuses on multiple forms of platform dishonesty and uncertainty. We characterize scam as a structuring element of the algorithmic management enacted by platform labor. The first case engages with when platforms scam workers by discussing Uber drivers’ experiences with the illusive surge pricing. The second case discusses when workers (have to) scam platforms by focusing on Amazon Mechanical Turk microworkers’ experiences with faking their identities. The third case presents when platforms lead workers to scam third parties, by engaging with how Brazilian click farm platforms’ workers use bots/fake accounts to engage with social media. Our focus on “platform scams” thus highlights the particular dimensions of faking, fraud, and deception operating in platform labor. This notion of platform scam expands and complexifies the understanding of scam within platform labor studies. Departing from workers' experiences, we engage with the asymmetries and unequal power relations present in the algorithmic management of labor.

Use of Generalized Additive Model to Detect the Threshold of δ-Aminolevulinic Acid Dehydratase Activity Reduced by Lead Exposure

Background: Lead inhibits the enzymes in heme biosynthesis, mainly reducing δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) activity, which could be an available biomarker. The aim of this study was to detect the threshold of δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase activity reduced by lead exposure. Methods: We collected data on 121 lead workers and 117 non-exposed workers when annual health examinations were performed. ALAD activity was determined by the standardized method of the European Community. ALAD G177C (rs1800435) genotyping was conducted using the polymerase chain reaction and restricted fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. In order to find a threshold effect, we used generalized additive models (GAMs) and scatter plots with smoothing curves, in addition to multiple regression methods. Results: There were 229 ALAD1-1 homozygotes and 9 ALAD1-2 heterozygotes identified, and no ALAD2-2 homozygotes. Lead workers had significantly lower ALAD activity than non-exposed workers (41.6 ± 22.1 vs. 63.3 ± 14.0 U/L, p < 0.001). The results of multiple regressions showed that the blood lead level (BLL) was an important factor inversely associated with ALAD activity. The possible threshold of BLL affecting ALAD activity was around 5 μg/dL. Conclusions: ALAD activity was inhibited by blood lead at a possible threshold of 5 μg/dL, which suggests that ALAD activity could be used as an indicator for lead exposure regulation.

Accident Prevention in Electrical Installations at Construction Sites in Manaus - Amazonas

Electricity brings great benefits to the population, but when misused can pose a great danger especially with regard to safety.Safety is risk fre.Despite several safety standards and standards in place to ensure safety in work involving electricity, there are still many accidents that range from minor injuries to fatalities.The present work aims to propose preventive measures for the risks existing in building electrical installations, in order to guarantee the safety and health of workers who perform activities and services of electrical installations, by explaining the origin of the causes of accidents in buildings. electrical installations, workers' awareness of the importance of safety and the main risks in electrical services. Subsequent to this, preventive and corrective measures will be suggested to reduce work accidents in building electrical installations. In the development of this study, a direct observation field research was carried out in three construction sites of Manaus City, where relevant aspects related to work safety were observed, with works involving electricity.In partnership with the field research, bibliographical researches were carried out in order to strengthen the data collected in the sites of the researched works.According to the bibliographic survey and direct observation field research, the main consequences of not complying with the recommendations prescribed in NR1O and NBR 5410 are accidents and occupational diseases.Accidents are caused by unsafe acts and unsafe condition.The importance of DDS (Safety Dialogue) was pointed out to show the importance of equipment to workers, the percentage of personal protective equipment used at construction sites and the reasons that lead workers not to use PPE, among others. Through the lecture, it was possible to clarify to workers about the importance of using preventive measures so that they change their attitudes and there is a transformation and behavioral changes on safety measures.Therefore, although companies have accident prevention measures, it is confirmed that the maximum of protective measures has their flaws.There is no work environment completely free of hazards and risks.Risks will always exist, even if in minimal proportions. Most workers have positive conceptions of improvements and benefits from the prevention of accidents in electricity.

Interactive Effects between Chronic Lead Exposure and the Homeostatic Iron Regulator Transport HFE Polymorphism on the Human Red Blood Cell Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV)

Research has shown that long-term exposure to lead harms the hematological system. The homeostatic iron regulator HFE (hemochromatosis) mutation, which has been shown to affect iron absorption and iron overload, is hypothesized to be related to lead intoxication in vulnerable individuals. The aim of our study was to investigate whether the HFE genotype modifies the blood lead levels that affect the distributions of serum iron and other red blood cell indices. Overall, 121 lead workers and 117 unexposed age-matched subjects were recruited for the study. The collected data included the blood lead levels, complete blood count, serum iron, total iron binding capacity, transferrin, and ferritin, which were measured during regular physical examinations. All subjects filled out questionnaires that included demographic information, medical history, and alcohol and tobacco consumption. HFE genotyping for C282Y and H63D was determined using polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR/RFLP). The mean blood lead level in lead workers was 19.75 µg/dL and was 2.86 µg/dL in unexposed subjects. Of 238 subjects, 221 (92.9%) subjects were wild-type (CCHH) for HFE C282Y and H63D, and 17 (7.1%) subjects were heterozygous for a H63D mutation (CCHD). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that blood lead was significantly negatively associated with hemoglobin (Hb), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), and mean corpuscular volume (MCV), whereas the HFE variant was associated negatively with MCV and positively with ferritin. An interactive influence on MCV was identified between blood lead and HFE variants. Our research found a significant modifying effect of the HFE variant, which possibly affected MCV. The HFE H63D heterozygous (CCHD) variant seemed to provide a protective factor against lead toxicity. Future studies should focus on competing binding proteins between iron and lead influenced by gene variation.

The threshold of the delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) activities reduced by lead (Pb) exposure could be 10 μg/dL without modification of ALAD G177C genotypes in Chinese Han Taiwanese.

Background: Lead inhibits the enzymes in the heme biosynthesis, mainly the δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) activities. The aims of this study was to establish ALAD activity assay in Taiwan and analyzed the effects of lead exposure on hematological system and the ALAD activity with the modification of the ALAD genotypes. Methods: Among 121 lead workers and 117 non-exposed workers, the data were from health examination. ALAD activity was determined by the standardized method of the European Community. ALAD genotyping was using a method of PCR-RFLP. For finding a threshold effect, we used generalized additive models (GAM) and scatter plots with smoothing curve, in addition to multiple regression methods. Results: There were 229 ALAD1-1 homozygotes, 9 ALAD1-2 heterozygotes were identified, and none of ALAD2-2 homozygote. Lead workers had significantly lower ALAD activity than non-exposed group (41.6 ± 22.1 vs. 63.3 ± 14.0 U/L, p-value &lt; 0.001). The results of multiple regressions showed the blood lead level (BLL) was profound factor associated with ALAD activity inversely. The possible threshold of BLL affecting ALAD activity was around 10 μg/dL. Conclusions: ALAD activity was inhibited by blood lead, which could be a threshold of 10 ug/dL, which ALAD activity may be adopted as a biomarker of health examination for lead workers.

Legal Consciousness, Mobilization, and Discrimination Disputes at Work

Engaging theories of legal consciousness, rights mobilization, and workplace conflict, we detail the factors that lead workers to mobilize their rights under US antidiscrimination laws and the obstacles that they face. Drawing on quantitative data from defendants in discrimination lawsuits as well as qualitative data from interviews with plaintiffs in discrimination cases, we examine how workers perceive the law, the meaning of discrimination, and their legal rights; what motivates workers to seek legal redress despite the seemingly insurmountable odds they face; and how workplace conditions affect workers’ willingness to use the law to solve workplace disputes. Analysis suggests that workers pursue litigation as a last resort, after multiple experiences of bias, with the hope of seeking formal validation of their experience and, ultimately, social change. Workforce composition, corporate culture, and access to workplace information are important contextual factors for the emergence of legal claims.