Protecting worker health in California's changing jobs
California Labor Laboratory (CALL)
This project looks at how new and unstable types of work affect the health of vulnerable California workers and finds ways to prevent harm.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11132791 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I take part, researchers will study workers across California—especially immigrants, people of color, women, low-wage workers, people with disabilities, and those with chronic conditions—to learn how alternative and contingent jobs affect health. They will collect information through surveys, workplace assessments, health records, and possibly biological samples to measure how common precarious work is and how it connects to health problems. The Center will use these findings to test and design ways to prevent or reduce harm from risky working conditions. Results will be shared with policymakers, employers, and community groups to improve protections and support for vulnerable workers across the state.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are California workers in nontraditional, contingent, or gig-type jobs—especially immigrants, racial/ethnic minorities, women, low-wage workers, people with disabilities, or people with chronic health conditions.
Not a fit: Workers in stable, traditional full-time employment or people living outside California are less likely to see direct benefits from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to policies and workplace changes that reduce illness and improve safety for vulnerable workers in California.
How similar studies have performed: Prior occupational health studies have linked precarious work to worse health and some targeted interventions have helped, but this statewide, multi-pronged Center focused on emerging work arrangements is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
San Francisco, United States
- University of California, San Francisco — San Francisco, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yelin, Edward H — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Yelin, Edward H
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.