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Objectives: This study aimed to highlight the utility of a new certificate program in Total Worker Health® (TWH) designed for health professionals in other community health settings (OCHS). Methods: Stakeholder needs assessment, priority setting, and comparison with existing core competencies in TWH approaches were performed to identify learning objectives and curricular threads in alignment with adult learning principles. Faculty-student pairings were conducted for content and assessment development. Results: A free six-module training course that prepares OCHS professionals to collaborate with occupational safety and health (OSH) professionals. Conclusions: TWH can be advanced through collaboration between OSH and OCHS professionals. In service of shared ground, OCHS professionals should articulate the influence of work on health, TWH principles, and OSH vocabulary and concepts. Such training is a necessary step toward facilitating groups for the benefit of all work and workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The Safety Matters educational module offers a promising, community-based model for a one-hour introduction to workplace safety and health on which future, job-specific safety training can be built. • After receiving Safety Matters , youth participants had significantly increased scores for both workplace safety and health knowledge and importance of workplace safety and health. • Safety and health professionals can play a critical role in promoting the health and safety of young workers by providing the Safety Matters program to youth. Introduction : Young workers in the United States are injured at higher rates than adults, a trend that has persisted for more than two decades. Despite known risks, young people enter the workforce with little-or-no preparation for the hazards they may face. In 2016, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and American Industrial Hygiene Association developed Safety Matters , a one-hour educational module to raise awareness of workplace safety and health among young people. Method: A pilot project was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of Safety Matters to positively change workplace safety and health knowledge and attitude scores among a sample of 283 youth in Colorado. Train-the-trainer sessions prepared volunteer safety and health professionals to deliver Safety Matters with fidelity and to conduct the assessment immediately prior to and following the program. Results: After receiving Safety Matters , participants had statistically significant (p < 0.001) increased scores for both workplace safety and health knowledge (Cohen's d = 1.12; large effect size) and importance (attitude) (Cohen's d = 0.51; medium effect size). Although univariate analyses showed knowledge and attitude scores significantly increased for all demographic groups examined, there were statistically significant differences in knowledge scores by participant age (p < 0.01), ethnicity (p < 0.05), and race (p < 0.001) and statistically significant differences in attitude scores by participant race (p < 0.001). However, when race and ethnicity were both used as predictors in a regression model, only race continued to predict statistically significant (p < 0.01) changes in knowledge and attitude. Conclusions: This project introduces a promising, community-based model for a one-hour introduction to workplace safety and health on which future, job-specific safety training can be built. Practical Applications: Safety and health professionals can play a critical role in promoting the health and safety of young workers. Adapting health and safety programs to diverse youth populations may enhance program relevance and receptivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Podologists are exposed to many occupational hazards, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from insole manufacturing and noise/vibration during nail or tissue grinding. In this study, VOCs, noise, and vibration were measured in five podiatry clinics and three offices. Questionnaires were administered to 23 podologists and 19 office workers to inquire about their pain, ocular, skin and respiratory complaints. The results showed that the podologists' exposure to the total VOC concentrations was approximately twice as high as that of the office workers. The podologists' complaints regarding pain were found to be correlated with ambient noise and hand-arm vibration levels. Ocular, skin, and respiratory complaints were also found to be correlated with total VOC concentrations. These results suggest that VOCs, noise and vibration in the working environment may impair podologists' health and that they have an intensifying effect on each other, increasing the severity of health issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite the relative importance, the prevalence of workplace safety and health issues in hospital food service workers is not well studied. This study describes the epidemiology of work-related injuries and occupational diseases among hospital food service workers (FSWs) in a tertiary hospital in Singapore. Methods: Using a total population sampling approach, a cross-sectional self-administered questionnaire was distributed to all FSWs employed at a major tertiary hospital in Singapore. Results: The response rate was 98.4% (n = 125). The overall prevalence of workplace injuries and musculoskeletal symptoms was 35% (n = 43) and 53% (n = 65) respectively. The most common workplace injuries were cuts/lacerations (35.8%), muscle strain (25.4%) and burns (19.4%). The prevalence of workplace injuries among staff performing food preparation duties was higher at 56.3% as compared to 21.6% among staff with no food preparation duties (p < 0.01). The prevalence of workplace injuries among staff performing cooking duties was also higher at 47.5%, compared to 29.3% among staff with no cooking duties (p = 0.05). Staff performing food preparation duties had a higher prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms at 66.7% as compared to 44.6% among staff with no food preparation duties (p = 0.02). Obese staff had a higher prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms at 78.9%, compared to overweight staff at 53.8% and staff with normal weight at 43.1% (p = 0.03). Conclusion: FSWs with jobs involving cooking and preparation of food, and those with obesity, are at higher risk of sustaining workplace injuries or musculoskeletal symptoms. Targeted interventions should be implemented for injury prevention and to mitigate these risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Residents of long-term care facilities are particularly vulnerable to communicable diseases. Low-cost interventions to increase air exchange rates (AERs) may be useful in reducing the transmission of airborne communicable diseases between long-term care residents and staff. In this study, carbon dioxide gas was used as a tracer to evaluate the AER associated with the implementation of low-cost ventilation interventions. Under baseline conditions with the room's door closed, the mean AER was 0.67 ACH; while baseline conditions with the door open had a significantly higher mean AER of 3.87 ACH (p < 0.001). Subsequently opening a window with the door open increased mean AER by 1.49 ACH (p = 0.012) and adding a fan in the window further increased mean AER by 1.87 ACH (p < 0.001). Regression analyses indicated that the flow rate of air entering through the window, both passively and through the use of a fan, was significantly associated with an increase in AER (p < 0.001). These results indicate that low-cost interventions that pull outside air into resident rooms were effective in improving the air exchange rates in these facilities. While implementation of these interventions is dependent on facility rules and isolation requirements of residents with airborne communicable diseases, these interventions remain viable options for long-term care facilities to improve resident room ventilation without requiring costly ventilation system upgrades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We sought to test whether a 2-week Total Worker Health (TWH) training mapped to TWH education competencies could be administered to a Mexican audience of occupational safety and health professionals and could lead to positive changes to knowledge and behaviors. Methods: This study used robust program evaluation methods collected before and after each of the nine training days and at the end of the course. Results: Overall course quality received a mean score of 4.6 (SD = 0.6) and 98.8% of participants agreed that their TWH knowledge increased. All participants intended to make at least one change to their professional practice, most frequently helping companies assess their organizational culture to support health, safety, and well-being. Conclusions: This TWH training was well received and led to positive self-reported increase in knowledge and abilities to influence workers' health, safety, and well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graduates of industrial hygiene training (IH) programs must be able to meet continuously evolving health and safety needs in a wide variety of occupational settings. Therefore, academic IH graduate programs must regularly evaluate their curricula and solicit input from industry professionals to make curricular changes that will better prepare their students for professional roles in industry. The purpose of this study was to identify the training gaps that existed between industry needs and the current curriculum for a United States-accredited IH graduate training program. The research team facilitated two group interviews with the IH program advisory board, collected alumni survey data, and performed a qualitative analysis to identify skills gaps/needs for the IH Program graduates. The research team identified 3 themes from participant interviews and alumni surveys (technical, applied, and essential skills) and selected several skills within each theme that interview participants thought were necessary proficiencies for junior IH professionals. The skills identified in the qualitative interview and survey data can be incorporated into the curriculum to improve the training of IH graduate students. Additionally, by using qualitative analysis, the researchers uncovered essential skills previously unidentified in IH needs assessments, providing valuable information for all IH graduate programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past 15 years, there have been numerous fatalities related to working with animal slurry. Working with cattle slurry releases toxic gases, in particular, hydrogen sulphide (H2S), which can cause acute central nervous system toxicity, breathing difficulties, and death if exposed to high concentrations. Real-time measurements of H2S gas were taken over distance and time, during the stirring of cattle slurry on farms. Gas was measured at eight slurry stores with differing typical configurations of indoor or outdoor stores and with or without slatted flooring. Highest H2S gas levels were measured from indoor stores under slatted floors, and generally at positions closest to the stirrer or the point of maximum stirring, with levels decreasing with distance from source. Most of the data indicate H2S gas levels increase very rapidly after stirring starts, and mostly decline to baseline levels within 30 min post start of stirring. There were, however, circumstances where gas levels remained high and only started to decline once the stirrer had stopped. H2S gas levels at all farms, at all positions measured were consistently below 10 ppm within 30 min of the stirrer being stopped. The current data highlight areas of the farm and ways of working that have the potential for workers and others to be at risk of exposure to toxic slurry gases. The area should be left to ventilate naturally for at least 30 min after the stirrer has been stopped before re-entering buildings. Influencing the design of stirring equipment and future slurry stores would likely reduce the risk of worker exposure to slurry gases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background This study was conducted as an effort to develop a Korean construction job exposure matrix (KoConJEM) based on 60 occupations recently consolidated by the construction workers mutual aid association for use by the construction industry. Methods The probability, intensity, and prevalence of exposure to 26 hazardous agents for 60 consolidated occupations were evaluated as binary (Yes/No) or four categories (1 to 4) by 30 industrial hygiene experts. The score for risk was calculated by multiplying the exposure intensity by the prevalence of exposure. Fleiss' kappa for each hazardous agent and occupation was used to determine agreement among the 30 experts. The JEM was expressed on a heatmap and a web-based dashboard to facilitate comparison of factors affecting exposure according to each occupation and hazardous agent. Results Awkward posture, heat/cold, heavy lifting, and noise were hazardous agents regarded as exposure is probable by at least one or more experts in all occupations, while exposure to asphalt fumes was considered hazardous in the smallest number of occupations (n = 5). Based on the degree of agreement among experts, more than half of the harmful factors and most occupations showed fair to good results. The highest risk value was 16 for awkward posture for most occupations other than safety officer. Conclusions The KoConJEM provides information on the probability, intensity, and prevalence of exposure to harmful factors, including most occupations employing construction workers; therefore, it may be useful in the conduct of epidemiological studies on assessment of health risk for construction workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives The dermal exposure route is expected to become increasingly significant relative to total worker exposure as inhalational exposure limits continue to decrease. However, standardization of occupational exposure assessment methods and scientific consensus are needed. This is the first scoping review mapping the literature across all dermal exposure assessment methods and their targeted substances/chemicals in occupational settings. Methods Eligibility criteria broadly included studies reporting any noninvasive dermal exposure assessment method in an occupational setting. The literature search (Web of Science and MEDLINE) was restricted to peer-reviewed, primary literature published in the last 20 years (2002–2022). Titles/abstracts were dual independently screened. Data charting was performed by a single reviewer using standard template. All stages were pilot tested. The JBI (formerly, the Joanna Briggs Institute) scoping review methods and PRISMA-ScR checklist (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) were used. Results In total, 493 articles were data charted and categorized by 4 study types: methods development (22%), exposure assessment (51%), health outcomes (21%), and controls assessment (6%). Fourteen types of dermal exposure assessment methods were charted with biomarkers (51%), dosimeters (21%), and qualitative assessments such as questionnaires or surveys (17%) most common. Seventeen different chemicals/substances were charted; pesticides (28%) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) (22%) associated with crude oil products and combustion were most common. Mapping between substances and exposure assessment method categories, pesticide dosimeters (11%), and PAH biomarker studies (14%) were most reported. Literature gaps were identified for cleaning agents, hair dyes, glycol ether, N , N -dimethylformamide/ N -methyl-2-pyrrolidone, dioxins, and bisphenol A. Conclusions To foster scientific consensus, standardization across study reporting is needed for describing: (i) exposure assessment methods used, (ii) worker tasking/conditions, (iii) targeted substances and substance state, and (iv) targeted exposure routes. Overall, this review categorizes, maps, and defines the scope of literature for occupational dermal exposure assessment methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Personal air monitoring using a TSI SidePak AM520 personal aerosol monitor was performed on a northern Colorado construction site during five tasks from the OSHA Table 1 : Specified Exposure Control Methods When Working With Materials Containing Crystalline Silica to estimate silica dust concentrations in real time. Photometric measurements were modified using a gravimetric correction factor and a % respirable crystalline silica adjustment. Each task was sampled once; sample time ranged from 14 min to 40 min, with a mean sample time of 27 min. The mean silica dust concentration estimates (μg/m3) (standard deviation [SD]) for the five tasks computed from the TSI SidePak AM520 respirable dust measurements were core drilling 12 μg/m3 [2.46], grinding 918 μg/m3 [1134.08], cutting with a walk-behind saw 36 μg/m3 [79.67], jackhammering 27 μg/m3 [23.24], and dowel drilling 66 μg/m3 [77.65]. Silica exposure estimates from real-time monitoring can be used to identify exposures that may be related to inadequate controls or worker behaviors that contribute to peak exposures. Respirable crystalline silica exposure estimates presented here are likely not generalizable to other construction sites or tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Implementing appropriate shift work schedules can help mitigate the risk of sleep impairment and reduce fatigue of healthcare workers, reducing occupational health and safety risks. In Australia, the organisation has a responsibility to make sure all reasonable measures are taken to reduce fatigue of staff. Therefore, it is important to assess what the current rostering processes is for staff responsible for creating the rosters for nurses. Aim: The aims of the project were to understand (1) who creates the rosters and what the process is, (2) what training and knowledge these staff have in establishing rostering schedules that optimise the sleep and wellbeing of staff, and (3) what the benefits and limitations are of current rostering practices. Methods: Findings were generated through semi-structured interviews, using cluster coding to form categories. Twenty four nurses responsible for rostering staff were interviewed from three different sites in Victoria (one metropolitan and two regional/rural hospitals). Data was analysed using selected grounded theory methods with thematic analysis. Results: The common themes that came out of the interviews were that rostering staff were under prepared, unaware of fatigue and safety guidelines and polices from governing bodies and had not received any education or training before taking on the role. The most common rostering style was self-rostering, where staff could submit preferences. However, there were concerns about staff fatigue but were divided as to who should be responsible, with many saying it was up to staff to preference shifts that they could cope with. The final theme was cultural barriers to change. Conclusion: While self-rostering resulted in staff having more freedom and flexibility, shift preferences may be influenced more so by a need to fit with lifestyle rather than to minimise fatigue and increase safety in the workplace. Greater consideration of the impact of shift work schedules on fatigue is required to ensure that the layers of clinical governance in health care organisations minimise the risk of occupation health and safety issues for employees delivering direct patient care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sawmill workers are at increased risk of occupational injuries due to their exposure to workplace hazards. However, little is known about the burden of occupational injuries among them in Ghana. Understanding its prevalence and associated factors is necessary to design appropriate interventions to improve workers' health and safety. This study sought to determine the prevalence and factors associated with occupational injuries among small-scale sawmill workers at Sokoban Wood Village, Kumasi. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 138 small-scale sawmill workers from December 2020 to January 2021. Data was collected on demographic and work-related characteristics including age, sex, personal protective equipment (PPE), workspace design, and lighting. The primary outcome was the prevalence of occupational injuries in the 12 months preceding the survey. Logistic regression method was used to assess for independent predictors of occupational injuries, and associations were deemed statistically significant at p < 0.05. Results: Approximately 66.7% of the workers experienced occupational injuries within the 12 months preceding the study. Cuts (69.6%) were the most commonly reported injuries. Injuries were mainly caused by machine parts/sharp objects (47.8%) and being hit by logs/objects (46.8%). Only 40.7% of the workers reported always using PPE while legs (38.0%) and hands (37.0%) were the most common body parts injured. The worker's monthly income, poor workspace design and poor lighting had increased odds of occupational injuries while an increase in age was associated with a 5% decreased odds of occupational injuries. Conclusion: The prevalence of occupational injuries among the sawmill workers at the Sokoban Wood Village was high, and this calls for prioritization of health and safety at the workplace. Essential measures required include improvements in the safety of machine tools, workspace design and lighting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This article aimed to analyze the contributions of research related to relevant variables on the current state of safety and health of families of San Jorge by mercury from mining activities, allowing to glimpse possible future consequences to the health of the communities of Ayapel - Córdoba in the Colombian Caribbean from the meanings and practices developed and systematized in the different sources of information. Methodology: The review was carried out from 2010 to 2022 and was conducted through a systematic literature review and meta-analysis following PRISMA using different descriptors in the Scopus, Scielo and PUBMED databases, as well as in the Colombian regulations. Results: socio-environmental, socioeconomic and health and disease categories were obtained where it revealed that primary publications were evidently analytical and sociodemographic, which reveal different socio-environmental and symptomatological problems associated with the toxicity and genotoxicity of mercury coming mainly from artisanal and illegal mining. Conclusions: Conclusions: The studies conducted primarily focus on the department of Córdoba, highlighting the need for research in other regions of the country, with a focus on public health. This implies addressing the raised issue and properly addressing it, theorizing it from other scientific disciplines and from the perspective of public health, promoting new interdisciplinary research lines with the aim of preventing and providing timely knowledge about the health impacts on populations engaged in such practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Generation of reliable data underpins the effectiveness of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) surveillance systems. Despite the importance of understanding OHS data systems, there are few papers that provide overviews of their structure and/or content. This paper introduces a basic framework for assessing OHS data systems that will be of use to researchers internationally. We applied this approach to assess the Irish OHS data system by undertaking a data mapping exercise. We developed a checklist based on recommendations of monitoring and measurement of OHS proposed by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (USA). An assessment of published reports that present systematic OHS surveillance data was undertaken to identify the institutions or organisations responsible for collecting and curating the data, their remit, and, associated with this, their respective case definitions. We then provide an overview of the variables collected and these are then mapped against the checklist. The assessment highlights that whilst the farm fatalities dataset provides complete coverage of all fatalities, regardless of age or employment status, the same is not true of the three non-fatal injuries datasets reviewed. There are important differences in the data collection methods and, associated with this, which populations are covered. The assessment approach provides valuable insights into the strengths and weaknesses of a critical element of OHS surveillance systems, namely the production of datasets. This knowledge is important for researchers as understanding the data that informs their research is fundamental to good science. It is critical for policy-makers and other stakeholders to understand the strengths and weaknesses on which OHS policy, strategies, or education and training interventions are developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study collected data related to agricultural injuries, analyzed their causes, and suggested possible remedial actions. Few studies from developing countries have investigated this important topic. Such investigations are extremely important and are required to frame national policies. A well-designed structured form was developed to collect and evaluate data on agricultural incidents, their causes, the severity of injuries, and possible prevention methods. The authors followed a door-to-door survey methodology to collect data with the help of local village leaders. Less educated and older adults in the age group 31 to 45 years were more prone to agricultural incidents (p <.05). The mean age of the victims was 35.02 years (95% CI 32.7 to 37.3); 124 (91.18%) of the victims were men; and 21 (15.4%) of the cases were fatal. Tractor rollovers caused most of the deaths. Chaff cutters were responsible for most of the incidents that required amputation. Eighteen (45%) of the chaff-cutter incidents occurred in the evening between 3:00 PM and 6:00 PM, and 12 (30%) of these incidents occurred due to fatigue. The authors strongly recommend that rollover protective structures (ROPS) for tractors and seat belts should be made mandatory in India. Public guidelines emphasizing mandatory higher education for farmers and a model curriculum for both schools and colleges that focuses on the safety of rural populations should be developed. Special training should be provided on the safe operation of machinery and a definitive work – rest schedule should be followed to prevent fatigue and protect agricultural workers from incidents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three-dimensional (3D) printing is an emerging and booming industry in Taiwan. Compared to traditional manufacturing, 3D printing has various advantages, such as advanced customization, additive manufacturing, reduced mold opening time, and reduced consumption of precursors. In this study, the real-time monitoring of particulate matter (PM) and total volatile organic compound (TVOC) emissions from various filaments is investigated using fused deposition modeling with material extrusion technology, a liquid-crystal display, a stereolithography apparatus based on vat photopolymerization technology, and binder jetting for occupational settings. An exposure assessment for nearby workers using the 3D printing process was performed, and improvement measures were recommended. Nine 3D printing fields were measured. The generation rate of ultrafine particles ranged from 1.19 × 1010 to 4.90 × 1012 #/min, and the geometric mean particle size ranged from 30.91 to 55.50 nm. The average concentration of ultrafine particles ranged from 2.31 × 103 to 7.36 × 104 #/cm3, and the PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations in each field ranged from 0.74 ± 0.27 to 12.46 ± 5.61 μg/m3 and from 2.39 ± 0.60 to 30.65 ± 21.26 μg/m3, respectively. The TVOC concentration ranged from 0.127 ± 0.012 to 1.567 ± 0.172 ppm. The respiratory deposition (RDUFPs) dose ranged from 2.02 × 1013 to 5.54 × 1014 nm2/day. Depending on the operating conditions, appropriate control and protective measures should be employed to protect workers' health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposure to respirable dust and crystalline silica (SiO2) has been linked to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, silicosis, cancer, heart disease, and other respiratory diseases. Relatively few studies have measured respirable dust and SiO2 concentrations among workers at brick kilns in low- and middle-income countries. The purpose of this study was to measure personal breathing zone (PBZ) respirable dust and SiO2 concentrations among workers at one brick kiln in Bhaktapur, Nepal. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 49 workers in five job categories: administration, fire master, green (unfired) brick hand molder, green brick machine molder, and top loader. PBZ air samples were collected from each worker following Methods 0600 (respirable dust) and 7500 (respirable crystalline SiO2: cristobalite, quartz, tridymite) of the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Eight-hour time-weighted average (TWA) respirable dust and quartz concentrations were also calculated. SiO2 percentage was measured in one bulk sample each of wet clay, the release agent used by green brick hand molders, and top coat soil at the brick kiln. The geometric mean (GM) sample and TWA respirable dust concentrations were 0.20 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.16, 0.27) and 0.12 (95% CI: 0.09, 0.16) mg/m3, respectively. GM sample and TWA quartz concentrations were 15.28 (95% CI: 11.11, 21.02) and 8.60 (95% CI: 5.99, 12.34) µg/m3, respectively. Job category was significantly associated with GM sample and TWA respirable dust and quartz concentrations (all p < 0.0001). Top loaders had the highest GM sample and TWA respirable dust concentrations of 1.49 and 0.99 mg/m3, respectively. Top loaders also had the highest GM sample and TWA quartz concentrations of 173.08 and 114.39 µg/m3, respectively. Quartz percentages in bulk samples were 16%-27%. Interventions including using wet methods to reduce dust generation, administrative controls, personal protective equipment, and education and training should be implemented to reduce brick kiln worker exposures to respirable dust and SiO2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Homecare workers face significant occupational risks, necessitating effective safety training programs. This paper presents a comprehensive Train-the-Trainer (TTT) program developed to enhance occupational safety in homecare organizations. Through an analysis of 229 reported safety events, the frequency and type of incidents, such as injuries during handling, road crashes, slips, trips, and falls, were identified and primarily attributed to human errors and violations. Based on the results, a TTT program was designed and implemented. The TTT successfully engaged Health, Safety, and Environment managers, fostering collaborative activities, knowledge sharing, and resource discussions. The program modules address critical areas, including distractions and inattentions, fatigue, time pressure, frustration and aggressiveness, and safety behaviors. This innovative approach provides valuable insights for organizations seeking to improve homecare workers' safety. The findings add to the broader comprehension of occupational safety in the homecare sector, proposing a pragmatic framework for future interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A lack of recovery like psychologically detaching from work can be detrimental to health. High cognitive demands may jeopardise detachment from work. Longitudinal studies concerning the long-term effects of cognitive demands on health and work ability via psychological detachment are understudied. Research has shown that social support may buffer the relationship between job demands and psychological detachment. However, the role of supervisor support was not examined specifically. We hypothesise psychological detachment to mediate the relationship between cognitive demands, general health, and work ability. Supportive or inconsiderate behaviours of a supervisor can further moderate the relationship between cognitive demands and psychological detachment. Statistical analyses were carried out with three-wave panel data from the German Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health with lags of two years (2015–2019) from 3,867 employees who took part in the survey. The results conveyed that mediation by psychological detachment was significant, while supervisor (non)support moderated the relationship between cognitive demands and psychological detachment only cross-sectionally. This study emphasises the role of supervisor in the stressor-detachment model and the positive effect of recovery experience on health. Therefore, in practice, the role of supervisor behaviour for employees' psychological detachment should be addressed in management training courses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the need to focus on the centrality of work or its absence in the lives of virtually everyone by bringing worker health and safety into the mainstream of public health. Topics include climate change-related hazards, consequences of failures of collaboration and communication between the occupational safety and health (OSH) regulatory system and the mainstream public health system, and challenges in integrating OSH with mainstream public health and health care.

Objective: In this study, we aim to develop and propose an evaluation method for analyzing the design of operating rooms (ORs) from the perspective of surgical teams' reported experiences and stress levels. Background: Stress and burnout of surgical team members can lead to diminished performance and medical errors, which endangers the safety of both the patients and team members. The design and layout of the OR play a critical role in managing such stress. Methods: To understand surgical teams' spatial needs related to their experiences and stress, we administered a survey and in-depth focus group discussions to three surgical teams from the same organization. The identified spatial needs were translated into functional scenarios and spatial metrics, essentially viewing the OR through the perspective of users. Results: Our analysis revealed four integral sections—patient flow, room organization, access to facilities/medical equipment/support staff/team members, and staff well-being—identified as critical design factors associated with the experiences and stress levels of the surgical teams in the ORs. Conclusions: We expect this method to serve as a tool for evaluating the effect of the design of OR layouts on stress, thereby supporting the well-being and resiliency of surgical teams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organizational occupational health interventions (OOHIs) that are perceived by employees as relevant for their workplace are more likely to be implemented successfully, yet little is known about the conditions that produce such perceptions. This study identifies the conditions that create a perception among employees that an intervention fits their organization as well as the conditions that result in low levels of perceived fit. We used two‐wave data from 40 Danish preschools that underwent a quasi‐experimental OOHI. Perceived fit was assessed through employee ratings at follow‐up, while survey responses from implementation team members at five time points were used to assess four context and 14 process factors. The results of a coincidence analysis showed that high levels of perceived fit were achieved through two paths. Each path consisted of a lack of co‐occurring changes together with either very high levels of managerial support (path_1) or a combination of implementation team role clarity, staff involvement, and team learning (path_2). In contrast, low levels of perceived fit were brought about by single factors: limited leader support, low degree of role clarity, or concurrent organizational changes. The findings reveal the complexity involved in implementing OOHIs and offer insights into reasons they may fail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to understand the experiences of agricultural workers during periods of heat and wildfire smoke exposure and to support the development and implementation of protective workplace interventions. Using community-engaged research and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) framework for policy evaluation, a qualitative descriptive study was conducted with current and former agricultural workers in Central Washington (WA). Twelve participants answered semi-structured questions via interviews or by attending a focus group. Interviews and focus groups were conducted in Spanish, recorded, transcribed, and translated into English; one interview was conducted in English. Using Braun and Clarke's Reflexive Thematic Analysis, five themes were identified among workers from various worksites: 1) Extreme weather and working conditions are becoming increasingly hazardous to worker health, 2) Employers and supervisors lack training and education on current labor laws, and health and safety rules, 3) Employers and supervisors use intimidation and retaliation to ensure productivity and to evoke feelings of replaceability among workers, 4) Workers do not trust regulatory agencies to enforce rules or hold employers accountable, 5) Solutions to climate-driven problems in the agricultural industry need to value worker health and safety, not just productivity. Participants reported experiencing adverse health symptoms related to heat and smoke exposure at work. Workers proposed solutions including improving education, training, and communication, and increased enforcement of existing and forthcoming occupational health and safety rules. The agricultural workforce is essential for ensuring a robust food supply and is facing extreme weather events due to climate change. Western states impacted by wildfires and heat are working to develop and implement occupational health and safety rules. Developing effective policies and interventions inclusive of worker perspectives is critical to adapt to a changing climate, retain a stable workforce and promote optimal health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land grant universities in the Northeast (e.g. Delaware, Maryland, New York) have seen changes in their faculty or Extension level positions: Agricultural safety specialist positions have been left vacant or have been merged with another position with other responsibilities, which reduces the amount of time available to address safety. In response to the resulting support gap, Penn State Ag Safety and Health and the Northeast Center for Occupational Health and Safety (NEC) launched the Northeast Agricultural Safety and Health Coalition (NEASHC) in 2014. NEASHC provides extension staff and other individuals interested in safety trainings (e.g. insurers, Farm Bureau staff) with opportunities to network and learn about best practices in agricultural health and safety training. Recognizing the importance of NEASHC's role in filling this service gap in the Northeast, the NEC included support for NEASHC in its last 5-year grant cycle (2016–2022) and has continued its support for the Coalition in their current five-year center grant (2022–2027). The NEC center grant is funded by National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety (NIOSH) Grant #2 U54OH007542. NEASHC is an important component of the NEC's unified approach to worker health and safety, which is based in part on G. Sorensen's conceptual model for integrated approaches to the protection and promotion of worker safety.1 The goals for NEASHC through 2027 are as follows: expand the Coalition's reach by adding states and members; provide professional development to members; (3) offer mini-grants for outreach projects and activities; (4) develop and disseminate new resources; and (5) provide occupational safety and health (OSH) updates for agricultural populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aims were to highlight noise levels on board and the health effects of noise on seafarers. Data was collected from multiple databases: PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Ebsco Host. Initially, the search resulted in a total of 197 articles, 16 were chosen. Several ships were found which most sailors had noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) (n = 6). The engine room has been defined as having the highest level of noise. In addition, noise exposure was associated with hearing loss, tinnitus, sleep disturbances, communication difficulties, poor concentration, dizziness, depression, anxiety, headache, fatigue, and stress. Noise exposure is not the only factor that causes health problems: the duration of exposure while working, years of career as a maritime worker, age, lifestyle habits (smoking, alcohol consumption), and even hobbies related to loud sound (such as concert/disco attendance, listen to loud music, etc.) were associated with the adverse health effects experienced by seafarers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Workers are exposed to workplace hazards which increase their risk of occupational injury. Data on occupational injuries and associated factors are important for planning and informing national policy regarding workplace health and safety. This study sought to estimate the prevalence and factors associated with occupational injuries among workers in an industrial city in Ghana. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted among 459 workers in the Tema industrial enclave in Ghana from 22nd December 2020 to 27th February 2021. Participants were recruited using a two-stage sampling technique. Eight communities were randomly selected from twenty-five communities in the first stage while households in each community were randomly selected in the second stage. Data on socio-demographic characteristics, occupational health and safety and occupational injuries were collected. Logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between occupational injuries and associated factors. Results: The mean age of the workers was 33.9 (±6.8) years with a range of 21–53 while over 18.1% of them were working at the Port and Harbour. The prevalence of occupational injury among the workers in the preceding twelve months was 64.7%. The mechanism of injury was mainly the use of working tools (45.8%) and hot surfaces, substances or chemicals (14.1%). Being a casual staff (AOR: 2.26, 95%CI: 1.04–4.92), working at Port and Harbour (AOR: 3.77, 95%CI: 1.70–8.39), no health and safety training (AOR: 2.18, 95%CI: 1.08–4.39), dissatisfaction with health and safety measures (AOR: 4.31, 95%CI: 2.12–8.78) and tertiary education (AOR: 0.03, 95%CI: 0.01–0.10) were significantly associated with occupational injuries. Conclusion: The prevalence of occupational injuries in this study was high. Promoting machine tools' safety, health and safety training, and satisfaction with health and safety measures through rewarding workers who do not sustain injuries could be key to employees' health and safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This prospective study aimed to assess the physical and psychological health of construction workers and examine the relationship between their well-being and the preventive measures implemented against SARS-CoV-2. Methods: During occupational visit, the workers were invited to participate the survey. Two measurements were made and compared: after the Italian lockdown and on the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic. Results: Fifty-three workers participated in the study. The percentage of workers who considered themselves in good health increased from 66.0% to 81.1 %, and there was a significant decrease in the 12-item General Health Questionnaire score (16.8 vs 14.0, P = 0.0003). This reduction was associated with a higher perception of security by preventive measures. Conclusions: The study highlights the importance of addressing the health and safety concerns of construction workers during the pandemic, and the positive impact of effective preventive measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extreme cold weather conditions affect construction workers' health and safety performance. Hence, the goal of this article is to identify and analyze these challenges so that effective measures can be developed and implemented to mitigate or eliminate them. To this end, a questionnaire was created and circulated through the online platform QuestionPro. The Kruskal–Walli's test was used to examine the physical and mental health issues identified by the 111 responders, and quantitative analysis was performed by using physiological indicators such as heart rate and personal indicators, including degree of comfort and acclimation. The results showed that physical obstacles such as hypothermia and respiratory issues were perceived differently based on heart rate and garment comfort; and mental issues, such as poor concentration and frequent mood swings, varied with the workers' heart rate and level of acclimatization. Some of the strategies developed for protecting the workers are ensuring that they wear sufficient layers of clothing and heated gloves and have access to technologies such as infrared heaters. Existing practices and legislation that control construction "workers" safety in extreme cold weather conditions are also addressed. The findings of this article will help construction industry professionals effectively manage projects while ensuring their workers' safety in harsh cold weather conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sulfuric acid, a constituent of lead-acid batteries, is an extremely hazardous substance, necessitating utmost caution. Unfortunately, many workers that utilize battery-operated equipment remain unaware of the potential exposure. This study aims to evaluate the potential exposure to sulfuric acid among workers employed by small companies associated with the operation of floor cleaning equipment powered by lead-acid batteries. Only cleaning equipment (hand-push and ride-on types) that required supplementation of lead-acid batteries with distilled water were targeted. Exposure measurement and analysis were performed according to the guidelines of NIOSH and including personal sampling and stationary sampling on the equipment. Exposure measurements indicated that workers were exposed to sulfuric acid. Additionally, the concentration level was slightly elevated in the stationary samples compared to personal samples. This study affirms that workers can experience exposure to sulfuric acid, even in the absence of direct handling of the substance. Consequently, there is a need to recognize and mitigate the potential risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To generate new intelligence on occupational exposure to wood dust in woodworking manufacturing activities in Britain, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) performed 22 occupational hygiene site visits to assess exposure and exposure controls between 2014 and 2017. The work aimed to characterise good practice and therefore sites with a poor health and safety record, as identified from HSE inspection records, were not invited to participate. Sites selected covered furniture production, joinery, saw milling, and boat building and repair. Twenty-three follow-up telephone interviews were also carried out across 15 of the companies with supervisors and managers to explore how they tried to promote good practice among the workforce, and if there are any potential challenges encountered. The aim of the interviews was to gain a better understanding of how to enable organisations to improve the management of wood dust exposure. This study found that 6.0% of all wood dust exposure measurements (15 out of 252) were above 5 mg/m³, and 17.6% of exposures to hardwood dust or mixtures of hardwood and softwood dust (38 out of 216) were above 3 mg/m³ (the then current and future workplace exposure limits). Sanding, cleaning, and maintenance activities were of particular concern. Improvements to exposure controls are required, in particular, improvements to local exhaust ventilation controls for hand-held power tools and hand sanding. The management, selection, and use of respiratory protective equipment were poor. All the managers and supervisors recognised that exposure to wood dust can pose serious health risks, and that controls were crucial to protecting workers' health. The findings from the telephone interviews suggest that supervision and provision of information about the health effects of exposure to wood dust were common approaches that organisations used to raise awareness and promote good practice, in relation to managing wood dust exposure. Worker attitudes towards controls, such as perceptions that they hinder task completion and habitual ways of working, were identified as factors influencing the use of controls. Risk communication approaches that focus on increasing workers' awareness of their susceptibility to ill-health using credible sources, such as peers, can help enhance the uptake of messages on the use of controls. Financial constraints were identified as a challenge to improving the control of wood dust, particularly for small companies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a significant silicosis risk for workers fabricating engineered stone (ES) products containing crystalline silica. The aims of this study by SafeWork NSW were to: (i) assess current worker exposure to respirable dust (RD) and respirable crystalline silica (RCS) following a 5-y awareness and compliance program of inspections in ES workshops and (ii) to identify improvements in work practices from the available evidence base to further reduce exposures. One hundred and twenty-three personal full shift samples taken on as many workers and 34 static samples across 27 workshops fabricating ES were included in the final assessment. The exposure assessment was conducted using Casella Higgins–Dewell cyclones (Casella TSI) placed in the breathing zone of workers attached to SKC Air Check XR 5000 or SKC Chek TOUCH sampling pumps. Sample filters were sent to an ISO (2017) 17025:2017 accredited laboratory for gravimetric analysis for RD and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis to determine the amount of deposited RCS i.e. alpha-quartz and cristobalite. All workshops used wet methods of fabrication. The geometric mean (GM) of the pooled result for respirable dust (RD) was 0.09 mg/m3 TWA-8 h and 0.034 mg/m3 TWA-8 h for RCS. The highest exposed workers with a GM RCS of 0.062 mg/m3 TWA-8 h were those using pneumatic hand tools for cutting or grinding combined with polishing tasks. Workers operating semiautomated routers and edge polishers had the lowest GM RCS exposures of 0.022 mg/m3 TWA-8 h and 0.018 mg/m3 TWA-8 h respectively. Although ES workers remain exposed to RCS above the workplace exposure limit (WEL) of 0.05 mg/m 3 TWA-8 h, these results point to a very substantial reduction in exposures compared to poorly controlled dry methods of fabrication. Therefore, the wearing of respiratory protection by workers remains necessary until further control measures are more widely adopted across the entire industry e.g. reduction in the crystalline silica content of ES. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why you should read this article: • To understand the detrimental effects that compassion fatigue can have on emergency nurses and the quality of patient care they provide • To learn about the findings of a mixed-methods study that explored emergency nurses’ experiences and perceptions of compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue • To recognise the importance of providing strategic resilience training and well-being interventions for emergency nurses. Background: Compassion fatigue can have detrimental effects on emergency nurses and the quality of patient care they deliver. Ongoing challenges such as operational pressures and the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may have increased nurses’ risk of experiencing compassion fatigue. Aim: To explore and understand emergency nurses’ experiences and perceptions of compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue. Method: This study used an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design comprising two phases. In phase one, the Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL-5) scale was used to obtain information on the prevalence and severity of compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue among emergency nurses. In phase two, six participants’ experiences and perceptions were explored via semi-structured interviews. Findings: A total of 44 emergency nurses completed the ProQOL-5 questionnaires. Six respondents had a high compassion satisfaction score, 38 had a moderate score and none had a low score. In the interviews, participants revealed different explanations regarding their compassion satisfaction levels. Three main themes were identified: personal reflections; factors identified as maintaining stability; and external factors affecting compassion. Conclusion: Compassion fatigue needs to be prevented and addressed systemically to avoid detrimental effects on ED staff morale and well-being, staff retention, patients and care delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Evidence synthesis in the field of occupational safety and health (OSH) has been continuously growing over the last two decades. With over 100 systematic reviews now published, the Cochrane Work Review group has played an important role in this development and the Cochrane Thematic Group 'Work & Health & Social Security' was established recently to combine evidence from both the OSH and insurance medicine fields. Worldwide, many organizations produce and synthesize evidence in OSH that can complement and support each other. We believe that a global network including Cochrane and others can collaborate on methods development and in the production, synthesis, use and dissemination of different types of evidence even more effectively. Aims To determine if establishing a global network for evidence synthesis in OSH is feasible. Methods We conducted a survey of international and national institutions between November 2022 and January 2023 using LimeSurvey. Participants included representatives of affiliated and sustaining members of the International Commission on Occupational Health, national institutes for OSH, academia and other international organizations. Results From 151 invitations, we received responses from 57 representatives of 54 organizations. Representatives reported that their organization will contribute financially on an annual basis (n  = 1) or provide in-kind support (n  = 10), and will probably be able to provide financial or in-kind support (n  = 25). Conclusions The feasibility criterion was met and an international network is being established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) severe injuries reports include work-related injuries from establishments under federal OSHA jurisdiction that result in an amputation, loss of an eye, or inpatient hospitalization. Data from 32 jurisdictions were examined to determine oil and gas extraction industry-specific severe industry trends during January 2015-July 2022, using the 2012 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes for oil and gas extraction. During this period, a total of 2,101 severe work-related injuries were reported in this sector. Among these severe work-related injuries, well service contract workers' injuries included the highest number of amputations (417) and hospitalizations (1,194), accounting for 20% and 57%, respectively, of all severe injuries reported. Overall, 895 (43%) of all severe injuries reported involved upper extremities. Contract workers in the service and drilling subindustries (NAICS codes 213112 and 213111, respectively) experienced disproportionately more work-related injuries compared with those in the operation subindustry (NAICS code 211). These injuries could be preventable by including contractors in worksite safety plans that administer the hierarchy of controls, are within an effective safety management system, and provide consistent safety training on work equipment, personal protective equipment, and daily site safety meetings that increase safety culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To explore if there are differences in shift patterns and work‐related factors between metropolitan and regional/rural healthcare shift workers and their risk of poor sleep and mental health. Furthermore, explore whether these factors impact on medical errors, workplace and car/near car accidents. Design: A cross‐sectional study. Setting: An anonymous online survey of healthcare shift workers in Australia. Participants: A total of 403 nurses, midwives and paramedics completed the survey. Main outcome measures: Sample characteristics, employment location, shift work‐related features, sleep and mental health measurements, workplace accidents, medical errors and car/near car accident post shift. Results: Regional/rural healthcare shift workers were significantly older, had more years' experience, worked more nights, on‐call and hours per week. Those in metropolitan areas took significantly longer (minutes) to travel to work, had higher levels of anxiety, increased risk of shift work disorder, reported significantly more workplace accidents and were more likely to have a car/near car accident when commuting home post shift. Both groups reported ~25% having a medical error in the past year. Workplace accidents were related to more on‐call shifts and poor sleep quality. Medical errors were associated with fewer years' experience, more evening shifts and increased stress. Car accidents were associated with metropolitan location and increased depression. Conclusion: Differences in work‐related factors between metropolitan and regional/rural healthcare shift workers were observed. Some of these factors contributed to occupational health and safety risks. Further exploration is needed to understand how to reduce occupational health and safety risks, and improve employee and patient safety both in both regional/rural and metropolitan areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We assessed how hospitalists frame workplace safety, health, and well-being (SHW); their perception of hospital supports for SHW; and whether and how they are sharing leadership responsibility for each other's SHW. Our findings highlight the important role of local support for hospitalist SHW and reveal the systemic, hospital-wide problems that may impede their SHW. We believe that positioning hospitalists as leaders for SHW will result in systems-wide changes in practices to support the SHW of all care team members. (Am J Public Health. 2024;114(S2):S162–S166. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2024.307573) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Safety is a competency, rooted in interactions and embedded in everyday practices. • Standardized and non-contextualized OHS-management tend to lead to unsafe practices. • Developing a safety culture at work requires a responsive leadership style. Introduction: Organizations place strong emphasis on the standardized occupational health and safety procedures to reduce work-related illnesses and workplace accidents. However, standardized procedures are not always followed up in daily work practices. Organizations must cope with the differences between standardized procedures and local adaptation by employees. Methods: This ethnographic field study at an industrial workplace in the Netherlands provides insights into employees' everyday work practices, how these work practices are shaped, and how they relate to local occupational health and safety procedures. Acknowledging safety as a competency embedded in work practices, as introduced by Gherardi and Nicolini (2002), offers a theoretical point of view for looking beyond the dichotomy of standardization and local adaptations. Results: The results show that a standardized and noncontextualized occupational health and safety management system that focuses on accident-free days and compliance actually leads to ignorance of practical and tacit competences of workers and no learning and improvement of safety procedures can take place. However, our findings also illustrate how employees in their informal everyday work practices reduce the risks produced by the safety system itself. Conclusion: Overall, the results indicate that social interactions among employees, leaders, and management within the organization play an important role in workplace safety. The analysis highlights the value of vulnerability and trust in relationships at work to be able to learn and develop safety procedures that align with local demands. Practical applications: This study emphasizes the need for participatory approaches in creating safer and healthier workplaces. The cocreation of occupational health and safety (OHS) rules and procedures, however, can only function if they are combined with a responsive leadership style. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: While more than 2.5 million U.S. high students worked in 2020, data to assess how work affects this group are sparse. To facilitate such research, a set of occupational safety and health questions for inclusion on the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) and other youth‐focused surveys was developed. METHODS: Survey questions about occupational experiences of young workers were adapted from other surveys or created de novo. Key audiences were engaged to define priority topic areas and develop draft questions, which were further refined through cognitive interviews with working youth. RESULTS: Twenty‐one resulting questions spanned multiple work‐related topics: employment status; health outcomes; psychosocial exposures; and safety climate. Cognitive testing revealed that youth (aged 14‐19) had difficulty with temporal concepts. Some difficulties reflected the propensity of youth to engage in multiple, online, and informal jobs. During 3 rounds of interviews, questions were adjusted to better reflect youth employment circumstances and language. Four states added at least 1 work‐related question to their 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey questionnaire, and the full set of questions has been disseminated to federal agencies and partners. CONCLUSION: Including tailored questions about employment in surveys of youth will facilitate occupational health surveillance for this group. Analysis of resulting data can help to close knowledge gaps, provide current prevalence data, inform policy, and allow development of focused prevention and intervention strategies to reduce adverse outcomes among young workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The routine use of heat-producing tools in the perioperative setting generates surgical smoke. Surgical smoke poses a known health hazard for perioperative staff working in the operating room. Objective: The objective of this best practice project was to promote evidence-based practices regarding surgical plume management in a pediatric operating room. Methods: This project was guided by the JBI Model of Evidence-Based Healthcare and used the JBI Practical Application of Clinical Evidence System and the Getting Research into Practice audit and feedback strategy to promote evidence-based practices regarding surgical smoke management in a pediatric operating room. Seven audit criteria representing best-practice recommendations were used. A baseline audit was conducted, followed by the implementation of multiple strategies developed by the key stakeholders. The project was finalized with a follow-up audit to determine any changes in compliance with best-practice recommendations. Results: Baseline audit data indicated an average of 41% compliance with best practices across all audit criteria, revealing the need for significant improvement in five of the seven criteria. Three barriers were identified and strategies were implemented, including the development and implementation of an educational module and a surgical smoke exposure risk assessment tool. Follow-up audits showed an overall improvement of 30% among five of the seven audit criteria. Conclusions: This project yielded improvements with best practices for surgical smoke management in the perioperative setting. However, additional work is required to ensure the sustainability of best practices in this setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a major energy source in China, the occupational health and well‐being (OHW) of miners is a priority. Various statistical techniques have been used to identify factors or assess OHW to provide valuable information for the implementation of health promotion activities. The main bottleneck is the limited focus on solutions that address the demands of both organizations and individuals, and scientific and effective decision‐making is pending. Therefore, this study describes the OHW mechanism covering both antecedents and consequences through the driving force‐pressure‐state‐impact‐response model. A probabilistic model of management tradeoff analysis was established by using a Bayesian decision network. Causal relationships and dependencies between multiple factors are captured visually. The model was verified and applied with samples of miners (N = 816). The results showed that the comprehensive strategy (R5) was the best tactic, and the management effect of stress (R2) and vulnerability (R3) was prominent. This study provides a valuable tool for managers to identify priority management factors. Prioritizing tactics formulated from dual demands of organizational and individual can ensure project feasibility, operability, and effectiveness. This study is a novel attempt to combine theory with practice, which is timely and necessary for management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: COVID-19 has changed work conditions and instilled fear. However, research overlooked the contributing factors to fear of COVID-19 and its impact on well-being. We addressed this research gap and focused on the es-sential workforce of child care. Methods: Three samples of early childhood professionals (ECPs) (NT1 = 423, NT2 = 142, NT3 = 584) were gathered in Germany between June 2020 and May 2021. We tested via path analysis whether (1) fear of COVID-19 relates to well-being. (2) COVID-19-related work stressors relate to fear of COVID-19, and (3) fear of COVID-19 mediates the relationship of work stressors and well-being. Results: Findings of NT1 and NT3 lent support, while results of NT2 differed. Conclusions: This study under-lines the importance of adapting the work conditions during pandemics to re-duce the fear of infection and thus preserve ECPs' well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Education is very important to prevent occupational injuries and accidents, which are almost all completely preventable. The aim of this study was to evaluate training videos on this subject on the YouTube platform. Methods: Six search terms related to occupational health and safety (OHS) were scanned on May 31, 2021. After the application of exclusion criteria, a total of 176 videos were included for final analysis using the parameters of country origin, source of the video, content, number of views, comments, likes, dislikes, and video duration. The Global Quality Scale (GQS) and modified DISCERN tools were used to evaluate the quality and reliability of the videos in this analytical cross-sectional study. Results: According to the GQS score, 111 (63.1%) videos were of low quality. Statistically significant differences were found between the low-, moderate-, and high-quality groups with respect to video length, likes, dislikes, comments, likes per day, dislikes per day, comments per day, video category, and the DISCERN scores (P < 0.05). The vast majority of videos contained low-quality information. A large number of videos were uploaded on OHS content from independent users and the USA. Conclusion: There is a clear need for professionals to play a more active role in uploading and sharing high-quality information on Internet platforms on the subject of OHS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Immigrant nail salon owners and employees face multiple barriers to accessing occupational health training and services. We formed an academic-community-based organization–business owner partnership—unique in that all partners were culturally congruent—to develop a pilot intervention program for the nail salon community. Methods. Eighteen individuals (nine salon owners and nine employees) from the Greater Philadelphia region received the training in their native language and provided feedback through in-depth qualitative interviews. Interview guide was developed using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). Themes of perceived benefits and barriers were identified and aligned with relevant CFIR constructs to gain better understanding of the implementation challenges. Results. Reported benefits of program were improved knowledge of the workplace hazards and safety practices, and the potential to attract more customers and retain employees. Perceived barriers to implementing recommended practices were limited availability of safer products and high cost, challenges communicating with customers, lack of engagement from some owners, organizational management practices affecting employees' motivation, and limited partnership with local government to assist small immigrant-owned businesses. Conclusions. Our study revealed multiple factors that pit long-term health protection of nail salon workers against the economic viability of the businesses that employ them. Our research highlights the need to (1) advocate for federal policies making safer products to be more accessible to the masses, (2) establish local policy and culturally appropriate technical support programs that engage community-based organizations, and (3) develop economic opportunities and mentorship for immigrant entrepreneurs to operate profitable healthy salons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards is a trusted resource that displays key information for a collection of chemicals commonly encountered in the workplace. Entries contain chemical structures—occupational exposure limit information ranging from limits based on full-shift time-weighted averages to acute limits such as short-term exposure limits and immediately dangerous to life or health values, as well as a variety of other data such as chemical-physical properties and symptoms of exposure. The NIOSH Pocket Guide (NPG) is available as a printed, hardcopy book, a PDF version, an electronic database, and a downloadable application for mobile phones. All formats of the NIOSH Pocket Guide allow users to access the data for each chemical separately, however, the guide does not support data analytics or visualization across chemicals. This project reformatted existing data in the NPG to make it searchable and compatible with exploration and analysis using a web application. The resulting application allows users to investigate the relationships between occupational exposure limits, the range and distribution of occupational exposure limits, and the specialized sorting of chemicals by health endpoint or to summarize information of particular interest. These tasks would have previously required manual extraction of the data and analysis. The usability of this application was evaluated among industrial hygienists and researchers and while the existing application seems most relevant to researchers, the open-source code and data are amenable to modification by users to increase customization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among the first 20 high-priority chemical substances selected by USEPA to undergo risk evaluation as part of the Toxic Substances Control Act, as amended by the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act of 2016 is 1,3-butadiene (1,3-BD). Because much of the literature related to occupational exposure to 1,3-BD is associated with the use of the substance in synthetic rubber production and few data have been published for exposures to 1,3-BD manufacturing workers, existing industrial hygiene data collected at facilities where the substance is manufactured or processed as a reactant were compiled and analyzed. The dataset was comprised of personal air samples collected between 2010 and 2019 at facilities located throughout the United States and was compiled into a single database using a uniform data collection template. Data designated by the companies as full-shift were stratified by job group and one of three operational conditions of the workplace: routine, turnaround, and non-routine. Data designated by the companies as short-term and task-level were stratified by task description, sample duration, and operational condition. The final aggregated database contained a total of 5,676 full-shift personal samples. Mean concentrations of 1,3-BD for the job groups ranged from 0.012 ppm to 0.16 ppm. High-end estimates of 1,3-BD air concentrations for the job groups under routine operations ranged from 0.014 ppm to 0.23 ppm. The aggregated database also included 1,063 short-term and task-level personal samples. For short-term samples (< =15 min), mean concentrations ranged from 0.49 ppm to 3.9 ppm, with the highest concentrations observed for the cleaning and maintaining equipment tasks. For task samples with durations greater than 15 min, mean concentrations ranged from 0.49 to 3.6 ppm, with the highest concentrations observed for the unloading and loading task. In addition to the personal air sampling records, information on the use of PPE during various tasks was compiled and analyzed. This data set provides robust quantitative air concentration data and exposure control information for which occupational exposures to 1,3-BD in the Manufacturing and Processing as a Reactant condition of use can be assessed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]