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Vaccine hesitancy is the main barrier to the effective management of COVID-19. This study aims to evaluate attitudes towards vaccination and containment measures in Italy, and the role of occupational physicians in the management of COVID-19.Between 26 and 31 January 2022, we conducted a national online survey including 1000 respondents (631 workers) representative of the Italian population. A series of questions were asked to get information on attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination, containment measures and management of COVID-19. Sampling weights were used to obtain national estimates.The majority of respondents (92.6%) received at least two doses of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (or one dose of Janssen, Ad26.COV2.S), only 4.9% did not get any dose. Most interviewees (79.2%) stated that the decision to be vaccinated was their own choice, while only 4.3% were convinced by the general practitioner or the occupational physician. History of SARS-CoV-2 infection was reported by 23.9% of the participants (30.2% among workers); and 40% of the infected workers were contacted/visited by an occupational physician.Vaccine uptake was remarkably high in Italy. Occupational physicians played a relevant role in the management of COVID-19 in occupational settings.

Objective To update the analysis of mortality of a cohort of talc miners and millers in Northern Italy. Methods We analyzed overall mortality and mortality from specific causes of death during 1946–2020 of 1749 male workers in a talc mine where asbestos was not detected (1184 miners and 565 millers) employed during 1946–1995. Results The overall standardized mortality ratio (SMR) was 1.21 (95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.14–1.28); no deaths were observed from pleural cancer. Mortality from lung cancer was not increased (SMR = 1.02 95 % CI 0.82–1.27), while mortality from pneumoconiosis was (SMR 9.55; 95 % CI 7.43–12.08), especially among miners (SMR 12.74; 95 % CI 9.79–16.31). There was a trend in risk of pneumoconiosis with increasing duration of employment in the overall cohort, and the SMR for 25+ years of employment was 15.12 (95 % CI 10.89–20.43). Conclusions This uniquely long-term follow up confirms the results of previous analyses, namely the lack of association between exposure to talc with no detectable level of asbestos and lung cancer and mesothelioma. Increased mortality from pneumoconiosis among miners is related to past exposure to silica.

Objective To estimate the three-year cumulative risk of work-related upper limb disorders (WRULDs) in a cohort of automotive industry workers and to provide a first test of the ability of the European Assembly Worksheet (EAWS) methodology to predict WRULDs. Methods 292 workers were investigated by reviewing workers' medical records during the period from 2012-2015 to determine their exposure to biomechanical overload according to EAWS risk scores (0-25, low risk, Green zone; 26-50, medium risk, Yellow zone; >50, High risk; Red zone). Results The risks were 0.83%, 5.71%, and 11.88% for the Control (unexposed), Green and Yellow Groups, respectively. Only the comparison between the Yellow/Control Groups was significant (p = 0.0014). In total, we observed 17 cases of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) (14 symptomatic and 3 cases detected by physical examination). Conclusions The EAWS is a useful tool for the preliminary risk assessments of biomechanical overload among automotive industry workers. The finding of mainly non-specific disorders highly suggests that health surveillance should aim to identify not only full-blown diseases but also symptomatic cases.

Background An accurate diagnosis is essential to identify and manage SARS-CoV-2 infected patients and implement infection control measures. Although real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is the current recommended laboratory method, several rapid antigen point-of-care tests (POCTs) were developed as frontline testing for SARS-CoV-2 infection diagnosis. Objectives The aim of this study was to assess a recently CE-approved POCT, SARS-CoV-2 Ag Test on the LumiraDx™ Platform (LumiraDx GmbH, Cologne, Germany) for the identification of SARS-COV-2 infected subjects at hospital setting. Methods LumiraDx POCT was implemented in three hospital settings: adult and pediatric emergency departments and occupational medicine department along two-month period during the second peak of Italian SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Rapid antigen testing was performed on direct nasal swabs and results were compared with those obtained by Xpert Xpress SARS-CoV-2 assay. Results Overall sensitivity, specificity, NPV and PPV were 90.3%, 92.1%, 95.1%, and 84.9%, respectively, compared to reference method. Sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV for symptomatic group were 89.3% [95% IC 84.2-93.3], 88.2% [95% IC 72.5-96.7], 97.8% [95% IC 94.6-99.1], and 58.8% [95% IC 48.4-68.5], respectively. Sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV for asymptomatic group were 92.1% [95% IC 85-96.5], 92.3% [95% IC 89.9-94.4], 67.9% [95% IC 61.3-73.8], and 98.5% [95% IC 97.1-99.2], respectively. False positive and negative antigen testing results in both symptomatic and asymptomatic group were observed. Conclusion SARS-CoV-2 Ag POCT may represent an interesting tool to rapidly identify symptomatic or asymptomatic infected subjects. However, in hospital setting in which false negative or false positive results may have relevant implications, confirmatory NAAT always remains necessary for the appropriate management of patients.

Bank employees, especially video display terminal (VDT) operators, are constantly exposed to various occupational risks, such as the adoption of awkward postures, repetitive finger movements, and utilization of software with poor usability, which may lead to computer visual syndrome, tension headache, lower back pain, and/or stress, which compromises their overall health and work ability (WA). Thus, in this cross-sectional study, we aimed to establish that the determinants among socio-demographic, lifestyle, and occupational characteristics are associated with impaired WA in bank VDT operators. To this end, we administered a set of socio-demographic, lifestyle, occupational, and Work Ability Index (WAI) questionnaires to 2077 Italian bank VDT operators. Univariate linear regression models reveal that their mean WAI score is inversely associated with gender, age, dependent family members, and a part-time job, whereas it is directly associated with the educational level and physical activity. In addition, multivariate analysis shows that their mean WAI score is inversely associated with age and a part-time job, but was directly associated with the educational level, the marital status, and physical activity. Overall, VDT operators working in Italian banks display high WA even though this latter tends to decline with aging. In light of the progressive aging of the workforce in Italy, our results provide the rationale for the design of interventions aimed to mitigate the detrimental effects of aging on WA of bank VDT operators.

D.Lgs. 81/08 requires the employer to design work systems, methods and tools in accordance to the ergonomic principles. In order to check the compliance of the design with current regulation, it is appropriate and effective to make use of simulation tools since the design phase. The paper describes a tool based on multi body approach. Once the gender and the anthropometric percentile of the worker have been specified, the tool simulates the postures that the worker is likely to assume during the execution of the work task. The tool can be used in the design as well as in the re-design phase, taking into account the different percentile of workers for a proper accommodation of the same.

Background: In 1997, a Monograph from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified occupational exposure to crystalline silica as carcinogenic to humans. Large amounts of epidemiological data have been published subsequently. Methods: We conducted a systematic review of epidemiological investigations on silica exposure and lung cancer risk published after the IARC Monograph, including 28 cohort, 15 case‐control and two proportionate mortality ratio (PMR) studies. These were identified in the available literature. Results: The pooled RR of lung cancer, calculated using random effects models, from all cohort studies considering occupational exposure to silica was 1.34. The RRs were 1.69 in cohort studies of silicotics only, 1.25 in studies where silicosis status was undefined and 1.19 among non silicotic subjects. The pooled RR was 1.41 for all case‐control studies. The RRs were 3.27 in case‐control studies of silicotics only, 1.41 in studies where silicosis status was undefined and 0.97 among non silicotic subjects. The RR was 1.24 for PMR studies. Conclusions. In this re-analysis, the association with lung cancer was consistent for silicotics, but the data were limited for non silicotic subjects and not easily explained for undefined silicosis status workers. This leaves open the issue of dose‐risk relation and pathogenic mechanisms and supports the conclusion that the carcinogenic role of silica per se in absence of silicosis is still unclear.