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Objectives This paper investigates the sense of occupational burnout among people working with older persons in the long-term care sector in relation to their personality traits. The study objective is to examine the correlation between the sense of burnout and personality traits of persons working in the helping professions, the so-called human services. According to researchers, these professionals are susceptible to occupational burnout due to the involvement of their personal emotions in the helping process. Material and Methods The study encompassed 238 workers employed at care institutions for older people. The authors used a diagnostic survey as the research method, and the following research instruments: the Maslach Burnout Inventory by C. Maslach (to assess an individual’s sense of burnout) and the NEO Five-Factor Inventory by P.T. Costa and R.R. McCrae (to assess personality traits). Results The survey indicates that workers are at risk of occupational burnout, and statistically significant differences have been observed in their sense of burnout depending on their personality traits in all the inventories analyzed: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment. Conclusions Since the survey results confirm the differences in the sense of occupational burnout among the respondents with different personality traits, measures should be taken for the prevention and early detection of burnout in workers. For the intervention methods to be effective, workers’ personality traits should be taken into account. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2021;34(4):491–504

Boredom is a common workplace problem. Previous research has suggested that repetitive and monotonous work tasks may lead to boredom. However, these tasks have been reduced due to increased workplace automation. Thus, the current cause of boredom may be due to low mental workload. This research developed a general boredom model and compared the effects of feedback type (performance and ranking) and intervention method (game and quiz) on boredom and task performance. Results revealed that the secondary task interventions can reduce boredom and feedback could shorten the response time. Gender also had a significant influence on response time. Notably, results revealed a 4% probability of task failure during the experiment, indicating other interventions are also required. This research indicates that interventions to reduce boredom caused by low mental workload should be designed differently from tasks that have been designed to combat the boredom caused by repetitive and monotonous work.

Objectives. The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of intervention strategies to control mass concentrations and peak exposures of flour dust in two Finnish bakeries. The effect of the intervention on the proportion of various particle size fractions of the total particulate matter was also investigated. Methods. Mass concentrations of flour dust were measured during three working days in a pre-intervention and post-intervention study in both an industrial and a traditional bakery. Gravimetric sampling and real-time measurements were performed. Relevant intervention strategies focused on working methods were planned in collaboration with the managers of the bakeries. Results. The average mass concentration of inhalable flour dust reduced in most of the stationary locations post intervention. The reductions in exposure levels were between 39 and 45%. However, the exposure levels increased 28–55% in the breathing zone. Real-time measurements showed reductions in the peak mass concentrations in the traditional bakery post intervention. In both bakeries, the total particulate matter size fraction consisted predominantly of particles with an aerodynamic diameter lower than 1 µm and greater than 10 µm. Conclusion. Further studies are needed to plan more effective intervention measures supplemented by technical control methods in both bakeries.

Recently, many postural analysis techniques have been developed in order to reduce the risk of musculoskeletal problems. Methods such as rapid entire body assessment are capable of analyzing the most constant or awkward positions, but the selection of these postures is subjective. To make an objective postural analysis, devices such as electromagnetic trackers can be used continuously during the job task, but utilizing such devices is costly. Therefore, in this study a cost-effective marker-based video processing algorithm is developed for measuring three-dimensional (3D) information regarding both the location and the orientation of human posture. To investigate the precision of the measurements, an experiment was designed. With the average of 2.88 mm and 1.34° for location and orientation, respectively, the algorithm was able to measure six degrees of freedom information regarding 3D space. Furthermore, the precision of the algorithm is found to be significantly affected by the marker pattern.

We identified the occupations that employ California women and a list of chemicals of concern for breast cancer. We evaluated the likelihood of on-the-job exposure to the categories of chemicals by occupation among formally and informally employed women. We selected 145 occupations representing more than 6.6 million women (85% of California working women), along with an additional sixteen occupations for informal workers only. We organized 1012 chemicals (including mammary gland carcinogens, developmental toxicants, and endocrine-disrupting chemicals) into twenty-five categories. More than 80 percent of occupations investigated had possible or probable exposure to at least one category of chemicals. This is the first categorization of occupational exposure to chemicals of concern for breast cancer among California working women. Our investigation revealed significant data gaps, which could be improved by policy changes resulting in enhanced collection of data on occupation and chemical exposure.

Introduction The assessment of energy expenditure (EE) at workplaces maintains a central topic in occupational health due to increasing work-related issues. Today 80% of employees in the healthcare system are women. Limited research concerning their physical activity at work is available. The purpose of the study was the investigation of body composition, maximum physical capacity and quantification of physical work activity for female healthcare workers under real-time conditions. Methods Occupational physical activity (PA) of 33 female healthcare workers in a university hospital was quantified. Health associate professionals (HAP), health professionals (HP), and females working from cleaners and helpers (CH) department participated. All underwent cardio pulmonary exercise test. For every working task VO2, VCO2 and RER were measured and EE was calculated individually for each task. Results Forty-two different working tasks were identified and grouped in seven categories to compare physical activity (PA): ‘office and laboratory work’, ‘bedside patient care’, ‘instrument reprocessing, packing boxes’, ‘walking with patient, or alone’, ‘pushing carts or wheelchairs’, ‘strenuous cleaning in bent posture’ and ‘lifting heavy boxes, weights or items’. By comparing groups of healthcare workers, CH and HAP spent significant (p < 0.01) more EE (in kcal/min) 3.9 resp. 3.2 than HP 2.5. Light PA e.g. office and laboratory work (2.7 ± 0.6) and bedside patient care (2.9 ± 0.7) were accomplished by HP and HAP while HAP and CH performed moderate PA such as ‘packing boxes’ (3.6 ± 0.8), ‘pushing carts’ and ‘strenuous cleaning’ (4.7 ± 0.9). Work performed by CH and HAP, i.e. ‘strenuous cleaning’ and ‘lifting heavy items’ showed highest kcal per kg Fat Free Mass (FFM) per hour with 5.80 [4.05–7.81] and 6.94 [5.18–9.03] kcal/kgFFM/h. Conclusion Our findings lend preliminary support to the hypothesis that the majority of activities in female healthcare workers were of low and moderate PA and can be accomplished by middle aged and even older female workers. CH performed tasks with heavy physical activities (PA) like cleaning and lifting heavy weights. HAP performed light/moderate PA below their maximum physical capacity.

Zusammenfassung Ziel Ermittlung der konkurrenten, diskriminanten und prognostischen Validität der Selbsteinschätzung der funktionellen Leistungsfähigkeit (SELF) bei orthopädischen Patienten der beruflich orientierten medizinischen Rehabilitation. Material und Methoden In einer prospektiven Kohortenstudie wurden Patienten aus vier Einrichtungen mit beruflich orientierter medizinischer Rehabilitation rekrutiert. Als Außenkriterien für die Überprüfung der konkurrenten Validität dienten der Work Ability Score (WAS) und die Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE)-basierte Einschätzung der zulässigen Arbeitsschwere nach REFA. Für die diskriminante Validität wurde das Ultra-Kurz-Screening (UKS) verwendet. Die a priori definierten Hypothesen wurden anhand von bivariaten und partiellen Korrelationsmaßen überprüft. Die prognostische Validität wurde mittels logistischer Regressionsmodelle berechnet. Zielgröße war die Rückkehr in Arbeit (RTW) drei Monate nach Reha-Ende. Ergebnisse Die Daten von 227 rekrutierten Probanden wurden analysiert. Hinsichtlich der konkurrenten Validität bestätigten sich die a priori definierten Hypothesen (0,4≤r≤0,6) zum WAS (r=0,41) und der zulässigen Arbeitsschwere (r=0,50). Der Zusammenhang mit dem UKS lag erst nach Kontrolle der derzeitigen Schmerzen (r=−0,24) im erwarteten Bereich (−0,1≤r≤−0,3). Zur Überprüfung der prognostischen Validität wurden die von 127 Probanden verfügbaren Nachbefragungsdaten ausgewertet. Ein Anstieg des SELF um einen Punkt war nach Kontrolle der Arbeitsschwere der Tätigkeit mit einer 1,07-fach (p Schlussfolgerung Die konkurrente und diskriminante Validität des SELF wurde bei orthopädischen Patienten der beruflich orientierten medizinischen Rehabilitation bestätigt. Das Instrument erwies sich darüber hinaus als prognostisch valide. Die Anpassungsgüte des ausschließlich auf dem SELF basierenden Modells war jedoch gering.

Zusammenfassung Hintergrund Die Pandemie stellt Menschen mit Beeinträchtigung vor vielfältige Herausforderungen, insbesondere auch beim Umgang mit Gesundheitsinformationen. Bislang ist nur wenig über die Rolle der Selbsthilfe bei der Förderung der Gesundheitskompetenz ihrer Mitglieder während der Pandemie bekannt. Methodik Der Studie „Gesundheitskompetenz von Mitgliedern der Selbsthilfe: Herausforderungen durch die Corona-Pandemie (GeMSeHeCo)“ liegt ein qualitatives Studiendesign zugrunde. Der Feldzugang erfolgte deutschlandweit über die Selbsthilfegruppen. Von Juli bis Oktober 2020 wurden N = 19 Telefoninterviews mit Vertreter*innen von Selbsthilfegruppen durchgeführt, transkribiert und inhaltsanalytisch ausgewertet. Ergebnisse Vertreter*innen der Selbsthilfe berichteten über Stärken und Schwächen der Mitglieder im Umgang mit Gesundheitsinformationen während der Corona-Pandemie. Schwächen wurden v. a. bei älteren Mitgliedern, Menschen mit niedrigem Bildungsniveau und mit Migrationshintergrund berichtet. Stärken beobachteten die Vertreter*innen bei langjährigen Mitgliedern und bei Mitgliedern, die sich zu ihrer Krankheit kontinuierlich weiterbilden. Diskussion Die Selbsthilfe wird während der Pandemie als wichtige Unterstützung der Mitglieder im Umgang mit Gesundheitsinformationen wahrgenommen. Ein Vorteil für die Mitglieder besteht insbesondere in der Prüfung und Zusammenstellung von Gesundheitsinformationen nach individuellen Bedarfen durch die Selbsthilfe. Herausforderungen können aufgrund von Sprach- und Verständnisschwierigkeiten entstehen, bspw. durch einen Migrationshintergrund. Der Ausbau von digitalen Angeboten hat sich in dieser Zeit als hilfreich erwiesen. Dabei sollte die Unterstützung vermehrt Ältere und Mitglieder mit geringen finanziellen Möglichkeiten berücksichtigen, da diese während der Pandemie weniger Zugang zu digitalen Angeboten aufweisen.

Objective Precarious workers have increased over the past two decades in South Korea. Employment instability, especially among young adults, is considered a serious social problem. The unstable employment status of precarious workers has negative impacts on their mental health, such as suicidal behavior. This study aims to identify the effect of the unstable employment conditions on the suicidal behavior of precarious workers.Methods An online survey was conducted with a panel sample of South Korean adults (n=797) who were precarious workers aged between 25–34 years. We applied Model 6 of SPSS PROCESS MACRO 3.5 to examine the multiple mediation effects of depression and anger in the relationship between employment instability and suicide.Results Unstable employment had no direct effect on suicidal behavior. The path of unstable employment to suicidal behavior via depression and anger had a significant indirect effect. However, employment and anger were negatively related. The indirect effect of depression and anger on the relation between unstable employment and suicidal behavior was statistically significant.Conclusion This study suggests an association between unstable employment and suicidal behavior, mediated by depression and anger. Specifically, a high level of unstable employment status increased depression. In contrast, a low level of unstable employment status increased anger, which ultimately led to an increase in suicidal behavior. These contrasting findings are likely to reflect the heterogeneity of precarious workers. Further longitudinal studies are necessary to identify the causality between precarious employment and suicidal behavior over time.

PurposeWorkplace health promotion (WHP) is an investment in human capital that can lead to substantial organizational and individual benefit. However, this depends on high participation rates, which are rarely reached. The aim of this article thus is to examine necessary conditions for WHP success by analyzing employee perceived determinants of participation.Design/methodology/approachBased on a qualitative study, a questionnaire was designed. The determinants of participation were assessed regarding underlying categories and importance via factor analysis.FindingsPersonal benefit, social aspects, information, uncomplicated use, security and autonomy plus time and participation in offer design emerged as relevant factors. For the population studied, uncomplicated use, personal benefit and information were rated as most important.Originality/valueThe study is based on determinants voiced by the workforce only, not expert-rated aspects. Moreover, it was carried out in small and medium-sized organizations, which are understudied regarding WHP. By reducing data using factor analysis, a basis for further research is created. Also, a basic questionnaire is suggested via the items employed that can help organizations to investigate the WHP-related wishes and needs that matter most to the workforce.

The Environmental Relative Moldiness Index (ERMI) is a scale used to compare mold contamination levels in United States (US) homes. To create the ERMI scale, a nationally representative set of U.S. homes was selected (n=1096). From each of these homes, a standard vacuum-dust sample was collected and then 36 common molds, the 26 Group 1 and 10 Group 2 molds, as grouped for forming the ERMI metric, were quantified using quantitative PCR assays. However, in investigations of mold in homes, it is not always practical or even possible to collect dust using the standard vacuum method. Therefore, we performed a comparative study of dust samples collected in the same homes (n=151) by the standard vacuum method and by an electrostatic cloth (EC) method. First, floor dust was collected by vacuuming a 2 m(2) area in the living room and a 2 m(2) area in a bedroom, directly adjacent to the sofa or bed, for 5 min each with a Mitest™ sampler-fitted vacuum. Second, immediately after the collection of the vacuum dust sample, an EC dust sample was collected by wiping above-floor horizontal surfaces in the living room and bedroom. Then, the ERMI analysis of each sample was performed by a commercial laboratory. The results showed the average concentrations of 33 of the 36 ERMI molds were not significantly different in the vacuum and EC samples. Also, the average summed logs of the Group 1 molds, Group 2 or ERMI values were significantly (p

Background: Occupational physicians work directly with individual employees regarding diseases that has been caused or exacerbated by workplace factors. However, employees are increasingly required to travel for their work, including to tropical countries where they risk exposure to diseases they would not normally encounter at home (i.e., malaria). Such disease/s may also take days to months to incubate before becoming symptomatic, even after their return home, thus delaying and complicating the diagnosis. Proving this was an occupational disease with respective sick leave entitlement or compensation can be challenging. There is a lack of data concerning occupational diseases caused by tropical infections. Material and methods: Employee case records for the period 2003-2008 from the State Institute for Occupational Health and Safety of North-Rhine Westphalia in Germany were analysed and assessed within Germany’s regulatory framework. These records included Germany’s largest industrial zone. Results: From 2003-2008the suspected cases of “tropical diseases and typhus”, categorized as occupational disease “Bk 3104” in Germany, have decreased significantly. A high percentage of the suspected cases was accepted as occupational disease, but persistent or permanent sequelae which conferred an entitlement to compensation were rare. Conclusion: There is scope to improve diagnosis and acceptance of tropical diseases as occupational diseases. The most important diseases reported were malaria, amoebiasis, and dengue fever. Comprehensive pre-travel advice and post-travel follow-ups by physicians trained in travel and occupational health medicine should be mandatory. Data indicate that there is a lack of knowledge on how to prevent infectious disease abroad.

Background: Shift work is associated with long-term health risks. Workplace-based health interventions hold promise for improving or maintaining the health of shift workers; yet, the impact of workplace-based interventions on shift worker sleep duration has not been assessed. We conducted a systematic review of workplace interventions on shift worker sleep. Methods: We conducted searches in PubMed, Web of Knowledge, EMBASE, Scopus, and PsycINFO ( n = 6,868 records) of all studies published through May 15, 2019. Eligibility criteria included the following: (a) individuals aged ≥18 years; (b) a workplace-based employee intervention; (c) an employee population comprised predominantly of shift workers (>50%); and (d) sleep duration as a study outcome. Findings: Twenty workplace interventions met eligibility criteria. Mean intervention duration was 125 ( SD = 187) days and mean sample size was 116 employees ( SD = 256) with a mean age of 36.4 years ( SD = 6.5). Interventions most commonly focused on light exposure (25%) or shift timing (25%), followed by sleep hygiene (20%). Most interventions were conducted in the health care and social assistance sector (60%). Study quality on average was 64% ( SD = 7%). A majority of the studies found that a workplace-based health intervention was associated with a desirable increase in 24-hour total sleep duration (55%). The overall average increase in daily employee sleep duration achieved by interventions ranged for RCT studies from 0.34 to 0.99 hours and for non-RCT studies from 0.02 to 1.15 hours. Conclusions/Applications to Practice: More than half of the employee health interventions, especially yoga or mindfulness interventions, resulted in a desirable increase in sleep duration. Workplaces hold promise as an avenue? for delivering programs and policies that aim to improve sleep duration among shift workers.

The British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS) COVID-19 Working Group developed a control banding matrix to provide guidance for employers and others to help assess the risks of COVID-19 infection during the pandemic. The matrix was based on occupational hygiene principles and the judgement of the occupational health practitioners involved; since objective data on workers’ exposure were unavailable. Users of the matrix identify one of five exposure categories based on generic job descriptions and example occupations, and these categories are linked to generic guidance on interventions at source, on the exposure pathway and for individual workers. The risk matrix was published on the BOHS website and the guidance has been downloaded more than 2000 times. The matrix has had limited evaluation for reliability, but the data suggest that the highest exposure ranked jobs were associated with higher age-standardized mortality in Britain during the pandemic. However, there was considerable variability in exposure assignments between assessors, which underlines the need for the control guidance to be precautionary. The BOHS calls on academic researchers to undertake further work to validate the reliability of the tool.

Zusammenfassung Hintergrund Um mit den zunehmenden Belastungen und Herausforderungen umgehen zu können, wird Gesundheitskompetenz (GK) im Alltag und Arbeitskontext immer wichtiger. Ziel der Arbeit Das Ziel dieser Arbeit ist es, eine Analyse der selbsteingeschätzten GK der Mitarbeitenden eines Unternehmens der verarbeitenden Metallindustrie durchzuführen und auf deren Grundlage Handlungsempfehlungen zur Stärkung der GK herauszustellen. Material und Methoden In dieser Arbeit wurde die GK der Mitarbeitenden mit der Kurzform des European Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLS-EU-Q16) sowie Angaben zum soziodemographischen Hintergrund, Gesundheitsverhalten, Gesundheitszustand und Wohlbefinden erhoben und analysiert. Mit Hilfe einer Online- und Paper-pencil-Befragung sollte in dieser quantitativen Erhebung eine repräsentative Stichprobe aus der Gesamtbelegschaft generiert werden. Ergebnisse Die meisten Mitarbeitenden der 458 teilgenommenen Personen verfügten über eine ausreichende GK (39,7 %). Mehr als die Hälfte der Mitarbeitenden (60,3 %) wies jedoch eine problematische oder inadäquate GK auf. Es konnten Zusammenhänge zwischen der GK und dem Wohlbefinden, Gesundheitszustand und verschiedenen gesundheitsförderlichen Verhaltensweisen festgestellt werden. Diskussion Die Ergebnisse verdeutlichen, dass ein Handlungsbedarf zur Stärkung der GK von Beschäftigten besteht. Durch die genannten Handlungsempfehlungen kann diese erzielt werden. Um deren Wirksamkeit zu überprüfen, sollte eine Folgeerhebung als Vergleich dienen. Weiterhin benötigt es einer dauerhaften Sensibilisierung aller Führungskräfte und Mitarbeitenden für die Förderung der GK.

BackgroundWe hypothesised that occupational exposures differently affect subtypes of adult-onset asthma.ObjectiveWe investigated potential relations between occupation and three subtypes of adult asthma, namely atopic asthma, non-atopic asthma and asthma–COPD overlap syndrome (ACOS).MethodsThis is a population-based case–control study of incident asthma among working-age adults living in Pirkanmaa Hospital District in Southern Finland. The determinant of interest was occupation at the time of diagnosis of asthma or the job that the subject had quit due to respiratory symptoms. Asthma was divided into three mutually exclusive subtypes on the basis of any positive IgE antibody (atopic and non-atopic asthma) and presence of persistent airways obstruction in spirometry (ACOS). We applied unconditional logistic regression analysis to estimate adjusted OR (aOR), taking into account gender, age and smoking.ResultsThe following occupational groups showed significantly increased risk of atopic asthma: chemical industry workers (aOR 15.76, 95% CI 2.64 to 94.12), bakers and food processors (aOR 4.69, 95% CI 1.18 to 18.69), waiters (aOR 4.67, 95% CI 1.40 to 15.56) and those unemployed (aOR 3.06, 95% CI 1.52 to 6.17). The following occupations showed clearly increased risk of non-atopic asthma: metal workers (aOR 8.37, 95% CI 3.77 to 18.59) and farmers and other agricultural workers (aOR 2.36, 95% CI 1.10 to 5.06). Some occupational groups showed statistically significantly increased OR of ACOS: electrical and electronic production workers (aOR 30.6, 95% CI 6.10 to 153.35), fur and leather workers (aOR 16.41, 95% CI 1.25 to 215.85) and those retired (aOR 5.55, 95% CI 1.63 to 18.97).ConclusionsOur results show that different occupations are associated with different subtypes of adult-onset asthma.

BACKGROUND: Pressure will erode the health and vitality of employees, which undermines the combat effectiveness. OBJECTIVES: It tends to release employees stress and manage the pressure while reducing management costs. METHODS: Relationship between work pressure and innovation cost management is investigated. A model of impact of increased employee stress on human cost is proposed. Job demand control (JDC) model is employed to evaluate mental health status, work pressure, engagement, innovation ability, etc. Sensitivity of technical innovation management cost (TIMC) to various costs is analyzed. RESULTS: All factors of employees’ mental health are negatively correlated with work support, control, and duration. The worse the mental health, the lower the control over work resources. Through analysis of employees’ work stress and engagement variables, significance indicators of each factor are all less than 0.05, indicating a significant correlation between employee pressure and work engagement. TIMC is highly sensitive to the change of labor cost, but not to changes of fixed cost and material cost. CONCLUSIONS: Work demands and engagement were positively correlated, and so were work support and engagement. Enterprises should focus on labor cost, improve organizational and management and innovation efficiency.

Background Recent increases in common mental disorders (CMDs) among young adults are of great concern although studies of CMDs in young employees are sparse. This study investigated the independent and interacting effects of sector of employment, occupational class and CMDs. Additionally, associations between type of employment branch and CMDs within each sector were examined. Methods This population-based longitudinal cohort study included 665 138 employees, 19–29 years, residing in Sweden in 2009. Employment sector (i.e. private/public) and occupational class (non-manual/manual workers) were measured in 2009. Risk estimates of CMDs, measured as new prescription of antidepressants and/or psychiatric care with a diagnosis of CMDs, between 2010 and 2016, were calculated as hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), using Cox multivariable regression analysis. Results Public sector employees (whereof 60% manual workers) had an elevated risk for CMDs compared to private sector employees [adjusted HR: 1.14 (95% CI 1.12–1.16)]. Within each sector, manual workers were at increased risk of CMDs compared to non-manual workers. There was an interaction between sector of employment and occupational class; manual workers in the public sector had the highest CMD risk [adjusted synergy index: 1.51 (95% CI 1.29–1.76)]. The most elevated risk for CMDs was observed in those employed in health and social services and the lowest risk among construction workers. Conclusion Sector of employment and occupational class play a role in CMDs in young employees. These findings should be taken into account in the attempts to reduce CMDs in the young working population.

BACKGROUND: The shipbuilding industry has various risks such as slipping, falling, mechanical, chemical, and confined space work. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to compare the characteristics of the occupational accidents between novice and skilled workers in the shipbuilding industry and to analyze factors affecting death and disability accidents. METHODS: From the national work-related compensation data of South Korea, an experimental design was established to analyze a population of occupational injuries related to workers working in the shipbuilding industry. This study compares accident characteristics of 2,069 injuries registered as work-related accidents. Also, logistic regression analysis is performed to identify the factors affecting death and disability accidents. RESULTS: The prevalence of occupational accidents caused by novices was high in older workers, female workers, foreign workers, irregular workers, or companies with less than 100 employees. The proportion of source of accident by novices was high in ‘manhole,’‘ladder,’ and ‘scaffold,’ while the prevalence of accident type was high in ‘fall,’ ‘cut/bruise,’ and ‘struck by.’ According to logistic regression analysis, if the face was injured, the possibility of being death or disability was higher than that of other parts of the body. Also, if the rupture caused the injury, the possibility of being death or disability was higher than the different types of injury. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study are expected to be useful as basic data for the prevention of accidents of novice and death/disabilities in the shipbuilding industry.

BACKGROUND: The increasing globalization and the advances in communication technology have expedited the formation of virtual teams. The geographical distribution of virtual team members entails significant changes in working conditions. There is limited knowledge about the demands and resources virtual team members experience and how these can affect their mental health. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to identify work-related psychological demands and resources of virtual team members. METHODS: 14 semi-structured interviews with virtual team members were conducted. Study participants were recruited based on the gatekeeper principle and the snowball principle. The interviewees were asked about self-perceived job demands and resources of virtual teamwork. The interviews were analyzed according to Mayring’s structuring content analysis. RESULTS: Based on the qualitative analysis, the following job demands were explored among virtual team members: challenges due to permanent availability, technical conditions, and communication issues with other virtual team members. Job-related resources among virtual team members were also identified and are reflected in increased autonomy, flexibility and improved compatibility of private and professional working life. CONCLUSION: This study contributes to the understanding of the specific working conditions of virtual team members and identified job demands and resources of virtual teamwork. In addition, this study can be used as a basis for further quantitative investigations.

BACKGROUND: This research work establishes the relationship between job strain and being overweight among Mexican managers. Recently in Mexico, there has been a sharp increase in work-related diseases and mental health disorders. Furthermore, evidence shows that Mexicans rank top among employees who suffer from stress, yet research on the impact of job strain on the phenomena of obesity and being overweight among such vulnerable job positions in the industrial field is scarce. METHODS: The sample included 170 overweight middle and senior managers from six companies in the Mexican Manufacturing Industry. Cedillo’s Spanish version of the Job Content Questionnaire by Karasek was used, and the Body Mass Index (BMI) was used to characterize an overweight condition. Structural Equations Modelling studied the relationships among variables. RESULTS: Even though, the model shows a power of explanation of 6%(R2 = 0.06), the variable showing the greatest direct effect on the overweight variable is social support, with 21%(p

The Australian Senate announced a Select Committee in December of 2020 “to inquire into and report on the impact of insecure or precarious employment on the economy, wages, social cohesion and workplace rights and conditions.” This New Solutions “Document” is a submission to the Australian Senate from independent Australian researchers focusing on the role of perceived job (in)security in this context, acknowledging that it only briefly addresses the role of unemployment, precarious employment, and other aspects of the broader phenomenon of insecure work. Submissions closed in March of 2021, and the Australian Senate is due to report its findings on 30 November 2021.

BACKGROUND: The number of studies investigating the relationship between office employees and the development of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) is limited. Only a few focused on assessing workplace ergonomics of office employees. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the risk of MSDs and associated factors in the office workplaces of a large-size manufacturing company. METHODS: Data were gathered from 208 office employees from a manufacturing company via Rapid Office Strain Assessment (ROSA) and Cornell questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed to examine the relationship between ergonomic risk levels and MSDs reported by the office staff. RESULTS: The mean ROSA final score is 3.52 (std. dev. = 0.71), chair section is 3.30, monitor and telephone section is 2.18, and mouse and keyboard section is 2.69. Thirty-nine of 208 (18.8%) office workplaces are at risk. The most important factor to raise the risk level is found to be the height and depth of the chair. The Cornell questionnaire results highlight that the highest discomfort severity is related to the neck (32.26%), lower back (23.23%) and upper back (22.26%). The discomforts in the neck (r = 0.362), upper back (r = 0.404) and lower back (r = 0.368) are moderately and positively correlated according to the final ROSA score. The results indicate that the highest risked departments are Accounting, Sub Industry, Production Planning, and Manufacturing Management. CONCLUSION: The parameters associated with the chair section should be considered a priority for reducing and eliminating MSDs among office employees.

BACKGROUND: Computer workstation use is a risk factor for the development of musculoskeletal disorders. Governmental guidelines have been developed as a resource for workstation set-up to minimize this risk. The degree of worksite compliance with guidelines has not been examined. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine workstations using the VDT Workstation Checklist to determine compliance, and potential modifications. METHODS: Subjects were recruited from a variety of work settings in Erie, PA. Workstations were assessed with the worker present, using the VDT Workstation Checklist. Adjustments and recommendations were made as appropriate. RESULTS: Of the 60 workstations examined, 48%did not receive a passing score. All but one were correctable to an acceptable level with minimal low-cost modifications. The recommendation for wrist rests (43%), changes in monitor height (30%) or position (27%) and reposition of the keyboard (13.3%) and mouse (13.3%) were the most frequent modifications. Ten (16.7%) workstations did not require modification. CONCLUSIONS: Almost half of workstations reviewed were not in compliance with current guidelines, however almost all (98%) could be brought into compliance with simple modifications. Office workers need guidance in setting up workspace and adjusting ergonomic equipment to provide comfortable and safe work settings and minimize musculoskeletal symptoms.

Zusammenfassung Hintergrund Für Polizeibeamte besteht durch gleichzeitiges Auftreten von beruflichem Stress, wie etwa dem Schicht- und Wechseldienst, dem Bewältigungserfordernis dynamisch-komplexer Einsatzlagen sowie einer erhöhten Risiko- und Gefährdungsstufe und gesundheitsschädlichen Lebensgewohnheiten ein erhöhtes Risiko für kardiovaskuläre Erkrankungen. Der Fokus bisheriger Studien lag auf älteren Polizeibeamten, während zur Situation bei jüngeren Rekruten nur wenig bekannt ist. Ziel der Arbeit Die Prävalenz und Ausprägung individueller Risikofaktoren sollten in einem Kollektiv von jungen Polizeirekruten untersucht werden. Methodik Alle Thüringer Polizeibeamten des Ausbildungsjahres 2017/2018 (n = 199, 151 männlich) wurden untersucht. Das Durchschnittsalter lag bei 24,3 ± 4,3 Jahren (Männer) bzw. 23,4 ± 3,8 Jahren (Frauen). Ruhepuls, Blutdruck, Body-Mass-Index (BMI) und Bauchumfang wurden als körperliche Indikatoren kardiovaskulärer Risikofaktoren gemessen, Lebensstil-Parameter wurden anhand selbst auszufüllender Fragebögen (soziodemografische Daten, Aktivitäten des täglichen Lebens etc.) erfasst. Ergebnisse Wesentliche Risikofaktoren kardiovaskulärer Erkrankungen wie Übergewicht, vergrößerter Bauchumfang und Nikotinabusus traten bei Männern und Frauen in 37 % und 9 % (Übergewicht), 11 % und 23 % (Bauchumfang) bzw. 34 % und 47 % (Nikotinabusus) auf. Rekruten mit Übergewicht rauchten signifikant häufiger (p = 0,008). Bei zwei Studienteilnehmern lag eine arterielle Hypertonie vor, bei 19 % war der Blutdruck akut erhöht. Schlussfolgerung Bei Polizeirekruten besteht eine erhöhte Prävalenz von kardiovaskulären Risikofaktoren wie Übergewicht, großer Bauchumfang oder Nikotinabusus. Da insbesondere übergewichtige Polizeianwärter verstärkt zu Nikotin- und Alkoholkonsum neigen, stellen diese ein besonders gefährdetes Risikokollektiv dar. Maßnahmen zur Prävention und Förderung der Gesundheitskompetenz sollten die Rekruten bei der Risikominimierung unterstützen.

Experimental studies have been conducted to determine the operational properties of fabrics used for the manufacture of protective masks. For the experimental study, 22 different fabrics were used, which are available in everyday life. Determination of the operational properties was carried out according to three indicators: the penetration coefficient of the test aerosol, paraffin oil (filtering property), breathing resistance (ergonomic property), resistance to dusting (protective action period) in accordance with the requirements of DSTU EN 149-2017 standard. According to the results of the experimental study to determine the operational properties of fabrics: breathing resistance, penetration coefficient and resistance to dust, it was found that out of the twenty-two samples tested, only eight can be used for the manufacture of protective masks, since their characteristics are able to provide a sufficient level of protection from minimal physiological impact on human (wool, two-thread cloth, velor, tricotin, jersey, frieze and satin). Theoretical calculation of the operational properties of protective masks, which can be made of these fabrics, based on experimental data allowed to make their compliance with the first class of protection according to the requirements of DSTU EN 149-2017. The scientific novelty is to clarify the relationship between the operational properties of fabrics and the operational properties of protective masks.

Background Precarious employment is a potent occupational health risk, but little is known about its association with work-related disability and its causes. This study analyzes whether employment precariousness is associated with receiving disability pension (DP) due to depression and whether this differs according to gender. Methods Statistics Finland’s Quality of Work Life Surveys (1997, 2003, 2008 and 2013) were merged with register-based DP data obtained from the Finnish Centre for Pensions. The survey material was used to measure employment precariousness using five variables: fear of job loss, poor employability prospects, previous unemployment, low earnings and temporary contracts. We followed 20–60-year-old employees until 2016 and studied Cox proportional hazard ratios (HRs) for receiving DP among women and men, adjusting for sociodemographic covariates, working conditions and health at baseline. Results The overall risk of receiving DP tended to increase as precarious job features accumulated. Among men, a higher risk of receiving DP due to depression was associated with previous unemployment [HR 2.2, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1–4.2] and poor employability (HR 2.4, 95% CI 1.3–4.7), whereas no corresponding association was found among women. Conclusions Employment precariousness may reflect a psychological stress mechanism that predisposes the individual to mental health problems, predicting future disability. Work disability risk shows gendered differences depending on the cause of DP. Promoting employability at workplace and policy levels could offset the health risks associated with precariousness.

The article presents a study conducted to study the relationship between personality traits and leadership qualities of military personnel in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. Approaches to the study of leadership as a socio-psychological phenomenon are described. Scientific approaches to the concepts of "personal qualities" and "leadership qualities" are analyzed. The features of the personality of military personnel are considered. The aim is to identify the relationship between personality traits and leadership qualities of military personnel. The objectives of the study are: description of approaches to the definition of personality and personal properties in the works of foreign and domestic psychologists; empirical identification of personality traits in military personnel; identification of the severity of leadership qualities in military personnel; establishing the relationship between personality traits and leadership qualities of military personnel. The research uses theoretical, empirical, and statistical research methods. The obtained data suggest that the relationship between personal characteristics and leadership qualities is reliable. The results of the study can be useful for improving the effectiveness of working with military personnel, the formation of professionally important leadership qualities.

BACKGROUND Nurses and medical social workers’ (MSW’s) stress has an impact on health, which ultimately has an effect on quality care of the patients. Stress problems are one of the leading causes of sleep disturbance. We wanted to evaluate the association of quality and pattern of sleep with work stress levels in nurses and medico-social workers in this study. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted on nurses and MSW’s of Tertiary Care Hospitals of Wardha city using questionnaire, containing 24 questions. A total of 513 Nurses and 36 MSW’s of Tertiary Care Hospitals were taken in this study, sampling was done by simple random sampling method. The stress was evaluated using 10 items “Global perceived stress scale” (GPSS) and for sleep quality “Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index” (PSQI) of total 14 items was used. The variables were compared in unpaired t test and Pearson correlation test to know the level of significance of determinacy which was set at less than 0.05. RESULTS The overall PSS scores in nurses (12.57 ± 3.7) and MSWs (12.87 ± 3.1) were almost similar and were statistically significant. Subjective sleep quality score of MSWs (2.19 ± 0.66) was higher than that of nurses (2.00 ± 0.19) and was statistically insignificant according to the specialization. The statistically relevant sleep duration was greater in MSWs (13.50 ± 03.56) than in nurses (12.16 ± 02.73). Moderate positive correlation between perceived stress severity and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was observed. CONCLUSIONS Certain characteristics of work shift among nurses and MSW’s is directly affected by the stress and sleep quality and indirectly affects the patient care and treatment. The study indicates that work characteristics may influence sleep quality and stress among nurses and MSW’s. We needed to improve work shift schedule in order to provide good health and well-being of nurses and MSW’s which would further improve the quality of patient care. KEY WORDS Nurses, MSW’s, Sleep Quality, Stress

The problem of industrial injuries and occupational diseases of workers is relevant for all countries, including the Republic of Kazakhstan, where more than 200 people die every year and more than 2,000 are injured at workplaces due to hazardous and harmful production factors, including insufficient natural or artificial illumination of workplaces. The aim of the work is to study the level of illumination of workplaces at enterprises of the Republic of Kazakhstan and to establish the influence of this factor on the working conditions. The object of the study is workplaces and employees of one of the largest machine-building plants, where 60 employees were interviewed, and instrumental measurements of illumination levels were performed in two workshops. The questionnaire method and methods for assessing workplaces by the level of illumination were used. The analysis showed that the largest number of surveyed workers (58.4%) were not satisfied with the level of illumination; according to the instrumental measurements of illumination, 40.9% and 46.6% of workplaces were harmful and dangerous. Employees working under harmful conditions are entitled to a number of benefits and compensations. Thus, the creation of rational working conditions, including illumination of workplaces, helps to minimize injuries and occupational diseases and increase the efficiency and productivity of labor.

Objectives. Despite widespread use of scaffolds on construction sites, they are the most common causes of accidents, injuries and fatalities in this sector. About 80-90% of all occupational accidents occur as a result of human factors. On construction sites, proper erection/dismantling of scaffold is possibly the most essential factor in preventing accidents as it is one of the factors reported to be highly statistically significant in correlation to a high overall scaffold safety rating. Therefore, analysis of human errors (HEs) caused by scaffolders is important to be implemented. The main objective of this study was to evaluate possible HEs during scaffold erection and dismantling (SE&D). Methods. Stages involved were identified using hierarchical task analysis (HTA). Risk values of HEs were then evaluated using the fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (FAHP). Results. Our findings indicate that the highest and lowest risk values were related to the errors of 'failure to reattach braces and connections prior to dismantling scaffolds' and 'insufficient preparation of the firm foundation', respectively. Conclusion. This study formulates a method to estimate the risk of potential HEs in SE&D.

Shift work can be associated with health and sleep problems, which may lead to cognitive impairment. This study investigated the effects of shift work on sleep, health behaviours and cognitive functions of Polish rescue service workers. We tested 18 paramedics working 12-h shifts, 15 firefighters working 24-h shifts and 17 daytime workers. We measured general sleepiness, workload during shifts and the occurrence of health behaviours. Additionally, we measured attention, executive function and subjective alertness. Paramedics showed lower average sleep duration and quality, and fewer health behaviours than firefighters and the control group. However, no differences were found in performance on cognitive tests between the groups and between the measures. The results indicate that the differences in job specificity may contribute to the effects of shift work on the sleep and health of the workers.

Purpose: to highlight the problem of assessing the impact of chemical factors on the health of personnel of enterprises engaged in ship repair and shipbuilding by conducting research on human biomonitoring.Materials and methods.The content analysis of various domestic and foreign scientific sources, as well as regulatory documents of different countries related to human biomonitoring in industry was carried out. A comparison is made between different normative values of biological exposure indices in different countries.Results and discussion. It is established that human biomonitoring as a method of assessing the impact of chemicals on human health is already actively developing both in our country and abroad. The complexity of the evidence base based on the principles of evidence-based toxicology, which allows us to establish standard values for biomarkers in the human body due to a deep understanding of toxic and dynamic processes in the body, does not yet allow us to create a full-fledged regulatory framework and make the nature of human biomonitoring activities mandatory in the workplace. However, work in this direction is currently underway. At the same time, some countries have already developed a number of documents that allow for human biomonitoring at enterprises, despite their exclusively advisory nature.

ObjectiveTo investigate the role of maternal night shift work in occurrence of urogenital anomalies in offspring, considering a possible interaction with mode of conception.MethodsA population-based cohort comprising births in South Australia (1986–2002) was produced via linkage of fertility clinic records, perinatal and birth defects data. This study concerned first births to women in paid employment (n=98 103). Potential exposure to night shift was imputed by applying a job-exposure matrix to recorded occupation. Associations were examined using logistic regression, first for nurses and other night shift workers separately, then combined. An interaction term for night shift work and mode of conception was included in all models, while adjusting for covariates.ResultsAssociations were similar for nurses and other night shift workers, although only statistically significant for the former when considered separately. A multiplicative interaction was supported: for natural conceptions, maternal night shift work was not associated with offspring urogenital anomalies (OR=0.99, 95% CI 0.84 to 1.15); where a birth arose from fertility treatment, urogenital anomalies were significantly higher among births to all night shift workers compared with day workers (OR=2.07, 95% CI 1.20 to 3.55). This was not due to differences in the type of fertility treatment received.ConclusionsWomen in occupations that probably involved night shift did not have offspring with increased prevalence of urogenital anomalies if they conceived naturally. When night shift workers conceived with fertility treatment, the prevalence of urogenital anomalies was elevated. Possibly these women had the greatest exposure to night shift work, or least tolerance for this work schedule, or heightened sensitivity to hormonal aspects of fertility treatment.

Based on the structural analysis and the roll mechanisms of counterbalanced forklift truck, a novel type of 3-link hydraulic supporting mechanism is designed as an actuator for forklift anti-rollover control. A rollover grading control strategy of the lateral stability of counterbalanced forklift truck is proposed, which is used to design a variable universe fuzzy controller. The variable universe fuzzy control of the first-order roll is utilized when the forklift is in the first-order roll, whereas the variable universe fuzzy control of the second-order is used when the forklift is in the second-order roll. A virtual prototype model of forklift is built in Automatic Dynamic Analysis of Mechanical Systems (ADAMS). The co-simulations and vehicle tests are implemented, the results indicate that the lateral stability and active security of the forklift could be improved effectively by using the variable universe fuzzy control strategy of the lateral stability of forklift truck based on roll grading.

Objectives: Investigate biosecurity principles on Minnesota and Wisconsin dairy farms in response to COVID-19 and the effects of the pandemic on the dairy industry.Methods: Dairy farms that had participated in previous and ongoing projects with the National Farm Medicine Center (NFMC), Migrant Clinicians Network (MCN), and Upper Midwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center (UMASH) were asked to participate in a 17-question survey by phone or email. Three additional farms were recruited via a press release published in agricultural newsletters. Of 76 farms contacted, 37 chose to participate in this study from June to July 2020.Results: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, dairies have implemented or increased biosecurity measures and COVID-19 precautions. Dairies reported adequate personal protective equipment for their workers, though face masks were not required on most dairies (n=32, 86%). Producers were concerned about the safety of their families, maintaining a healthy workforce, and keeping their farms profitable. Access to healthcare was not perceived to be an issue for their workers. One-quarter of dairies reported COVID-19 infections on their farms. Even though the majority had an isolation protocol in place if someone on the farm were to become ill, less than half of respondents felt their farm was protected against COVID-19. Two-thirds of producers have not had to decrease production, and a majority of operations have not furloughed or terminated employees due to COVID-19.Conclusions: Our data suggest that dairy farms in Minnesota and Wisconsin have implemented biosecurity and safety measures in response to COVID-19. These measures can be improved. Farms would benefit from additional guidance and education on implementation of personal protective measures and disease prevention strategies to keep workers employed and safe.

The dominant position among the reasons of working-age population’s health deterioration belongs to diseases of the peripheral nervous system (PNS), the peak prevalence of which occurs at the age of 35–40. PNS diseases are diagnosed in about 76.0% of industrial workers, and account for more than half of all occupational diseases. They are the main cause of incapacitation and long-term disability. Publications on disability due to PNS diseases are isolated.The aim of the work. Clinical and functional characteristics of PNS disorders that cause disability in the working-age population.Material and methods. Among 91 496 first recognized as disabled in the Republic of Bashkortostan in 2014–2018, all disabled people of working age were selected due to PNS diseases, in which the main independent diagnosis was radiculopathy, polyneuropathy, neuropathy and vibratory disease with indication to lumbar-sacral radiculopathy with polyneuropathy of the upper extremities. 107 people were identified to constitute a closed cohort for a comprehensive study of the clinical-functional state and patterns of disability formation in them. The clinical-functional characteristic is given on the basis of the results of studies set forth in the directional medical documents and the assessment by an expert neurologist of the Main Bureau of Medical and Social Expertise. Statistical analysis was performed in Microsoft Excel.Results. The prevalence of PNS diseases has been found to be increasing. Three of the newly diagnosed neurological patients have been the carriers of PNS disease. PNS diseases are formed and reach peak in working age. Characterized by a chronic, progressive course, they often cause temporary and persistent disability. On average, there are 0.1 ± 0.028 persons with disabilities per 10 thousand of the able-bodied population due to PNS diseases, the level of which in dynamics for 2014–2018 increased by 1.7 times. Persons with disabilities (69.0%) are mainly represented by men, every second (50.6%) is over 50 years old, with an average age of 48.7 ± 5.7 years. The clinical-functional state is characterized by constant pain, numbness, seizures, restriction of movements in the limbs, sensory disorders, vegetative-vascular disorders.Conclusion. The quantitative evaluation of the main types of the body functions and main categories of vital activity persistent disorders made it possible to detect that 69.3 ± 4.4% persons with disabilities have persistent moderate abnormalities of functions in the range 40–60% (II degree), another 24.4 ± 3.8 — persistent pronounced abnormalities in the range 70–80% (III degree) and 6.3 ± 6.0% — persistent significant abnormalities in the range 90–100% (IV degree). The severity of impaired functioning of the body is the basis for the level of persistent disability determination.

BackgroundDespite the existence of hearing conservation programmes complying with regulatory standards, noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) remains one of the most prevalent occupational diseases. Compulsory daily monitoring of noise exposure has been associated with decreased NIHL risk. We report on the experience of a voluntary daily noise monitoring intervention among noise-exposed workers.MethodsWorkers at three locations of a metals manufacturing company voluntarily used an in-ear noise monitoring device that could record and download, on a daily basis, the noise exposure inside of their hearing protection. We compared the hearing loss rates (in decibels hearing level/year) in these volunteers to controls from the same company matched for job title, age, gender, race, plant location, and baseline hearing level.ResultsOver the follow-up period, 110 volunteers for whom controls could be identified monitored daily noise exposures an average of 150 times per year. Noise exposures inside of hearing protection were lower than ambient noise levels estimated from company records. While there was no significant difference in hearing loss rates between volunteers and controls, volunteers downloading exposures 150 times per year or had less hearing loss than those who downloaded less frequently.ConclusionThese results indicate that voluntary daily noise exposure monitoring by workers is feasible and that greater frequency of downloading is associated with less hearing loss. If further development of noise monitoring technology can improve usability and address barriers to daily use, regular self-monitoring of noise exposure could improve the effectiveness of hearing conservation programmes.Trial registration numberNCT01714375.

Objective To analyse the genotoxic risk of cytostatic drugs in health professionals after occupational exposure. Method Literature was searched for the databases PubMed, Lilacs, The Cochrane Library and Scopus with free and controlled language (MeSH terms) using boolean operators AND and OR. The research was limited to articles published between 2005–2016. Results 11 articles were selected depending on their relevancy to this review’s aim. Nine of the 11 articles proved the existence of damage to genetic material (DNA) of health workers, who were exposed to cytostatics. Furthermore, current security practices do not eliminate the chance of exposure completely. Therefore, the creation of new clinical trials is required. Conclusions Handling cytostatic drugs can cause a genotoxic risk to health workers who are exposed to these substances. This exposure may cause damage on the workers’ DNA. There are not enough data to prove a cause-effect relationship between the genotoxic risk and adverse reactions on individuals. Health education will be the main way to raise the awareness and prevention this problem.

PurposeThe identification of fatigue status and early intervention to mitigate fatigue can reduce the risk of workplace injuries. Off-the-shelf wearable sensors capable of assessing multiple parameters are available. However, using numerous variables in the fatigue prediction model can elicit data issues. This study aimed at identifying the most relevant variables for measuring occupational fatigue among entry-level construction workers by using common wearable sensor technologies, such as electrocardiogram and actigraphy sensors.Design/methodology/approachTwenty-two individuals were assigned different task workloads in repeated sessions. Stepwise logistic regression was used to identify the most parsimonious fatigue prediction model. Heart rate variability measurements, standard deviation of NN intervals and power in the low-frequency range (LF) were considered for fatigue prediction. Fast Fourier transform and autoregressive (AR) analysis were employed as frequency domain analysis methods.FindingsThe log-transformed LF obtained using AR analysis is preferred for daily fatigue management, whereas the standard deviation of normal-to-normal NN is useful in weekly fatigue management.Research limitations/implicationsThis study was conducted with entry-level construction workers who are involved in manual material handling activities. The findings of this study are applicable to this group.Originality/valueThis is the first study to investigate all major measures obtainable through electrocardiogram and actigraphy among current mainstream wearables for monitoring occupational fatigue in the construction industry. It contributes knowledge on the use of wearable technology for managing occupational fatigue among entry-level construction workers engaged in material handling activities.

**Hintergrund** Mit der digitalen Transformation und dem Zuwachs an digitalen Gesundheitsinformationen steigen auch die Möglichkeiten der Gesundheitsförderung und Prävention. Gleichzeitig erhöhen sich auch die Anforderungen an den Umgang mit Gesundheitsinformationen und damit an die (digitale) Gesundheitskompetenz. Vorliegende Studien zeigen jedoch, dass ein Großteil der Bevölkerung in Deutschland nicht über ausreichende Gesundheitskompetenz verfügt und hier großer politischer Handlungsbedarf besteht. **Ziel und Fragestellung** Der Beitrag geht der Frage nach, inwieweit es gelungen ist, Gesundheitskompetenz in Deutschland als Thema und als potenzielles neues Politikfeld zu etablieren. **Material und Methoden** In Anlehnung an die Diskussion zur Ausreifung von Politikfeldern werden in dem Beitrag fünf Kriterien ((1.) Problemwahrnehmung und Agenda Setting, (2.) Konsens über Definition und Ziele, (3.) empirische Belege, (4.) Wille zum Handeln und Veränderungsbereitschaft, (5.) Ressourcenausstattung) betrachtet, anhand derer der Reifegrad von Gesundheitskompetenz als neues Politikfeld einzuschätzen versucht wird. **Ergebnisse** Insgesamt zeigt sich, dass Gesundheitskompetenz in Deutschland eine rasante Themenkarriere durchlaufen hat und ein gesellschaftlich und politisch zunehmend relevantes Thema darstellt. Auch bei der Etablierung und Reifung als Politikfeld erfolgten in den letzten Jahren wichtige, auch international beachtete Schritte. Dabei wurde der Digitalisierung und der Verknüpfung beider bislang getrennt geführten Diskussionen und Entwicklungen jedoch zu wenig Beachtung geschenkt. Auch bis zur nachhaltigen Verankerung als Politikfeld sind noch etliche Herausforderungen zu bewältigen. **Schlussfolgerung** Die Bedeutung von Gesundheitskompetenz ist im digitalen Zeitalter größer denn je. Die Bewältigung dieser Herausforderungen stellt daher eine zukünftig wichtige Aufgabe dar., **Background** With the digital transformation and the increase in digital health information, the opportunities for health promotion and disease prevention are also increasing. At the same time, the demands on dealing with health information and thus for (digital) health literacy are also increasing. However, existing studies show that a large part of the population in Germany is not adequately health literate, which points to a great need for political action. **Objectives** This article therefore examines the extent to which health literacy has been successfully established as an issue and as a potential new policy area in Germany. **Materials and methods** Following the discussion on policy analysis, the paper considers five criteria ((1.) problem perception and agenda-setting, (2.) consensus on definition and objectives, (3.) empirical evidence, (4.) willingness to act and change, (5.) level of resources) against which it attempts to assess the development of health literacy as a new policy area. **Results** Overall, it can be shown that health literacy has undergone a rapid career as a topic in Germany and is becoming increasingly relevant both socially and politically. In recent years, important steps have been taken in establishing health literacy as a policy area, which have also attracted international attention. However, too little attention has been paid to digitalization and to linking the two discussions and developments, which have been conducted separately so far. To anchor health literacy sustainably as a policy field, several challenges have to be addressed. **Conclusions** The importance of health literacy in the digital age is greater than ever. Meeting these challenges will therefore be an important task in the future.

Introduction. In modern conditions of rapid development of information and communication technologies, healthcare workers start experiencing adverse health effects of such risk factors as an uncontrolled use of electronic devices and associated physical inactivity, sleep deprivation, and impaired work/rest patterns during their professional training. Our purpose was to study subjective assessment of risks from electronic device usage by medical workers. Methods. A specially developed questionnaire was distributed among 148 doctors, 72 nurses and paramedics, and 119 professors of medical universities. In addition to that, selective measurements of body composition were taken in homogeneous cohorts of female healthcare professionals serving as teachers of clinical departments of medical universities (33) or nurses (36) who gave an informed consent to participate in the study and filled out the questionnaire. The statistical software package Statistica 13 PL (StatSoft, USA) was used for statistical data processing. Results. In general, the respondents gave an adequate assessment of health effects of electronic device usage. Nurses and paramedics appeared to be the least trained in issues of the safe use of electronic devices. Almost 61 % of them had varying degrees of overweight and obesity; yet, 51.4 % of nurses and paramedics rated their health as good being aware of the risks related to overweight. Medical university staff adequately assessed potential health risks and demonstrated better skills of a safe use of electronic devices in everyday life, payed more attention to their physical activity and nutrition, and were committed to developing appropriate competencies in their students. Conclusion. Development of skills of a risk-free electronic device usage in healthcare professionals should begin in a medical school.

ObjectiveDespite increasing prevalence of end-stage renal disease (ESRD), little attention has been directed to how occupational exposures may contribute to risk. Our objective was to investigate the relationship between metalworking fluids (MWF) and ESRD in a cohort of 36 703 male autoworkers.MethodsWe accounted for competing risk of death, using the subdistribution hazard approach to estimate subhazard ratios (sHRs) and 95% CIs in models with cubic splines for cumulative exposure to MWF (straight, soluble or synthetic).ResultsBased on 501 ESRD cases and 13 434 deaths, we did not observe an association between MWF and ESRD overall. We observed modest associations between MWF and ESRD classification of glomerulonephritis and diabetic nephropathy. For glomerulonephritis, the 60th percentile of straight MWF was associated with an 18% increased subhazard (sHR=1.18, 95% CI: 0.99 to 1.41). For diabetic nephropathy, the subhazard increased 28% at the 60th percentile of soluble MWF (sHR=1.28, 95% CI: 1.00 to 1.64). Differences by race suggest that black males may have higher disease rates following MWF exposure.ConclusionsExposure to straight and soluble MWF may be related to ESRD classification, though this relationship should be further examined.

Introduction: The aim of the presented research was to check whether there is a connection between teachers’ self-efficacy and their psychological well-being from a holistic (hedonic and eudaimonic) perspective. Method: The study involved 100 teachers who were asked to fill in the following research tools with proven psychometric properties: the General Self-Efficacy Scale, the Satisfaction with Life Scale, the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, and the Psychological Well-being Scale. Results: The obtained data confirm that there is a connection between self-efficacy belief, and hedonic and eudaimonic well-being. The degree of professional promotion grades modifies the relationships considered. Conclusions: The psychological well-being of teachers is significantly associated with their evaluation of efficacy, which may have a positive impact on the effectiveness of teachers’ professional functioning and the achievements of their students.

Resumen Objetivo Analizar el riesgo genotoxico de los farmacos citostaticos en personal sanitario tras su exposicion ocupacional. Metodo Revision narrativa mediante busqueda bibliografica en bases de datos Pubmed, Lilacs, The Cochrane Library y Scopus, con lenguaje libre y controlado (terminos MeSH) utilizando los operadores booleanos AND y OR. La busqueda se limito a articulos publicados entre 2005-2016. Resultados Se analizaron 11 articulos seleccionados para esta revision bibliografica en funcion de su relevancia, de los cuales 9 mostraban dano en el material genetico (ADN) del personal sanitario expuesto a citostaticos. Ademas, cabe senalar que las actuales practicas de seguridad no eliminan por completo las posibilidades de exposicion, por lo que es necesaria la creacion de nuevos estudios clinicos. Conclusiones La manipulacion de citostaticos puede causar un riesgo genotoxico al personal sanitario que se encuentra expuesto a estas sustancias. Dicho riesgo puede producir modificaciones en el ADN del organismo de estos trabajadores. No existen datos suficientes para demostrar la relacion causa-efecto entre el riesgo genotoxico y el efecto adverso en el individuo. La educacion para la salud sera el principal medio para la concienciacion y prevencion del personal en riesgo.

BackgroundMusculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), a common type of occupational diseases, have become the main cause of absenteeism and early retirement in the occupational population, as well as a major risk factor for occupational disability. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of occupational stress and mental health on MSDs in coal miners in Xinjiang, China, to provide a theoretical basis for reducing the incidence of MSDs in coal miners and improving their physical and mental health.MethodsIn this study, stratified cluster random sampling was used to randomly select six coal mining companies in Xinjiang, and 1675 coal miners were surveyed by questionnaire. The status of occupational stress, mental health and MSDs among coal miners was investigated by means of the Effort–Reward Imbalance questionnaire (ERI), Symptom Checklist-90(SCL-90), and Musculoskeletal disorders scale (MSDs) questionnaire.ResultsThe prevalence of MSDs among coal miners was higher, and there were statistical differences among different sexes, ages, working years, shifts, types of work, educational level and monthly income (P OR = 2.23, 95%CI.:1.50,3.33). The risk of MSDs was higher with age OR = 2.39, 95%CI.,1.68,3.40; 40-49 years,OR = 2.15, 95%CI.:1.52,3.04; 50-60 years:OR = 3.25, 95%CI.:2.09,5.07), and the longer the working years, the higher the risk of MSDs (OR = 1.90, 95%CI.:1.38,2.62). The two shifts group (OR = 2.18, 95%CI.:1.59,2.98) had an increased risk of developing MSDs compared with the fixed day shift group. The risk of MSDs was lower in heading drivers (OR = 0.41, 95%CI.:0.29,0.60,) and transport workers (OR = 0.30, 95%CI.:0.20,0.43). The higher the education level, the lower the risk of MSDs (high school:OR = 0.46, 95%CI.:0.34,0.62, junior college and above:OR = 0.12, 95%CI.:0.08,0.17), and the higher the monthly income, the lower the risk of MSDs (OR = 0.50, 95%CI.:0.34,0.74). Occupational stress (OR = 1.32, 95%CI.:1.05,1.67) and mental disorder(OR = 2.94, 95%CI.:2.25,3.84) increased the risk of MSDs. A Bayesian network diagram showed that occupational stress and MSDs have direct effects on mental disorders, and occupational stress can have indirect effects on mental disorders through MSDs.ConclusionOur research shows that MSDs are common among coal miners. Occupational stress and psychological disorders can increase the incidence of MSDs.

Background: While increased face mask use has helped reduce COVID-19 transmission, there have been concerns about its influence on thermoregulation during exercise in the heat, but consistent, evidence-based recommendations are lacking. Hypothesis: No physiological differences would exist during low-to-moderate exercise intensity in the heat between trials with and without face masks, but perceptual sensations could vary. Study Design: Crossover study. Level of Evidence: Level 2. Methods: Twelve physically active participants (8 male, 4 female; age = 24 ± 3 years) completed 4 face mask trials and 1 control trial (no mask) in the heat (32.3°C ± 0.04°C; 54.4% ± 0.7% relative humidity [RH]). The protocol was 60 minutes of walking and jogging between 35% and 60% of relative VO2max. Rectal temperature (Trec), heart rate (HR), temperature and humidity inside and outside of the face mask (Tmicro_in, Tmicro_out, RHmicro_in, RHmicro_out) and perceptual variables (rating of perceived exertion (RPE), thermal sensation, thirst sensation, fatigue level, and overall breathing discomfort) were monitored throughout all trials. Results: Mean Trec and HR increased at 30- and 60-minute time points compared with 0-minute time points, but no difference existed between face mask trials and control trials ( P > 0.05). Mean Tmicro_in, RHmicro_in, and humidity difference inside and outside of the face mask (ΔRHmicro) were significantly different between face mask trials ( P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in perceptual variables between face mask trials and control trials ( P > 0.05), except overall breathing discomfort ( P < 0.01). Higher RHmicro_in, RPE, and thermal sensation significantly predicted higher overall breathing discomfort ( r2 = 0.418; P < 0.01). Conclusion: Face mask use during 60 minutes of low-to-moderate exercise intensity in the heat did not significantly affect Trec or HR. Although face mask use may affect overall breathing discomfort due to the changes in the face mask microenvironment, face mask use itself did not cause an increase in whole body thermal stress. Clinical Relevance: Face mask use is feasible and safe during exercise in the heat, at low-to-moderate exercise intensities, for physically active, healthy individuals.

The importance of remaining in, or re-entering, the labour market is emphasised by governments internationally. While this may bring benefits, progressive disabilities such as dementia affect an individual’s employability. Although employers have legal obligations to support employees with disabilities, research suggests that employers are not providing this support to employees living with dementia and are undermining their capabilities. Drawing on interview data from 38 key informants collected over two studies, we explore the potential for supporting and promoting the employability of people living with dementia. A model of sustainable employability based on the Capability Approach is used as a lens to explore this issue. The findings demonstrate the implications of progressive disabilities for employability when the worker and their family are faced with dealing with a disability in a period of uncertainty with a lack of public and workplace understanding.

The extent to which long-term individual-oriented flexibility in working hours is associated with working beyond retirement age is not known. The aims of the present study were to identify trajectories of worktime control (WTC) and to examine whether the membership of WTC trajectories was associated with working beyond individual’s pensionable age. A total of 1,953 older employees participated in the study and had data up to 16 years before pensionable age. Group-based latent trajectory modeling was used to identify WTC trajectories and Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to examine the associations of WTC trajectories with duration of employment. Seven trajectories described WTC: “Stable very low” (7%), “Stable low” (21%), “Declined” (12%), “Stable mid-low” (28%), “Improved” (10%), “Stable high” (16%), and “Stable very high” (5%). When compared with the lowest WTC trajectory groups, trajectories of “Stable high/very high” (hazard ratio [HR] 1.34, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.17–1.54) and “Improved” WTC (HR 1.49, 95% CI 1.25–1.78) were associated with longer duration of employment. Although the memberships of the “Stable high/very high” and “Improved” WTC trajectories correlated with gender, marital status, occupational position, and self-rated health, the association between WTC and duration of employment was not fully confounded or mediated by these factors. These findings support the hypothesis that having improved or constantly high control over working times from midlife to retirement age may prolong working lives at retirement age.

Objectives. Human factors have been identified as the most common causes of catastrophic accidents in the oil and gas industry. Therefore, this study aims to analyze human causal factors of accidents in the oil and gas industry using the human factors analysis and classification system for the oil and gas industry (HFACS-OGI) framework. Methods. This study involved quantitative data collection for 184 accident cases in the oil and gas industry that occurred from 2013 to 2017 from the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers (IOGP) database. The causal factors of these accidents were coded using the HFACS-OGI framework. Accident data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the χ2 test. Results. Study findings reveal that 23% of all accidents were recorded in 2013. Thirty-two percent of accidents occurred in Asia, while 69% of accidents were recorded in onshore locations. Contractors were involved in 86% of accidents, while 28% of accidents occurred during drilling, workover and well services. The contractor’s work environment was the main human factor in 90% of accident cases. Conclusion. The HFACS-OGI framework proves to be a vital tool for robust accident analysis of human factors in the oil and gas industry.