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Slope failure during or immediately after slope-cutting can cause fatal accidents. This study analyses the characteristics of labour accidents caused by slope failure during slope-cutting in Japan and presents a countermeasure to prevent accidents caused by slope failure, such as the implementation of a slope guideline by MHLW. A case history conducted during slope-cutting and nailing was presented as an example of the application of the slope guideline to ensure safety. Furthermore, monitoring methods were implemented to gain a quantitative understanding of slope deformation. Geological conditions other than those assumed prior to excavation and small collapses attributed to groundwater are indications of landslide risk. The guideline's quick checklist reflects the slope condition or deformation, allowing the client, designer and contractor to discuss and agree on a quick solution to a problem. The case study confirmed the effectiveness of the slope guideline as a tool for sharing information during construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. Currently, numerous studies have focused on testing or modeling to evaluate the safe service life of thermal protective clothing after thermal aging, reducing the risk to occupational personnel. However, testing will render the garment unsuitable for subsequent use and a series of input parameters for modeling are not readily available. In this study, a novel image recognition strategy was proposed to discriminate the mechanical strength of thermal protective fabric after thermal aging based on transfer learning. Methods. Data augmentation was used to overcome the shortcoming of insufficient training samples. Four pre-trained models were used to explore their performance in three sample classification modes. Results. The experimental results show that the VGG-19 model achieves the best performance in the three-classification mode (accuracy = 91%). The model was more accurate in identifying fabric samples in the early and late stages of strength decline. For fabric samples in the middle stage of strength decline, the three-classification mode was better than the four-classification and six-classification modes. Conclusions. The findings provide novel insights into the image-based mechanical strength evaluation of thermal protective fabrics after aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. In recent years, workplace accidents have imposed a considerable cost on industries. Accident proneness is one of the most influential factors known to cause unsafe behaviors and occupational accidents. Therefore, the present study investigated the validity and reliability of the accident proneness questionnaire in industries. Methods. The questionnaire was developed to measure accident proneness in industries – the developed instrument was distributed in East Azarbaijan industries (1100 questionaries). Content validity, confirmatory factor analysis and exploratory factor analysis were used to examine the construct validity, and Cronbach's α and the test–retest method were used to examine the reliability and reproducibility of the instrument. Results. In the face validity section, the impact score of all items was determined to be >1.5. In the content validity section, the content validity index (CVI) and the content validity ratio (CVR) were higher than the standard value of 0.42. The Cronbach's α coefficient for all dimensions was 0.914. Conclusion. The findings of the study show that the accident proneness questionnaire in industries has acceptable validity and reliability, and can be used as a comprehensive, practical, robust and reliable instrument to investigate the accident proneness of different industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. The incidence of occupational traumatic injuries caused by human error has been reported to occur at 11:00 and 8–9 h after commencing work. Impaired attention is closely related to the incidence of these accidents. Therefore, this study aimed to clarify the changes in blood glucose, fatigue and stress response hormone levels over time among workers in a secondary industry. Methods. The blood glucose and subjective fatigue levels of 26 male secondary-industry workers were measured on workdays. In addition, the cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone levels in saliva were measured on one workday and one holiday. Results. Blood glucose levels at 11:00 and 17:30 on the workday were significantly lower than those at 09:30. Moreover, hypoglycemia was observed in some participants. A significant increase in subjective fatigue levels was observed during the workday. However, no significant differences in salivary cortisol levels were observed between the workday and the holiday at any time point. Conclusions. Blood glucose levels decreased and subjective fatigue levels increased at the time points that occupational accidents were reported to occur most frequently during work. These factors may contribute to human errors due to impaired attentional function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. Although some studies have shown role stressors can lead to unsafe behaviors, it is unclear how role stressors induce delivery riders' unsafe behaviors. We found that delivery riders suffered from tremendous role stressors during the delivery process and had to conduct frequent smartphone interactions. This study aimed to explore the effects of role stressors and smartphone interactions on delivery riders' unsafe behaviors. Methods. First, a questionnaire survey (N = 326) was used to collect data, and correlation and regression analyses were conducted to explore the relationship between role stressors, smartphone interaction frequency and delivery riders' unsafe behaviors. Second, a scenario survey (N = 35) was conducted, and comparative analysis was used to further explore how smartphone interactions affect delivery riders' unsafe behaviors. Results. The questionnaire survey revealed that role stressors, smartphone interaction frequency and delivery riders' unsafe behaviors were positively correlated. In addition, the role stressors forced delivery riders to conduct necessary and unnecessary smartphone interactions. The scenario survey found that smartphone interactions reduced delivery riders' motion speed and motion ability, and increased their psychology, so they had a risk-taking mentality, which led to an increase in unsafe behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Relevant studies in the fields of fire safety, occupational health and firefighter clothing were analyzed in this study to address the high injury rate among firefighters during fire rescue and the complexity of factors affecting skin burns. The findings indicate that the degree of skin burns in firefighters is primarily influenced by the heat source (heat flux, type), firefighter clothing (fabric, pattern) and the under-clothing air gap (thickness, characteristics). Since skin burns cannot be directly measured, internal skin heat transfer and burn prediction models are commonly employed to assess the impact of external factors on skin burns. These models can predict the safe working distance or time for firefighters. Investigating the influencing factors and prediction models of skin burns among firefighters holds significant value in enhancing operating procedures, optimizing firefighter clothing design and effectively preventing skin burns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the growing global computer workforce, concerns exist about the escalation of computer related injury with Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) being one of the most reported work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) among office workers. The optimal range of keyboard angles for sitting and standing positions based on wrist posture, forearm muscle activities and user preference as well as the keyboard location in relation to user position were analysed. 30 volunteers with an above 40 words per minute typing speed participated in this study. Result show that, although user prefer to use positive keyboard angle, the negatively tilted keyboard is more ergonomically friendly at both sitting and standing workstations, reducing muscle activity and awkward wrist posture while maintaining performance. The findings indicate that negative sloped keyboard might have the possibility to reduce the risk of developing CTS in office workers. Practitioner summary: This study determines the range of optimal slope of keyboard angle in a sit and stand workstation. Our results indicate a trend in the negative slope keyboard as an ergonomically friendly option for the intervention to Carpal tunnel pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined factors related to perceived health risks in confined spaces (PCSHR) and their correlation with the mental workload among farmers managing agricultural wells in northern Thailand. A cross-sectional, multi-stage sample of 356 farmers was selected from four rural districts' agricultural areas. Data were collected through interviews conducted from August to December 2022, using a self-administered structured questionnaire. The five-part questionnaire gathered demographic data, information on experiences and operations in agricultural wells, knowledge of confined spaces, PCSHR, and the six-dimension NASA Task Load Index (TLX) mental workload. Linear regression and multi-variable analyses were used to investigate factors associated with PCSHR, while Pearson correlations tested the association between PCSHR and mental workload variables. Most farmers were male (92.4%), worked in wells to install pumping systems (81.7%) and maintain equipment (73.3%), averaging 3.80 times per year, with an average duration of 25.81 minutes. Physical symptoms reported included difficulty breathing (72.8%), feeling swelteringly hot (55.9%), and sweating excessively (27.8%), as well as accidents such as being struck by falling soil or objects (20.2%), and falling into the well while climbing down (14.9%). Farmers' perceived risk scores were high when working while physically exhausted or unprepared and when assisting an unconscious worker without knowing the gas concentration. In addition, the maximal mental workload scores were mental demand and effort subscale. Factors significantly associated with PCSHR (adj.R2 = 60.6%, p <.05) encompassed education higher than lower secondary level, current alcohol consumption, smaller well width, assisted operations, number of physical symptoms experienced, absence of environmental accidents, and confined space knowledge, while increased PCSHR was positively associated with mental workload (Overall r = 0.711, p <.01). Comprehensive education about potential hazards can improve farmers' risk perception, potentially reducing mental workload and preventing fatal accidents. Field studies are recommended to develop community-specific work protocols and accurate measuring instruments suitable for rural settings are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objectives of this study on the forestry and logging workforce are to: 1) Analyze causes of injuries/fatalities to inform future intervention studies focused on risk mitigation, 2) determine whether there are any trends or associations between work-related risk factors and workplace injuries/fatalities over a 16-year period (2003–2019), and 3) identify knowledge gaps related to injuries and fatalities for future studies to address. Data on fatalities, injuries, and illnesses of the forestry and logging workforce from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics were analyzed. Correlation analysis (p <.05) was conducted to assess the relationship between causes of forestry and logging workforce fatalities by cause of fatality in the United States. Injury and fatality rates were calculated for each year (fatalities: 2003–2018; injuries: 2005–2019) and time span-specific incidence rates were calculated by cause. Contact with objects and equipment was the primary cause of injuries and fatalities in the forestry and logging workforce during the study period. Transportation-related incidents ranked second as the cause of fatalities, while the category of falls, slips, and trips was the second leading cause of injuries. Gaps in occupational health and safety identified by this study should be collaboratively addressed by researchers and the forestry industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives To analyze the association between occupational ergonomic risk, personal characteristics, and working conditions with the biomechanical properties of stiffness and muscular tone in the paravertebral muscles of electric pallet jack and forklift operators in the industrial sector. Methods A total of 75 industrial sector machine operators were evaluated in 2021. Personal characteristics and working conditions were assessed through a questionnaire. Ergonomic risk was assessed using the Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) method, and biomechanical properties of stiffness and muscular tone were obtained using the Myoton Pro device. Stiffness in paravertebral muscles was compared based on the operated machine and observed ergonomic risk. A multilevel linear regression model was employed to quantify the relationship, with mean differences and 95% CI calculated. Results Very high ergonomic risk was found in 75% of the electric pallet truck drivers. In this group with the highest ergonomic risk, an association between biomechanical properties and older workers was observed. Additionally, among electric pallet truck drivers, stiffness (mean difference 335.9 N/m, 95% CI: 46.4 (3.4 to 110.0), P < 0.05) and paravertebral muscle tone (mean difference 17.5 Hz, 95% CI: 1.4 (0.1 to 3.4), P < 0.05) showed statistically significant differences in the very high ergonomic risk category compared to the high-risk category. No significant differences were observed in any of the analyzed variables among forklift drivers. Conclusions Workers operating electric pallet trucks with very high ergonomic risk according to the REBA method and aged over 40 yr are associated with increased muscle stiffness and tone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Construction projects are a field of work with a high risk of work accidents. CV XYZ, a construction service company, often experiences work accidents on highway projects. These work accidents are caused by human negligence, substandard materials, and inadequate occupational safety and health (OSH) implementation methods. Based on these problems, this study aims to design work accident risk control at CV XYZ to reduce and prevent work accidents on road construction projects. The design of occupational safety and health (OSH) control is carried out by conducting risk analysis on road construction project activities through the HIRADC (Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment, and Determining Control) approach and designing improvements to the occupational safety and health (OSH) control business process. The design of OSH risk control created in this study aims to implement risk control and reduce the risk of work accidents in the company. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Although occupational injuries for police officers cannot be prevented, factors that contribute to musculoskeletal injury risk could be better identified to inform preventative interventions. Previous research has supported screening tools such as the functional movement screen (FMS) and Y-Balance Test (YBT) as possible indicators of musculoskeletal injury risk. The purposes of this study are to (1) examine the relationships between age, dynamic balance, and functional movement in police officers and (2) determine how much variance in functional movement is predicted by age and dynamic balance. Methods : This study was conducted in a university research laboratory as part of an ongoing collaboration with a local police department. All data for the current study were collected across 2 separate laboratory visits within a 14-day period. Participants: Thirty- five active-duty police officers (31 men and 4 women; mean [SD], age 33.4 [9.4] y, height 177.4 [8.0] cm, body mass 88.4 [15.3] kg) volunteered to participate in this study . Main Outcome Measures : Functional movement was assessed using the FMS, and FMS overall scores were calculated. Dynamic balance was assessed via the YBT, and lower quarter Y-Balance Test scores (LQYBT%) were calculated. Results : There was a significant negative correlation between FMS overall score and age ( r = -.641, P <.001 ) Correlations between FMS overall score and LQYBT% and between LQYBT% and age were not statistically significant. Age and LQYBT% scores significantly predicted FMS overall scores (F2,32 = 11.162, P < .001), accounting for 41.1% of the variance in FMS overall scores (R²= All ) with age being the only significant predictor . Conclusions : This study confirms that age and FMS overall score have a strong, negative relationship, suggesting that age may be a contributing factor to movement quality and may lead to an increased risk of musculoskeletal injury within this unique population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Musculoskeletal disorders are among the significant causes of disabilities and occupational injuries all over the world and can reduce the quality of life and job satisfaction. These disorders prevail among the office workers of the Iranian Oil Company, though research on the involved factors is limited. OBJECTIVE: The present study investigated the incidence and risk factors of musculoskeletal disorders and their association with job satisfaction among the office workers of the Iranian Oil Company. METHODS: The present research was a cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study on 210 male office workers of the Iranian Oil Company. The prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders and the rate of job satisfaction were measured by Nordic Musculoskeletal and Minnesota job Satisfaction Questionnaires, respectively. The relationship between the variables was analyzed by the SPSS 28 software. RESULTS: The most prevalent musculoskeletal disorders among office workers in the past 12 months were associated with the neck, waist, and knee organs, with 45.70, 41, and 38.10 percentages. Smoking, second jobs, and physical injury histories were identified as three risk factors connected to musculoskeletal disorders (p < 0.05). Forty-one percent of the participants were moderately satisfied with their jobs, and this number was significantly related to musculoskeletal disorders in the shoulders, elbows, back, waist, and knees (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that second jobs, smoking, and physical injury histories are three risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders among office workers of the Iranian Oil Company. Thus, it is imperative to identify at-risk office workers and train and encourage them to take preventive actions and employ ergonomic job equipment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. This study aimed to describe work-, lifestyle-, and health-related factors among ambulance personnel, and to analyse differences between women and men. Methods. The cross-sectional study (N = 106) included self-reported and objective measures of work, lifestyle, and health in 10 Swedish ambulance stations. The data collection comprised clinical health examination, blood samples, tests of physical capacity, and questionnaires. Results. A high proportion of the ambulance personnel reported heavy lifting, risk of accidents, threats and violence at work. A low level of smoking and alcohol use, and a high level of leisure-time physical activity were reported. The ambulance personnel had, on average, good self-rated health, high work ability and high physical capacity. However, the results also showed high proportions with risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD), e.g., high blood pressure, and high levels of blood lipids. More women than men reported high work demands. Furthermore, women performed better in tests of physical capacity and had a lower level of CVD risk factors. Conclusions. Exposure to work-related factors that might affect health was common among ambulance personnel. Lifestyle- and health-related factors were somewhat contradictory, with a low proportion reporting lifestyle-related risk factors, but a high proportion having risk factors for CVD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. Notwithstanding its economic importance, the construction industry is still facing challenges due to its high accident record. As a result, the goal of this study is to identify the key underlying causes of accidents in the Malaysian construction industry that construction stakeholders can focus on to reduce the menace of accidents in the industry. Methods. To achieve this goal, relevant literature was reviewed in order to identify the causes of accidents. The identified factors were used to develop the survey questionnaire for collecting primary data, and the collected data were analysed using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Results. The results of the EFA and CFA establish and confirm 11 clusters for the causes of accidents on construction sites: management problems; inadequate training; inadequate supervision; mental health problems; bad attitudes; inadequate funding; inadequate experience; material and equipment handling; poor safety practices; inadequate orientation; and work environment. Conclusion. The study concludes that addressing all 11 factors will drastically reduce the incessant accident occurrences in the construction industry. The result of this study will help construction stakeholders know where to direct their energy in an effort to reduce construction accidents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) have a significant impact on people's lives as well as their workplaces, organizations, families, society, and national economy. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to investigate the impacts of different risk factors in developing MSD problems. Structural equation modelling has been used to examine the effects of different risk factors on developing MSD problems. Five hypotheses were developed for workplace, personal, biomechanical, psychosocial, and organisational risk factors to examine the positive relation with MSD problems generation. Results showed that biomechanical risk factors, including repetitive motion, vibration, force, posture, and deviation from neutral body alignment, have significant impacts on the development of MSD problems. Similar results were found for workplace, personal, psychosocial, and organisational risk factors. Therefore, either the single risk factor or collectively contributes significantly to MSD problems generation. Decision-makers can use this study to analyse the impacts of different factors on the generation of MSD problems within their industries or organizations. To the best of the author's knowledge, this study is the first and foremost approach to determine the impacts of the critical risk factors on developing MSD problems through an organised and scientific approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders are common health problems in the community. They lead to various levels of pain, loss of function, and deterioration in quality of life. Our aim is to evaluate work-related musculoskeletal pain in hospital employees and factors that could prevent this problem. Material and Method: Female and male hospital employees working in different departments of our hospital participated in the study. Demographic data, work and working environment, ergonomic training, and musculoskeletal pain were queried. The severity of pain in those experiencing it was assessed using the visual analog scale and the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire. Results: A total of 275 individuals participated in the study. 72.4% of the participants were female and 27.6% were male. 79.3% of the participants reported musculoskeletal pain. Pain was most commonly (71.3%) observed in the 35-54 age group and was of moderate severity. According to the frequency of pain, it was most common in the back (61.5%), followed by the lower back (55.6%) and neck (53.5%) regions. The presence and severity of pain were more pronounced in females (p<0.05). There was a statistically significant relationship between the presence of pain and female gender (p=0.003, r=0.179). Pain severity was higher in females (p<0.001, r=0.226). 69.8% of healthcare workers reported that ergonomic arrangements were not made in the hospital, and 81.4% reported not receiving training in ergonomics. Conclusion: Work-related musculoskeletal pain was highly prevalent among hospital healthcare workers, and it was found that healthcare workers did not receive ergonomic arrangements in their work environments or education on protecting the musculoskeletal system. Inference: We believe that making ergonomic adjustments in the work environments of hospital employees, providing education on musculoskeletal system protection, and integrating these into the quality system would be important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endoscopy-related musculoskeletal injuries (ERIs) are frequent among gastrointestinal, pulmonary, nasal, and urologic endoscopists, impacting the healthcare system. The present review aims to compare the ERI rates, risk factors, and ergonomic recommendations in the different endoscopic fields. A review was conducted using PubMed and Cochrane Library for articles based on surveys and published until 10 January 2024. Demographic, work, and ERI data from 46 publications were included, covering 10,539 responders. The ERI incidence ranged between 14% and 97%, highlighting the need of intervention independent of the specialties. The neck, back, and shoulder were the most frequent ERI locations, while gender, age, years of experience, and procedure volume the most common risk factors. Ergonomic recommendations suggest concentrating on endoscope design changes, especially in gastrointestinal endoscopy, to increase the comfort, adaptability of the equipment in the operating room, and workflow/institutional policy changes. The inclusion of an ergonomic timeout guarantees the correct equipment positioning, the neutralisation of the endoscopist's posture, and an indirect break between procedures. Ergonomic training to increase awareness and best practice should be promoted, also using new technologies. Future research should concentrate on intervention and comparative studies to evaluate to which extent prevention measures and newly designed equipment could reduce ERI incidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Occupational foot-transmitted vibration (FTV) exposure is common in industries like mining, construction, and agriculture, often leading to acute and chronic injuries. Vibration assessments require technical expertise and equipment which can be costly for employers to perform. Alternatively, researchers have observed that self-reported discomfort can be used as an effective indicator of injury risk. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the effect of standing FTV exposure on self-reported ratings of discomfort, and whether these subjective ratings differed by body area and exposure frequency. METHODS: Participants (n = 30) were randomly exposed to standing FTV at six frequencies (25, 30, 35, 40, 45, and 50 Hz) for 20–45 seconds. Following each exposure, participants rated discomfort on a scale of 0–9 in four body areas: head and neck (HN), upper body (UB), lower body (LB), and total body. RESULTS: Results indicated that participants experienced the most discomfort in the LB at higher frequencies (p < 0.001), consistent with the resonance of foot structures. The HN discomfort tended to decrease as the exposure frequency increased, although not statistically significant (p > 0.0167). The UB discomfort remained relatively low across all frequencies. CONCLUSIONS: The study suggests a potential connection between resonant frequencies and discomfort, potentially indicating injury risk. Although self-reported discomfort is insufficient for directly assessing injury risk from FTV, it provides a simple method for monitoring potential musculoskeletal risks related to vibration exposure at resonant frequencies. While professional vibration assessment remains necessary, self-reported discomfort may act as an early indicated of vibration-induced injuries, aiding in implementing mitigation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Caregivers assist patients in treatment based on their care needs and living activities. Very few studies have been conducted specifically on the occupational health and safety of hospital caregivers. OBJECTİVE: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of excessive workload and low back pain among hospital caregivers and to identify potential associated factors. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included caregivers working at Gazi University Hospital. Socio-demographic and working-life characteristics were assessed. The Role Overload Scale was used to determine excessive workload and the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire was used to evaluate low back pain. RESULTS: The study included 528 participants. A total of 18.7% had work accidents in their department. 49.0% had sharp injuries. 68.9% of the participants performed tasks such as positioning, turning, lifting, or helping patients to walk. 72.2% stood for a long time during the workday. 52.8% thought that they worked under stress. 57.6% had low back pain in the last year and 38.6% in the last month, Significant differences exist in low back pain according to gender, body-mass index, standing for a long time and working under stress. Those who worked at night, had a work accident, positioned patients, stood for a long time, and worked under stress had higher mean scores on the Role Overload Scale. CONCLUSION: Tools should be used to lift and transport patients. In addition to occupational health and safety training, awareness of musculoskeletal risks should be increased. Employee well-being can be improved through exercise and stress reduction techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Registered nurses (RNs) represent the largest segment of the health care workforce and have unique job demands and occupational health considerations. The purpose of this study was to describe the incidence, cost, and causes of occupational injuries among RNs in Washington State and to quantify the cumulative cost and burden of each type of injury, relative to all injuries among RNs. Methods: Annual injury claims data covered under Washington State workers' compensation (WC) fund were analyzed over a 13-year period (2007–2019). Annual mean incidence and cost of injuries were calculated and stratified by nature, source, and event/exposure. Negative binomial regression models were used to examine trends in injury incidence over time, for injury incidence overall, and by the most common injury classifications. Results: Between 2007 and 2019, 10,839 WC claims were filed and accepted for Washington State RNs (annual M = 834), totaling more than US$65 million. No significant trend in overall injury incidence was observed (incidence rate ratio [IRR]: 0.99, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [0.94, 1.05]). The most common injury exposures were bodily reaction and exertion, contact with objects and equipment, falls, and assaults and violent acts. Discussion: To our knowledge, this is the first broad study of the incidence and costs of occupational injuries among RNs across all workplace settings. We identified high-cost, high-frequency incidence rates of musculoskeletal, sharp, and violence-related occupational injury claims, highlighting intervention targets. Implications for Occupational Health Practice : Policy makers, health systems, and occupational health nurse leaders can use this information to identify priority areas where evidence-based occupational health and prevention programs are most needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: There is a significant impact of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) on individuals of all ages, professions, and fields from various countries worldwide, leading to a negative impact on quality of life and overall health outcomes. The study was conducted to investigate the association between Burnout syndrome (BS) and MSDs among physiotherapists in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross‐sectional study was carried out. Physiotherapists of either gender and with no known co‐morbidities and who were not suffering from recent injuries and accidents were included in the study. The Copenhagen Burnout Inventory was used to determine the level of burnout. Musculoskeletal disorders were analyzed using the Standardized Nordic Questionnaire (NMQ). The chi‐square test was used to observe the association between two categorical variables and a p‐value <0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results: A total of 133 participants were recruited and it was observed that 70 (53%) participants had low burnout levels (BoL). It was revealed that 65 (49%) had trouble in the neck and visited a physician clinic, 47 (35%) had trouble in the lower back during the last 12 months, 60 (45%) had trouble in the upper back during the last 12 months that prevented the normal activity and 13 (9.8%) participants had trouble in the shoulders during the last 7 days. History of chronic disease, education, practice setting, and smoking status with Burnout level was statistically significant. Trouble in the upper back, elbow, wrist/hands, hips/thighs, ankle/feet, and neck were also found to be significant. Conclusion: The outcomes revealed that a few demographic factors such as education, practice setting, smoking status, and chronic disease history were significantly associated with BS. Furthermore, it was observed that MSD had a significant impact on BoL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper sought to determine risk factors of occupational injury in the Irish dairy farming sector and to estimate the roles of both dairying expansion and the discipline of agricultural extension in influencing reducing injury occurrence. Data for this study was obtained via the Irish National Farm Survey (NFS). In total, 260 farm (83.6% of NFS dairy farm sample) workplace injury survey questionnaires were completed by NFS recorders by interviewing principal farm operators for year 2017. Injury survey data was analysed for 48 variables in conjunction with NFS core farm socio-economic, physical and financial data. Additionally, core data from 2010 for 78.5% of farms surveyed in 2017 was included in the study. Data were analysed using a three-step statistical testing process which met all Binary Logistic Regression assumptions. The study found that dairy farms had a higher farm workplace occupational injury level compared to a previous study. The study data indicates occurrence of elevated injury levels on farms which expanded and which were intensively managed from a milk production perspective. Farm expansion was associated with increased labor units used and increased investment per hectare. The study also found that use of extension services and farm discussion group participation were not associated with injury occurrence. This study demonstrates how a retrospective farm workplace occupational injury survey of Irish dairy farms, analysed in combination with farm business data can be used to identify injury risk factors, including those associated with production expansion. Irish dairy farms have a heightened farm workplace occupation injury level while dairy production expansion increased injury levels. Extension engagement did not influence on injury levels. Approaches to improve farm safety on dairy farms are outlined. [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]

Injury and fatality events that are caused by tree work and tractor-related activities contribute to the already elevated rates of work-related injuries in the agriculture and logging sectors. This brief report highlights the circumstances surrounding these events, as well as a number of surveillance sources that identify the extent to which they contribute to the injury burden in these hazardous industries. These data sources include fatality investigations, agricultural injury news reports, consumer product injury data captured from emergency rooms and near-miss reporting data captured from individuals participating in the National Rollover Protective Structure Rebate Program (NRRP). Several recommendations for further research and interventional efforts are outlined, with particular consideration of the manner in which rollbars have been involved in falling object incidents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to investigate characteristics associated with farm vehicle and farm labor transportation-related roadway crashes in the state of Florida. Agricultural roadway crashes related to these vehicles have not been explored in Florida. The data for this study comes from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) for the years 2013–2021. The data is recorded by the Florida Highway Patrol when a vehicular crash has occurred. The data is then coded to allow the selection of farm and agricultural-related vehicles. Specifically, this study focuses on farm labor transport vehicles and farm vehicles (e.g. farm tractors). There were 744 farm vehicle- and 209 farm labor transportation-related crashes during the 9-year study period. The farm labor transport vehicle crashes involved a total of 420 vehicles and 1,329 individuals, and the farm vehicle crashes involved 1,458 vehicles and 1,652 individuals. Injury risk for non-farm labor transportation vehicle occupants was significantly higher than injury risk for farm labor transportation vehicle occupants. The average fatality rate for farm vehicle-involved (2.1 fatalities per 100 crashes) and farm labor transportation vehicle-involved crashes (2.9 fatalities per 100 crashes) were much higher than the overall FL roadway crash fatality rate (0.45 fatalities per 100 crashes). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Literature on occupational risks among organic farmers is scarce. This study explored safety practices and non-fatal injuries among organic producers, and the role of sociodemographic, work, and farm characteristics on safety and injury. Cross sectional survey of certified organic crop producers in the Southwest (SW) region of the United States (US). The Organic Integrity Database was used for recruitment. Data were collected through an electronic and paper survey. Analyses were conducted on 115 cases; response rate was estimated at 25%. A high majority of respondents owned their operation and were younger than 65 years, male, educated beyond high-school, and non-Hispanic whites. Less than half had more than 10 years of experience in organic farming; one-third worked off the farm year-round. Safety practices were very basic despite the widespread use of equipment and machinery, and limited to wearing normal clothing and apparel such hats and glasses. About half of respondents (52.6%) reported non-fatal injuries in the past year; and one-third (32.7%) time lost due to injuries. The overall cumulative incidence rate was estimated at 5.3 injuries per 10 workers within the last year. The injury rate decreased with hours worked. Significant differences were found on gender and education level and safety practices, with female respondents and the more educated being more proactive in practicing safety. Those working less than 40 h/week, in farms smaller than 50 acres, using light machinery or compact utility tractors, and tractors without roll-over protection reported significantly higher injury frequency compared to their counterparts. This study contributes unique data on an essential workforce not captured by current occupational injury and illness surveillance systems. It identifies important personal and contextual factors that may contribute to safety and injury in this population. The findings indicate the need to promote safety and prevent injuries that result in work time lost. This study may also inform future occupational safety and health research and practice, including surveillance, injury prevention programs that target certain workers and production practices, and policies that support and protect the organic farmer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The agriculture industry lacks novel techniques for analyzing risks facing its workers. Although injuries are common in this field, existing datasets and tools are insufficient for risk assessment and mitigation for two primary reasons: they provide neither immediate nor long-term risk mitigation advice, and they do not account for hazards which fluctuate daily. The purpose of Demeter is to collect safety data about hazards on farms and produce risk analysis and mitigation reports. This application uses a combination of formula-based risk calculations and state-of-the-art graph neural networks (GNNs) to perform risk analysis and reduction. The formula-based risk calculations had a mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.2110, and the GNN had an accuracy of 94.9%, a precision of 0.3521, and a recall of 0.8333. Demeter has the potential to reduce the number of injuries and fatalities among agriculture workers by alerting them to risks present in their daily workflow and suggesting safety precautions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Work-related deaths are a persistent occupational health issue that can be prevented. However, prevention opportunities can be hampered by a lack of adequate public health resources. The Western States Occupational Network (WestON) is a network of federal, state, and local occupational health professionals that includes a 19-state region of the United States. To encourage public health collaboration, WestON partners examined work-related fatalities within the region. Fatality counts (numerators) were obtained from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries restricted-access research files for all workers ages ≥15 years and fatally injured in WestON states from 2011 through 2017. Estimates of full-time equivalent hours worked (FTE) (denominators) were retrieved from the BLS Current Population Survey. Annual average fatality rates were calculated as number of fatalities per 100,000 FTE over the study period. Rates were stratified by state, select demographics, industry sector, and event/exposure types. Pearson chi-squared tests and rate ratios with 95% confidence probability limits were used to assess rate differences. All analyses were conducted using SAS v.9.4. From 2011 through 2017, the annual average overall occupational fatality rate for the WestON region was 3.5 fatalities per 100,000 FTE, comparable to the overall U.S. fatality rate. Male workers had a fatality rate almost 10 times higher than female workers in the region. Fatality rates increased with successive age groups. Alaska and New Mexico had significantly higher fatality rates for all racial/ethnic groups compared to respective regional rates. Wyoming, North Dakota, and Montana had the three highest occupational fatality rates among foreign-born workers. Agriculture/forestry/fishing, mining/oil/gas extraction, and transportation/warehousing/utilities were industry sector groups with the three highest fatality rates regionally. Transportation-related incidents were the most frequent event type associated with occupational fatalities for all 19 states. Work-related fatalities are a crosscutting occupational public health priority. This analysis can be an impetus for collaborative multistate initiatives among a dynamic and varied occupational public health network to better meet the needs of a rapidly changing workforce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surgeons have a high rate of work-related musculoskeletal injuries; an area that has received little attention. These injuries result in surgeons performing less efficiently, needing to take time off work, suffering higher rates of burnout, and may ultimately lead surgeons to retire earlier than planned. Otorhinolaryngologists are at particular risk for work-related musculoskeletal injuries. Beyond the clinician, sustaining such injuries can negatively impact patient safety. Ergonomic interventions have been used effectively to reduce work-related musculoskeletal injuries in other professions, yet not in surgery. With traditional teachings of ideal body postures to avoid injury and manual handling training being re-evaluated, it is important to explore evidence based interventions for reducing work-related musculoskeletal injuries in otorhinolaryngologists. New research encourages us to shift the focus away from the traditional one-size-fits-all approach to ergonomics and toward postural recommendations and education that promote a dynamic, individualized approach to avoiding sustained, static and awkward postures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Damage to the articular cartilage resulting in an acute tear can lead to functional changes within the joint and increase the risk of osteoarthritis developing. There is limited understanding of the association between occupational risk factors and sustaining an acute articular cartilage tear in the military and other physically demanding occupations. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review was to identify and evaluate original research reporting on occupational risk factors associated with sustaining acute articular cartilage tears. Methods: A systematic review following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic review and Meta-Analysis—Protocols was conducted and registered with the Open Science Framework. Key academic databases were searched using terms from the following concepts: risk or cause, paid occupations, and acute articular cartilage tears. Results: Of an initial 941 studies, 2 studies met the eligibility criteria, both reporting data from military contexts; only one evaluated acute articular cartilage tears in both males and females. One paper focused on articular cartilage injury within the knee and the other within the ankle joint with incidence rates being 0.2 and 0.3 per 1000 person-years, respectively. People in more physically active occupations and individuals with an above-normal body mass index were reported as being at higher risk of sustaining an acute articular cartilage tear. Conclusion: Physically demanding occupations, such as the military, may increase the risk for acute tears of the articular cartilage. However, the findings of this review indicate there is a paucity of research to underpin understanding of the injury mechanisms and occupational risk factors for acute articular cartilage tears. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reports new data for 1028 non-fatal occupational accidents dated between January 2010 and April 2015 by applying the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) technique. A comprehensive survey was conducted at four shipyards in Tuzla, Istanbul and Yalova regions in Turkey and a workplace questionnaire appropriate for the AHP technique was carried out. The obtained results indicated that inadequate safety equipment and protective clothing, unsuitable usage of machines and tools, and disobeying occupational health and safety (OHS) procedures were the most common risk factors for the accidents. Hence the preventive measures could be identified by analyzing non-fatal accident data. After the identification of the descriptive measures, the priority order of these measures was asked of the occupational safety professionals in the shipbuilding industry, and we used the AHP method to evaluate the results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shift work is necessary for the provision of health services, especially in hospitals as it is the only way to provide continuous care to patients. Working at night is inconsistent with the body's biological clock and night shift working hugely disrupts the circadian and sleep wake cycles. In 2020, the World Health Organization classified night shift working as being a 'probable' class 2A carcinogen and a number of independent cohort studies of both night workers and shift workers have observed increased incidence of certain cancers. Altered sleep timing, food timing and light exposure typical for shift workers leads to an acute circadian disruption and misalignment of regulatory hormones. This straying from synchronisation has been shown to result in individuals being more vulnerable to a number of chronic health conditions. Night shift work disrupts the normal sleep–wake cycle, often leading to shortened sleep duration and excessive fatigue and the results of this are far reaching. This article will explore the full impact of shift working, questioning if current practices employed within the NHS should continue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Occupational injuries (OI) are a - significant source of social and economic costs. They can cause prolonged absences from work, loss of limb, and worker disability, among other negative consequences. In light of this, the present study aimed to evaluate the factors associated with OI in trauma centers affiliated with Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out among patients admitted to the trauma ward of four teaching hospitals in Mashhad during 2019-2020. Patients' data was collected in a checklist and trauma severity was assessed based on injury severity score. The Epworth questionnaire was completed for patients. Data was analyzed by SPSS 20.0. Results: Out of a total of 13660 patients who were referred to the emergency department of four hospitals of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, 683 (5.15%) individuals suffered occupational trauma and entered the study. The mean (±SD) age and work experience of the participants were 34 (±10) and 10 (±9) respectively. Most of the participants were in the age group of 20-40 years. the most common mechanism of trauma was falling (p=0.00) and the most injury frequency was among manual working (p=0.01). There was not a significant association between trauma severity and demographic characteristics. Those who had falling or electric accidents had more severe trauma compared to other injured patients. (p=0.00). Conclusion: In general, the most burden of occupational accidents and in fact, the most serious injuries were related to men and manual workers. Also, most of the injuries happened through falls and cuts. The results of this study showed the need for serious policies to reduce occupational injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Needle stick injury (NSI) is a common incidence in a health care facility which can have a great impact on the psychological status of a health care worker (HCW). In the present study, over a decade, 76 incidents of NSI were reported. Nurses (47.3%) were at high risk followed by doctors (28.94%). Recapping (30.2%) was the major activity associated with NSI. Percutaneous injury (97.3%) with a hollow bore needle to the fingers was the most common type of injury. Three (3.9%) of the sources were positive for Hepatitis B virus (HBV), and one (1.3%) for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Postexposure prophylaxis was administered to eight (10.5%) HCWs with high-risk exposure. The incidence of NSI is low, as there exists an underreporting which cannot be denied. Following stringent universal precautions and adoption of safety-guided devices can reduce the rate of injury to a great extent. Regular training, monitoring, auditing, and adequate control modalities are the core strategies to reduce the incidence of NSI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Prevention through Design (PtD) is a safety initiative that increases the ability of eliminating risks before construction. Implementing digital tools for PtD is an innovative way to help identify embedded risk in design phase by automating a process that is currently time consuming and extensively dependent on designers' experience. However, there is a lack of known digital safety tools available to professionals. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this article is to systematically review published research on the development of digital tools for PtD in order to point out existing processes and limitations. METHODS: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyzes (PRISMA) guidelines were used to search publications in Scopus database. Initially, 148 publications were found, but after applying the filters, thirteen publications were read and included in this review. RESULTS: Quantitative results showed few publications and quantitative results detailed the studied digital tools workings and what limitations prevent their full implementation by designers. CONCLUSION: Although 53.84% of methods are automatic, existing barriers such as the inability to consider schedule, and to provide a complete database challenge the validity of these tools. Therefore, PtD still poses a research gap for future research on safety matters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Street sweepers are reported to suffer from high rates of work-related musculoskeletal discomfort worldwide, especially in their wrists. OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to 1) determine the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders and 2) specifically determine the prevalence of wrist flexor tendonitis and its associated risk factors among street sweepers. METHODS: Three hundred and eighty-five sweepers employed by the Faisalabad Waste Management Company (FWMC) participated in this cross-sectional study. A self-structured questionnaire was used to collect data: the first section provided demographic information, the second assessed musculoskeletal disorders, and the third section assessed the wrist flexor tendonitis among street sweepers. RESULTS: The mean age of the sweepers was 38.34 years. Out of 385 street sweepers, the prevalence of musculoskeletal discomfort was reported in 265 (68.83%). The prevalence of musculoskeletal discomfort in sweepers reported during COVID-19 according to the past 12 months, the highest three prevalence rates were 46.5% in the wrists/hands, 37.9% in the shoulders and 35.1% in the lower back. The three highest prevalence rates of musculoskeletal discomfort in sweepers according to the last 7 days were 29.6% in the wrists/hands, 24.4% in the lower back and 24.2% in the shoulders. Out of total 385 participants, prevalence of wrist flexor tendonitis was reported in 103 (26.8%) sweepers. Significant association was found (p < 0.05) between wrist flexor tendonitis and gender (p < 0.003), age (p < 0.05), working experience (p < 0.003), street sweeping distance (p < 0.01), number of brooms used per month (p < 0.002) and getting tired at the end of work (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of musculoskeletal discomfort and wrist flexor tendonitis seen during COVID-19 is high among sweepers, with wrist/hand being the most commonly reported region for pain. This study emphasizes the importance of providing guidelines about effective precautionary healthcare measures for street sweepers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hand Screen Printing (HSP) is one of the dominant textile-processing industries that plays a significant role in the employment of people in and around the rural regions of the developing countries. Further, most of the HSP industries are small scale industries sector, workers are illiterate or lack work safety knowledge, also both management and workers ignore the ergonomic issues in their day to day life. Though various research groups have attempted to evaluate both qualitatively and quantitative the ergonomic issues faced by HSP workers, due to lack of direct solution to improve the HSP workers' ergonomic environment, there is still a huge space is available for further intervention. The present study aims to redesign the squeegee frame for HSP workers and validate its effect over the workers' health. In this study, the traditional squeegee was modified by considering the evaluated ergonomic issues. To evaluate the design intervention, ten male volunteers participated in the study and performed the HSP operation using both traditional squeegee (pre-intervention) and retrofitted squeegee (post-intervention). Further, the study population was divided into two equal group such as control group and low back pain (LBP) group. The surface Electromyogram (sEMG) signal, Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) score and Borg's scale data were collected, to assess the post intervention attempt. Result inferred that retrofitted squeegee intervention had reduced the REBA score (postural risk) by 52% and Borg's scale by 51% (workers' pain intensity). In addendum, sEMG study supported these findings by showing a decline in muscle fatigue for the LBP group. This study concludes that, retrofitted squeegee intervention aspect can be an effective agent to improve the ergonomic posture and reduce the musculoskeletal disorders among HSP workers and significantly increase the productive of textile industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Studies show conflicting evidence on the association of age and occupational injury in agriculture, and few studies have addressed the effect of age on work-related chronic conditions or preventive practices among farmers. Methods: We examined the probability of injury, work-related stress, musculoskeletal symptoms (MSS), and preventive practices for MSS as a function of aging using surveillance data of 7,711 farm and ranch operators in the central United States. Findings: Segmented regression analyses of men (85% of sample) indicated that the probability of all four outcomes increased up to a certain age and then decreased; the changepoints in years of age being 59.6 for injury, 55.4 for work-related stress, 59.6 for MSS, and 67.9 for MSS preventive practices. Female operators had an increasing trend for stress up to age 29.7, while they showed no changepoints across their age spectrum in the proportion of injury, MSS, and prevention techniques. Conclusion/Application to Practice: These findings emphasize the need for preventive efforts particularly among younger and middle-aged farmers and ranchers, and the need to modify work duties to match work abilities at older ages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are prevalent among healthcare professionals, including nurses, therapists, doctors, and paramedics, due to the potential injuries incurred during patient transfer and handling. This review aimed to assess the effectiveness of existing interventions in reducing the risks of WMSDs in this population. Methods: Four databases including PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, Scopus, and ScienceDirect were searched to identify randomized and nonrandomized controlled trials, as well as studies with pre-post design. Two reviewers independently extracted data and assessed the quality of the included studies using the Effective Public Health Practice Project criteria. A meta-analysis was performed to obtain quantitative results. Results: A total of 40 studies were included in the review. Among the interventions, motorized assistive devices showed the most significant relative reduction in WMSD risks (p <.0000; standardized mean difference [ SMD ] = −3.32, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [−4.53, −2.12]), followed by combined interventions of cognitive and exercise (p <.0001; SMD = −0.62, 95% CI = [−0.91, −0.33]), combined intervention of cognitive and assistive device intervention (p =.02; SMD = −0.77, 95% CI = [−1.42, −0.12]), nonmotorized assistive device (p =.02; SMD = −0.63, 95% CI = [−1.15, −0.12]), cognitive intervention (p <.0001; SMD = −0.62, 95% CI = [−0.91, −0.33]), and physical exercise (p =.06; SMD = −0.16, 95% CI = [−0.32, 0.00]) intervention. Conclusion: The overall evidence indicates that interventions have a significant effect in reducing the risk of WMSDs among healthcare workers, with motorized assistive devices showing the most promising results. The findings from this review can provide valuable guidance for hospital administrators, policymakers, and other experts in implementing effective strategies to prevent WMSDs among healthcare professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to query healthcare practitioners (HCPs) who treat firefighter injuries to identify risk factors and mechanisms associated with musculoskeletal injuries during exercise. A phenomenological design was utilized to understand the experiences of HCPs while treating firefighters' musculoskeletal injuries due to exercise. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 HCPs. Two interviews were pilot-tested with HCPs to ensure reliability and validity. Interviews were transcribed and uploaded to a qualitative analysis software program. Although the study inquired about injuries incurred by any exercise modality (e.g., endurance and resistance training), injuries induced during resistance training were prominent among HCPs as resistance training emerged as a primary exercise injury mechanism. HCPs indicated that the back and shoulder were prevalent anatomical exercise injury locations. Risk factors for exercise injuries included age, immobility, movement proficiency, and factors associated with fatigue. Exercise injury mechanisms included poor resistance training technique and overexertion. These findings could guide exercise program design, use of movement assessments, and the identification of other countermeasures to decrease the risk of resistance training exercise injuries among firefighters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to synthesise ergonomic risk factors and their consequences on the well-being of employees working from the remote workplace. A comprehensive search was conducted in 15 databases ranging from June 1996 until January 2022. All qualitative and mixed method was explored related to ergonomic risk factors in remote workplace. Two independent reviewers were selected for inclusion and assessed each study quality. A systematic review and meta-synthesis guidelines were used to synthesise the findings of the included articles. The finding indicated that 26 articles met the inclusion and quality criteria. Nine key ergonomic risk factors were identified in the remote workplace. Moreover, back pain, pain in the neck, depression and vocal disorder were the identified musculoskeletal disorder in the remote workplace. Finally, a hypothetical model, and wellness wheel, which show the relationship among the nine ergonomic risk factors, workplace wellness and musculoskeletal-disorder were proposed. Hence, awkward posture, poor working environment, psychosocial risk factors, poor work-spaces design and work overload are the most dominantly studied ergonomic risk factors. Lower and upper back pain, pain in the neck and depression are also the most studied musculoskeletal disorders that affect the well-being of employees in the remote workplace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Construction projects are one of the most critical occupational sectors that experienced many challenges in occupational accidents and safety performance. OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to assess safety risk in construction projects based on fuzzy analytic hierarchy process. METHODS: This study was conducted with 12 construction and occupational safety experts in one of the largest construction projects in Tehran-Iran in 2020. The process of this study included (1) risk identification, (2) measurement of risk parameters and sub-parameters, and (3) risk assessment based on a fuzzy analytic hierarchy process. Risk-forming parameters in this study included the probability and severity of the event. The probability of occurrence was estimated based on four sub-parameters of technical inspection, accident experience, detection probability, and human reliability. Sub-parameters of severity included human injury, cost imposition, tarnishing the organization's esteem, and impact on project timing and work stoppage. RESULTS: Twenty-eight identified hazards were examined in the studied construction project, including falling from a height (9-hazard), falling objects (2-hazard), electric shock (6-hazard), falling crane or load (6-hazard), elevator crashes (2-hazard), and soil fall (3-hazard). Safety risk assessment revealed that 27 risk sources were at the tolerable level and one risk source was unacceptable. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that the risk levels in the studied construction project were tolerable and unacceptable. The obtained model in this study demonstrated that using parameters that determine the probability and severity of risk according to the nature of the working environments can be a practical step in risk evaluating and implementing control measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]