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A number of religions mandate that members of that faith cover their hair and head. Depending on its nature, this head covering can interfere with the design and efficacy of protective head gear such as helmets. This is exacerbated in situations where religious mandates prevent the cutting of head hair, such as among Sikhs, as this adds to the volume to be covered by protective head gear. This paper provides an overview of the cultural mandate to wear turbans and how this meshes with the legal requirements to wear protective head gear during work and recreational pursuits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article analyses European regulations concerning the health protection at work with nanomaterials in the context of the Christian vision of human work. The increasingly widespread presence of nanotechnology in workplaces requires serious reflection on the adequacy of employers' measures to protect workers' health from the risks in the workplace. The lack of clear guidance in European legislation directly concerning work with nanoparticles is problematic. Moreover, the health consequences for workers using nanomaterials in the work process are not fully explored in science. It is therefore essential to consider what values should accompany employers in shaping working conditions and what values should be legislated when creating occupational health and safety (OH&S) law. First of all, how should the employers deal with the unknown? Should they abandon nanomaterials for which they do not have adequate information at all until the consequences for workers' health have been established? Should such action be limited to situations where studies indicate the toxicity of the nanomaterials present in the working environment? In this context, the article analyses values and objectives indicated by the teaching of the Catholic Church. The publication presents a Christian vision on the protection of workers' health and their place in the work process. Europe has been under the influence of Christianity for many centuries now. The Catholic Church's view of human labour continues to be present in public debates in Europe. The Christian view of human labour is focused on the working man and his dignity. Irrespective of other concepts of labour, Christianity assumes the priority of a human being over capital. The Catholic Church analyses the working man as going beyond the Earthly context, which is not typical for such doctrines as liberalism or Marxism. The author's article is an attempt in answering the question about how up to date the Catholic Church's views on human labour are in the light of nanotechnology development in the workplace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. This was a cross-sectional study conducted among 534 farmers in the largest vegetable -producing area in the northern part of the Philippines. This study assessed the ergonomic risk factors, and occupational health and safety conditions of farmers' multi-pesticide exposures. Methods. Methods consisted of interviewer-guided survey questionnaires on pesticide use among farmers, agricultural safety risk factors associated with pesticide exposure and physical health assessments of farmers. The subjects were selected using multi-stage random sampling, yielding a total of 534 farmers. Results. The majority of the study population were males (53.3%), with a mean age of 47 years old. Occupational exposure accounted for major exposure (84.8%). Farmers often complained of a headache (69.4%) and dizziness (41.0%) after their exposure to pesticides. As for common respiratory symptoms, farmers often complained of coughing (39.4%), difficulty with breathing (15.6%), breathlessness (14.9%) and having pulmonary secretions (13.3%). Farmers reported pesticide spills on their body parts while spraying (79%), and 49 % complained of getting sick because of work. Of those who got ill, 69.8% did not receive any medical attention. Of the farmers, 40.9% were diagnosed with abnormal physical examination findings, and less than 10% had abnormal laboratory results. Conclusion. The results showed that farmers were exposed to pesticides while undertaking their agricultural work and that certain occupationally-related health symptoms manifested. This underscores the need to improve protection measures to reduce the exposure of the farmers to pesticides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]