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Teachers are a occupational group in which, due to the type and specificity of work, it can be expected that the feeling of fatigue will be very intense. However, there has been little research into this problem. The aim of the research was to assess the level of fatigue after work and chronic fatigue in teachers, and to determine whether and to what extent it depends on occupational and non-occupational loads.The stratified sampling model was used to select the sample, where the layers were the type of school and its location (size of a town/city). All teachers from selected schools were invited to participate. Overall, 650 questionnaires were distributed and 403 teachers returned completed questionnaires. Fatigue after work was assessed on the basis of answers to the following question: "Do you feel tired after work?" and chronic fatigue using theThe study involved 70 men aged 35-63 years and 333 women (24-64 years). The groups did not differ significantly in terms of mean age. The level of fatigue, regardless of gender, was mostly influenced by time pressure, rush, mismanagement of the pace of work to individual abilities, increasing workload, an excess of responsible tasks, a lack of support from superiors, a low prestige of the profession, a lack of pedagogical successes, a sense of the lack of meaning in work, and the negative impact of work on family life, as well as non-occupational loads and insufficient rest.The conducted study allowed for determining the profile and frequency of occupational and non-occupational factors affecting the level of fatigue in teachers. Med Pr. 2021;72(3):283-303.Nauczyciele są grupą zawodową, w której ze względu na rodzaj pracy i specyfikę obciążeń można spodziewać się występowania nasilonego zmęczenia. Jednak niewiele badań dotyczy tego problemu. Celem niniejszych była ocena poziomu zmęczenia po pracy i zmęczenia przewlekłego u nauczycieli oraz ustalenie, czy i w jakim stopniu są one zależne od obciążeń zawodowych i pozazawodowych.W doborze grupy zastosowano model losowania warstwowego, gdzie warstwami były szkoły (szkoła podstawowa, gimnazjum, liceum, technikum, szkoła zawodowa, szkoła specjalna) i ich lokalizacja (miasto wojewódzkie, miasto5 tys. mieszkańców, miasto ≤5 tys. mieszkańców, wieś). Do udziału w badaniu zaproszono wszystkich nauczycieli zatrudnionych w wylosowanych placówkach. Rozdano 650 ankiet – kompletne ankiety zwróciło 403 nauczycieli. Oceniano zmęczenie po pracy na podstawie odpowiedzi na pytanie „Czy odczuwa Pani/Pan zmęczenie po pracy?” i zmęczenie przewlekłe z zastosowaniemW badaniu udział wzięło 70 mężczyzn w wieku 35–63 lat i 333 kobiety (24–64 lata). Średnia wieku kobiet i mężczyzn nie różniła się istotnie. Na poziom zmęczenia nauczycieli, bez względu na płeć, w największym stopniu wpływały cechy pracy decydujące o jej stresogenności (presja czasu, pośpiech, niedostosowanie tempa pracy do indywidualnych możliwości, wzrastające stale obciążenie, nadmiar odpowiedzialnych zadań, brak wsparcia przełożonych, niski prestiż zawodu, brak sukcesów pedagogicznych mimo wysiłku wkładanego w nauczanie, poczucie braku sensu pracy oraz negatywny wpływ pracy na życie rodzinne) oraz obciążenia pozazawodowe i niewystarczający wypoczynek.Przeprowadzone badanie pozwoliło określić profil i częstość występowania czynników zawodowych i pozazawodowych, które kształtują poziom zmęczenia u nauczycieli. Med. Pr. 2021;72(3):283–303.

Objectives The aim of the study was to establish whether the driver's visual strategy may influence a driver's behavior to avoid a crash in a high-risk situation. Any published papers on drivers' visual strategies just before a crash were not found. Material and methods Tests were performed using a high-tech driving bus simulator. Participants comprised 45 men drivers, aged 43.5±7.9 years old, seniority as a bus driver of 13.3±8.6 years. The tests were preceded by medical examinations: general, neurological and ophthalmological. Each participant drove the same city route for approximately 40 min (entire route - ER). In the final phase, a collision situation was simulated (a phantom car blocked the participant's right of way). Driver's visual strategy was analyzed using the FaceLab device with 2 cameras during ER and just before collision. The field-of-view covered by camera 1 was divided into 8 regions, by camera 2 into 10 regions. The distribution of gazes in regions was a criterion of visual strategy. Results Thirty-five drivers completed the simulated driving test, 14 escaped the collision, 21 crashed. These groups differed only in resting systolic blood pressure before the test. The analysis of covariance, after adjusting to this factor, indicated that during the ER visual strategy recorded by camera 1 did not differ between groups, in camera 2 the drivers in the crash group fixed their gaze more frequently (p = 0.049) in region 3 (close part of the road in front of the windshield). Just before the collision drivers who escaped the collision fixed their gaze significantly more often in region 6 (left side of the road) in camera 1 and in region 6 (in front of the windshield,) and region 10 (right side) in camera 2. Conclusions The visual strategy has an impact on the road safety. The analysis of visual strategies may be a useful tool for the training of drivers. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2019;32(2):161-74.

From our previous research among bus drivers, in difficult, but not extreme situations, we observed an increase in blood pressure (up to 200mm Hg), cardiac arrhythmias, ischemia, etc. Such reactions may be dangerous to healthy people, but they are extremely risky for drivers with a history of cardiovascular or cerebrovascular incidents. Thus, certifying driving ability of such persons is a serious problem for the medical expert. In this case, tests in a driving simulator, where it is possible to arrange a variety of stressful situations and also to monitor the reaction of the cardiovascular system and brain electrical activity may be a great advantage. Therefore we developed a first-in-Poland integrated system for examination and training of road vehicle drivers, including model stand for simulating of driving vehicle under conditions of road traffic, and a set of methods of psychological and physiological tests to be applied for testing drivers. This simulator enables to assess physiological response to different traffic situations, to analyze the effects of work environment on psychical and physical abilities of drivers, to test the feasibility of the physiological methods for assessing the fatigue and drowsiness, to evaluate the effect of monotony and static loads on the development of driver's fatigue, to assess changes in psychomotor abilities of drivers resulting from exposure to harmful and noxious agents at workplace.

A group of professional bus drivers have done two rides on a city bus simulator – the fist one into the city centre and the other one in the suburbs. One dangerous incident was simulated during each ride. The visual strategy was evaluated by the FaceLab system comprising two pairs of cameras, one facing the road and the other to the left side. The main selected criteria of the visual strategy included the number and duration of gaze fixations. Furthermore, eyelid movements (PERCLOS index) and pupil diameter were recorded. The results were subjected to a statistical analysis.

The aim of the study was to compare the musculoskeletal system load assessed using the rapid office strain assessment (ROSA) and rapid upper limb assessment (RULA) methods in computer operators, and to determine the correlation of the obtained results with the occurrence and intensity of musculoskeletal complaints (MSCs) in these individuals.In a group of 72 persons (38 women and 34 men) working with a computer for4 h/day, the ROSA and RULA methods were used to assess the load, while a questionnaire modeled on theiStandardized Nordic Questionnary/iwas used to assess the frequency and severity of MSCs.Musculoskeletal complaints occurred in about 66% of the investigated women and 62% of the investigated men within the previous year. The results of the ROSA and RULA methods were not convergent. The final result of the ROSA method (scale 1-10 pts) was 2-6 pts (M = 3.51±1.09), while the final result of the RULA method (scale 1-7 pts) ranged 2-4 pts (3.00±0.17). The values of partial and final scores in the ROSA method were correlated with the number of concurrent ailments and intensity of complaints in various regions of the musculoskeletal system. The assessment of the position of particular parts of the body during work, performed using the RULA method, in people with or without MSCs was almost identical.The use of the ROSA method has shown that it is a useful and easy-to-use tool for assessing computer workstations and can be successfully disseminated. Med Pr. 2019;70(6):675-99.Celem pracy było porównanie obciążenia układu mięśniowo-szkieletowego ocenianego za pomocą metody szybkiej oceny obciążenia fizycznego na stanowiskach w pracy biurowej (irapid office strain assessment/i− ROSA) i metody szybkiej oceny obciążenia fizycznego ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem kończyn górnych (irapid upper limb assessment/i− RULA) u operatorów komputerowych oraz określenie korelacji wyników z występowaniem i nasileniem dolegliwości mięśniowo-szkieletowych (imusculoskeletal complaints/i− MSCs) u tych osób.W grupie 72 osób (38 kobiet i 34 mężczyzn) pracujących przy komputerze4 godz./dobę do oceny obciążenia wykorzystano metody ROSA i RULA. Kwestionariusz wzorowany naiStandardized Nordic Questionnary/isłużył do oceny częstotliwości i nasilenia MSCs.Dolegliwości mięśniowo-szkieletowe wystąpiły u ok. 66% kobiet i 62% mężczyzn badanych w ciągu ostatniego roku. Wyniki uzyskane za pomocą obu metod nie były zbieżne. Końcowy wynik metody ROSA (skala 1−10 pkt) wynosił 26 pkt (M±SD = 3,51±1,09), a metody RULA (skala 1−7 pkt) – 2−4 pkt (M±SD = 3,00±0,17). Wartości ocen cząstkowych i oceny końcowej w metodzie ROSA były skorelowane z liczbą jednocześnie występujących dolegliwości oraz nasilenia dolegliwości w różnych okolicach układu mięśniowo-szkieletowego. Ocena pozycji poszczególnych części ciała podczas pracy u osób z dolegliwościami i bez nich, przeprowadzona za pomocą metody RULA, była prawie identyczna.Wykazano, że metoda ROSA jest użytecznym i łatwym w użyciu narzędziem do oceny komputerowych stacji roboczych, którego stosowanie może być rozpowszechniane. Med. Pr. 2019;70(6):675–699.

Introduction The rules for the use of force when performing work activities are specified for women and men in the Ordinance of the Minister of Labour and Social Policy of 14 March 2000 on health and safety at work in manual transport and later changes – Ordinance of the Minister of Family, Labour and Social Policy of 25 April 2017. In particular, these rules apply to manual transport, but also contain guidance on the use of levers, crankcases and wheels that are fitted to work stations. Methods This paper presents the results of several research studies performed by NIOM researchers in the field of force necessary for the professional activities. The studies were done using the measuring set: tensometric dynamometer, force converter, amplifier and PC for data collection. Measurements were done at least 3 times for one activity, the average value of force was taken for further analysis. Result During the tests, it was stated that, depending on the technical condition of the transport trolleys used in the hypermarkets (weight including the load of about 450 kg limited by law), kind of the pavement on which they moved and the way they were put into motion, the force necessary to start their movement was from 60 n to 650 n. Discussion These values were 2–3 times higher than the applicable standards (300 n – for pushing, 250 n – for pulling). On the other hand, the measurements of the force needed to launch overloaded trucks used in the transport of gas cylinders or materials in the textile industry (up to about 1500 kg) indicate the necessity to use 500 n – 700 n force – well above the permissible. It is visible that the ergonomic interventions including education and training is necessary.

Recording and analyzing eye movements provide important elements for understanding the nature of the task of driving a vehicle. This article reviews the literature on eye movement strategies employed by drivers of vehicles (vehicle control, evaluation of the situation by analyzing essential visual elements, navigation). Special focus was placed on the phenomenon of conspicuity, the probability of perceiving an object in the visual field and the factors that determine it. The article reports the methods of oculographic examination, with special emphasis on the non-invasive technique using corneal reflections, and the criteria for optimal selection of the test apparatus for drivers in experimental conditions (on a driving simulator) and in real conditions. Particular attention was also paid to the helmet - or glass-type devices provided with 1 or 2 high definition (HD) camcorders recording the field of vision and the direction of gaze, and the non-contact devices comprising 2 or 3 cameras and an infrared source to record eye and head movements, pupil diameter, eye convergence distance, duration and frequency of eyelid blinking. A review of the studies conducted using driver eye-tracking procedure was presented. The results, in addition to their cognitive value, can be used with success to optimize the strategy of drivers training.

Nurses are often obliged to work in a 12-hr shift work system. We have decided to check whether such a working system constitutes an excessive load for nurses. On the basis of a questionnaire survey among nurses working in an 8-hr daytime shift system (169 nurses) and in a 12-hr shift (536 nurses), the amount of physical workload, work stress, and after-work activities were compared. Data analysis has shown that a 12-hr shift system is characterized by less significant physical workload but greater mental load. The nurses working in a 2-shift system were more tired after work, but they could spend more time on leisure activities and do housework. The data suggest that there are no significant contraindications for nurses to work in a 2-shift system.

Measurements of the work ability subjective assessment, using the work ability index (WAI), are widely applied in the examination of workers. The measurement results suggest that the low level of work ability, which is determined by work-burden factors, health condition, and lifestyles of persons under study, can be a predictor of earlier retirement. The aim of the study was to find out whether WAI can be used in Polish conditions and to identify personal traits and/or job characteristics and conditions of its performance that generate the risk of low work ability.The cross-sectional study embraced 669 men and 536 women at the working age, representing different occupations and exposed to various factors. They self-assessed their work ability by completing a questionnaire that allows to determine WAI values. They also characterized their jobs in terms of physical burden, occupational stress, harmful and strenuous factors, work fatigue, chronic fatigue, and lifestyle. Based on the energy expenditure and health condition (number of diseases), the work burden was objectively defined. A model of multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the effect of the analyzed factors on the risk of low or moderate work ability.The level of work ability in the study group was lower than that observed in analogous occupational groups in other European countries. The results of the analysis indicate that job characterizing factors and workers' individual traits exert a stronger effect on the level of WAI components, which reflect a subjective assessment of work abilities, than factors concerning health conditions. Highly stressogenic work and low tolerance of work burden as well as personal traits (age, frequent alcohol consumption among men and non-occupational burdens among women) represented risk factors responsible for low or moderate VAI values.The measurement of work ability index is an indirect assessment of workers' physical state, and it slightly depends on objective work burdens.