Industrial Health最新文献

This study compares the disclosure practices of occupational safety and health (OSH) in corporate social responsibility (CSR) reports between listed companies in Japan and Taiwan. Using publicly available CSR reports from 2020, we analyzed OSH disclosures from 441 Japanese companies and 150 Taiwanese companies. In Taiwan, where CSR disclosure is mandatory, the reports were more comprehensive and closely aligned with Global Reporting Initiative standards. In contrast, Japan's voluntary approach led to greater variability in reporting, with a lower overall OSH disclosure rate but a relatively higher emphasis on mental health measures. After adjusting for the industry and company size, the odds of Taiwanese companies disclosing OSH information were 3.45 times higher than Japanese companies. This cross-country comparison highlights the importance of regulatory frameworks on the quality and consistency of OSH disclosures, as seen in Taiwanese companies. Japanese companies could improve transparency in materiality disclosures, while Taiwanese companies might benefit from adopting Japan's focus on mental health and occupational health awards. This comparison offers valuable insights into the role of regulations in shaping CSR practices and provides guidance for future policy development in both countries and others aiming to enhance corporate transparency in OSH.

Occupational stress and burnout are increasingly recognized as major contributors to reduced productivity in modern workplaces. In this study, we explored the association between occupational stress and health-related productivity loss through the mediating effect of burnout syndrome in Korean workers. This study was conducted using a sample of 5,050 participants from 5,553 randomly selected individuals, after excluding those with missing data. The key variables were measured using the Korean Occupational Stress Scale (KOSS^® 19), the Korean version of the Burnout Syndrome Scale (KBOSS), and the Korean version of the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment-General Health (WPAI-GH) questionnaire. Statistical analyses were performed using generalized linear models, and mediation analysis. The results revealed a significant association among occupational stress, burnout, and health-related productivity losses. Burnout was found to mediate the relationship between occupational stress and health-related productivity loss, with approximately 51% of the effect being mediated by burnout. Among the burnout sub-dimensions, the mediating effect of exhaustion was the highest. These results suggest that managing occupational stress and burnout can play a crucial role in reducing health-related productivity losses.

Sleep health is recognized as a fundamental component of health and safety in the workplace. Alertness assessed by the psychomotor vigilance test (PVT) is a key dimension of sleep health. Impaired PVT performance is associated with depression and burnout, but its relation to self-rated health (SRH) remains unclear. In this cross-sectional study, 378 physicians (268 men, 110 women) at Juntendo University Hospital completed a questionnaire and a 3-min PVT after duty hours. Participants were dichotomized as "healthy" or "unhealthy" group based on SRH. PVT lapses (reaction time ≥355 ms) and mean reciprocal reaction time (rRT) were categorized into quartiles. Multivariable logistic regression estimated odds ratios (ORs) for poor SRH with covariates including the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS) and the 20-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D ≥20). Compared with the lowest quartile, the highest quartile of lapses showed an adjusted OR for poor SRH of 4.50 (95% CI, 1.68-12.02), and the lowest quartile of mean rRT yielded an OR of 3.76 (1.36-10.37). These associations remained robust after further adjustment for night-shift duration, snoring, caffeine intake, and either KSS or CES-D. PVT-assessed alertness independently predicts physicians' SRH, suggesting its utility for health monitoring among hospital physicians.

Organizational justice is an important organizational-level resource that may facilitate employees' motivation and personal development. The aim of the current study is to test the indirect effect of organizational justice on job performance and happiness through two key psychological states: work engagement and burnout. Based on Job Demands-Resources theory, it was hypothesized that the organizational justice would be positively associated with job performance and happiness via increased work engagement and decreased burnout. In the study participated 216 employees, nested in 62 organizations. Multilevel analyses with MLwiN software revealed that organizational justice related positively and indirectly to both job performance and happiness through higher levels of work engagement. Furthermore, justice also exerted positive indirect effects on performance and happiness through its negative association with burnout. These findings suggest that organizational justice may initiate a motivational process that can enhance both work-related outcomes and personal well-being, supporting performance at work and flourishing beyond workplace.

Pharmacists are at high risk of infection due to their direct contact with potentially infected patients and customers during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to examine whether increased health issues among pharmacists during the pandemic were associated with pandemic-related changes in their work environment. A total of 438 pharmacists from 28 prefectures completed a self-administered survey between September 2021 and January 2022. Health issues with significant increases among pharmacists during the COVID-19 pandemic included depression, anxiety or emotional disorders, insomnia, eye problems and skin disorders. The following work-related factors were significantly associated with these health issues: For depression, anxiety, or emotional disorders, key factors were fear of infection during medication explanations to customers or patients and fear of infection related to work in general. Insomnia was significantly associated with shift adjustments and fear of infection when fatigued. Eye problems were linked to remote medication counseling via telephone or online platforms, disinfection and cleaning tasks, and shift adjustments. No significant work-related factors were associated with skin disorders. This study identified specific work-related tasks associated with increased health issues, offering valuable insights into the occupational risks faced by pharmacists and informing preparedness for future pandemics.

Working from home (WFH) is considered beneficial for sleep and fatigue recovery; however, it may vary according to chronotype. In this study, we aimed to assess the relationship between work style, sleep, and health, focusing on different chronotypes. A total of 1,114 workers completed an anonymous online survey, and 587 adult workers were included in the study. Changes in sleep and health indicators were compared by chronotype between the periods when participants worked at the workplace (WAW) every day and WFH two days or more a week. During the WFH period, sleep duration was longer and insomnia level was lower for all chronotypes than that during the WAW period. Evening chronotypes had higher risks of insomnia, poor mental health, and poor fatigue recovery during WAW than did morning chronotypes. However, regarding mental health impairment, the relationship by chronotype disappeared during the WFH period. WFH two days or more a week may provide benefits with respect to sleep and fatigue recovery, regardless of chronotype, particularly for mental health of evening chronotype; however, evening chronotypes had lower level of sleep and health than did other chronotypes, regardless of work style.

Victims of natural disasters require extensive medical, health, and welfare services. Disaster responders play a vital role in caring for victims but frequently face their own health problems. Responders may work despite physical or psychological distress (presenteeism), leading to many problems. We examined the association of activities and environmental factors with presenteeism in responders during the acute and subacute phases of recovery from the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake (January 6 to March 31, 2024) using records from the Disaster Responder's Health Management version of J-SPEED. Presenteeism prevalence was 2.8% (acute phase: 3.5%; subacute phase: 2.1%). Unclear task and command (aOR=8.44, 95%CI: 5.49-13.00) and inability to take meals and breaks (aOR=8.92, 95%CI: 5.86-13.60) were associated with higher presenteeism odds. Support activities in the Health Emergency Operation Center (acute phase) and an unsafe work environment (subacute phase) were also significantly associated with presenteeism. The environmental determinants of presenteeism differed in the acute and subacute phases. However, potential confounding, including responder characteristics, could not be adjusted due to data limitations, so results should be interpreted cautiously. Nevertheless, improving the working conditions and implementing a comprehensive health management system for disaster responders, including pre-disaster training programs, may help mitigate their presenteeism.

This study examines the association of unmet healthcare needs (UHNs) with health-related productivity loss (HRPL), work ability, and work engagement among Korean workers. We analyzed 6,633 workers from two waves (August 2023 and September 2024) of the Korean Work, Sleep, and Health Study, a nationwide panel survey. UHNs were assessed based on self-reported experiences of forgoing necessary medical care. HRPL, work ability, and work engagement were measured using validated instruments. The generalized estimating equation models to repeated measurements applied to examine associations between UHNs and labor-related outcomes, adjusting for sociodemographic factors. Workers with UHNs had a 9.517 percentage point higher HRPL, 3.348-fold higher odds of poor work ability, and 1.506-fold higher odds of low work engagement compared with those without UHNs. Among causes of UHNs, financial constraints were associated with the largest increases in HRPL, poor work ability and low work engagement. These findings suggest that inadequate access to healthcare not only affects individual health but also has substantial implications for labor outcomes. Policy interventions to reduce UHNs, particularly for financially vulnerable workers, may improve both health and labor outcomes.

The global work environment is changing quickly, often becoming unfavourable to employees. This scoping review aimed to synthesise the existing literature on self-undermining behaviours in the workplace, with a particular focus on their development as a concept and their application in occupational contexts. The method followed was the guidelines of the PRISMA extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR). A search was conducted using electronic databases (e.g., ScienceDirect, Scopus, EBSCOhost) and online platforms (e.g., ResearchGate). The list of references from the included studies was also assessed for any additional papers that could be relevant. The review's inclusion criteria were as follows: studies published in peer-reviewed journals only in English that explored self-undermining. Of the 60 papers identified, eight studies with 4046 participants were included; the majority followed a quantitative method and a cross-sectional design. Self-undermining was positively associated with burnout and job demands. Self-undermining mediated the relationship between several work-related factors and outcomes. The studies in this review had limitations, e.g., self-reported data. Strategies to monitor and reduce self-undermining may be a crucial intervention to prevent burnout. Organisations shall develop and implement different programs to reduce these behaviours among employees.

This paper proposes a novel conceptual framework that integrates Disaster Risk Management (DRM) into Occupational Health Services (OHS) to improve resilience against technological hazards in high-risk industrial sectors. Even though OHS is meant to safeguard the workplace, it lacks systematic management for disaster risks such as chemical spills, industrial fires and toxic releases. To address this gap, the proposed framework synthesizes two internationally recognized models: the WHO's Health Emergency and Disaster Risk Management (Health-EDRM) strategy and the Basic Occupational Health Services (BOHS) model. The integration is structured across three interconnected pillars: (1) Risk Governance and Policy Alignment, (2) Proactive Risk Assessment and Preparedness, and (3) Emergency Response and Resilience-Building. This approach extends the scope of OHS from traditional hazard control and compliance to proactive disaster resilience, offering a new theoretical and practical model tailored for vulnerable and complex industrial environments. In doing so, the framework supports Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by enhancing worker protection, business continuity and community-level sustainability. It also lays the foundation for future empirical research and offers actionable guidance for industry leaders and policymakers.