Pub Date : 2022-10-25eCollection Date: 2022-01-01DOI: 10.35371/aoem.2022.34.e29
Xènia Chela-Alvarez, Oana Bulilete, Encarna Garcia-Illan, MClara Vidal-Thomàs, Joan Llobera
Background: Hotel housekeepers are one of the most important occupational group within tourism hotel sector; various health problems related to their job have been described, above all musculoskeletal disorders. The objective of this study is to understand the experiences and perceptions of hotel housekeepers and key informants from the Balearic Islands (Spain) regarding occupational health conditions and the strategies employed to mitigate them.
Methods: A qualitative study was carried out. Six focus groups with hotel housekeepers and 10 semi-structured interviews with key informants were conducted. Next, we carried out a content analysis.
Results: Hotel housekeepers reported musculoskeletal disorders, anxiety and stress as main occupational health problems; health professionals underscored the physical problems. Hotel housekeepers perceived that their work (physically demanding and with repetitive movements) caused their health conditions. To solve health issues, they used medication (anti-inflammatory agents, painkillers, sedatives and anxiolytics), which allowed them to continue working; health public services, generally rated as satisfactory; individual protective equipment; ergonomics (with difficulties due to high work pace and hotel facilities) and physical activity. Two contrasting attitudes were identified regarding sick leave: HHs who refused to accept a doctor-prescribed sick leave (due to fear of being fired, sense of responsibility, ...), and those who accepted it (because they could not continue working, they prioritised health before work).
Conclusions: Our results might contribute to plan improvement strategies and programs to address health problems among hotel housekeepers. These programs should include interventions, such as coping strategies for the work-related risk factors (i.e., stress) and strategies to reduce medicine consumption. Additionally, hotel facilities should adopt policies focused on making workplaces more ergonomic (i.e., furniture) and to diminish the work pace.
{"title":"Hotel housekeepers and occupational health: experiences and perceived risks.","authors":"Xènia Chela-Alvarez, Oana Bulilete, Encarna Garcia-Illan, MClara Vidal-Thomàs, Joan Llobera","doi":"10.35371/aoem.2022.34.e29","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.35371/aoem.2022.34.e29","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Hotel housekeepers are one of the most important occupational group within tourism hotel sector; various health problems related to their job have been described, above all musculoskeletal disorders. The objective of this study is to understand the experiences and perceptions of hotel housekeepers and key informants from the Balearic Islands (Spain) regarding occupational health conditions and the strategies employed to mitigate them.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A qualitative study was carried out. Six focus groups with hotel housekeepers and 10 semi-structured interviews with key informants were conducted. Next, we carried out a content analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Hotel housekeepers reported musculoskeletal disorders, anxiety and stress as main occupational health problems; health professionals underscored the physical problems. Hotel housekeepers perceived that their work (physically demanding and with repetitive movements) caused their health conditions. To solve health issues, they used medication (anti-inflammatory agents, painkillers, sedatives and anxiolytics), which allowed them to continue working; health public services, generally rated as satisfactory; individual protective equipment; ergonomics (with difficulties due to high work pace and hotel facilities) and physical activity. Two contrasting attitudes were identified regarding sick leave: HHs who refused to accept a doctor-prescribed sick leave (due to fear of being fired, sense of responsibility, ...), and those who accepted it (because they could not continue working, they prioritised health before work).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our results might contribute to plan improvement strategies and programs to address health problems among hotel housekeepers. These programs should include interventions, such as coping strategies for the work-related risk factors (i.e., stress) and strategies to reduce medicine consumption. Additionally, hotel facilities should adopt policies focused on making workplaces more ergonomic (i.e., furniture) and to diminish the work pace.</p>","PeriodicalId":46631,"journal":{"name":"Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2022-10-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/3c/b5/aoem-34-e29.PMC9685295.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"40518777","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-10-13eCollection Date: 2022-01-01DOI: 10.35371/aoem.2022.34.e28
Inho Lee, Yong-Jin Lee, Eun-Chul Jang, Soon-Chan Kwon, Young-Sun Min, Jisuk Yun, Taehwan Park, Hye-Jin Lee, Eonah Choo, Jeong-Beom Lee
Background: Haenyeo is a woman who has the job of collecting seafood in the Jeju Sea at an average temperature of 13°C-14°C. The purpose of this study was to examine the cold acclimatization and occupational characteristics of Haenyeo through biomarkers such as orexin and irisin related to heat generation in the body.
Methods: Twenty-one Haenyeo and 25 people with similar age, body type, and body mass index were selected as the control group (Control G). In the cold exposure experiment, a climate chamber was set to 5°C and both feet were immersed in a 15°C water tank for 30 minutes. Tympanic temperature (Tty) and skin temperature (Tsk) were measured, and the mean body temperature (mTb) was calculated. Blood samples were collected before and immediately after the examination. Orexin and irisin levels were analyzed.
Results: Orexin levels were elevated after cold stimulation from 12.17 ± 4.44 to 12.95 ± 4.53 ng/mL (Haenyeo group [Haenyeo G], p < 0.01) and 10.37 ± 3.84 to 11.25 ± 4.02 ng/mL (Control G, p < 0.001). Irisin levels were elevated after cold stimulation from 4.83 ± 2.28 to 5.36 ± 2.23 ng/mL (Haenyeo G, p < 0.001) and 3.73 ± 1.59 to 4.18 ± 2.04 ng/mL (Control G, p < 0.001). The difference between Haenyeo G and Control G values in orexin and irisin appears not only in pre-exposure but also in post-exposure (p < 0.05).
Conclusions: Our experimental results suggest that Haenyeo G were relatively superior in cold tolerance to Control G under cold exposure conditions. Haenyeo's cold acclimatization is due to the basic differences in pyrogens regarding body temperature control such as orexin and irisin. This means that Haenyeo are advantageous for cold survival.
背景:海女是在平均气温为13 ~ 14℃的济州海从事收集海产品工作的女性。本研究的目的是通过体内与产热相关的食欲素和鸢尾素等生物标志物来研究海女的冷适应和职业特征。方法:选择21名海女和25名年龄、体型、体质指数相近的人作为对照组(control G)。在冷暴露实验中,将气候室设置为5°C,双脚浸泡在15°C的水箱中30分钟。测量鼓室温度(Tty)和皮肤温度(Tsk),计算平均体温(mTb)。在检查前和检查后立即采集血样。分析食欲素和鸢尾素水平。结果:冷刺激后食欲素水平分别从12.17±4.44 ~ 12.95±4.53 ng/mL (Haenyeo组[Haenyeo G], p < 0.01)和10.37±3.84 ~ 11.25±4.02 ng/mL(对照G, p < 0.001)升高。冷刺激后鸢尾素水平分别从4.83±2.28至5.36±2.23 ng/mL (Haenyeo G, p < 0.001)和3.73±1.59至4.18±2.04 ng/mL(对照G, p < 0.001)升高。在暴露前和暴露后,Haenyeo G值与对照的食欲素和鸢尾素G值差异均显著(p < 0.05)。结论:在冷暴露条件下,海育G的耐寒性相对优于对照G。海女的冷适应是由于食欲素和鸢尾素等与体温控制有关的热原的基本差异。这意味着海女在寒冷环境中生存非常有利。
{"title":"The acclimatization of Haenyeo to a cold environment and occupational characteristics evaluated by orexin and irisin levels.","authors":"Inho Lee, Yong-Jin Lee, Eun-Chul Jang, Soon-Chan Kwon, Young-Sun Min, Jisuk Yun, Taehwan Park, Hye-Jin Lee, Eonah Choo, Jeong-Beom Lee","doi":"10.35371/aoem.2022.34.e28","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.35371/aoem.2022.34.e28","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Haenyeo is a woman who has the job of collecting seafood in the Jeju Sea at an average temperature of 13°C-14°C. The purpose of this study was to examine the cold acclimatization and occupational characteristics of Haenyeo through biomarkers such as orexin and irisin related to heat generation in the body.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Twenty-one Haenyeo and 25 people with similar age, body type, and body mass index were selected as the control group (Control G). In the cold exposure experiment, a climate chamber was set to 5°C and both feet were immersed in a 15°C water tank for 30 minutes. Tympanic temperature (T<sub>ty</sub>) and skin temperature (T<sub>sk</sub>) were measured, and the mean body temperature (mT<sub>b</sub>) was calculated. Blood samples were collected before and immediately after the examination. Orexin and irisin levels were analyzed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Orexin levels were elevated after cold stimulation from 12.17 ± 4.44 to 12.95 ± 4.53 ng/mL (Haenyeo group [Haenyeo G], <i>p</i> < 0.01) and 10.37 ± 3.84 to 11.25 ± 4.02 ng/mL (Control G, <i>p</i> < 0.001). Irisin levels were elevated after cold stimulation from 4.83 ± 2.28 to 5.36 ± 2.23 ng/mL (Haenyeo G, <i>p</i> < 0.001) and 3.73 ± 1.59 to 4.18 ± 2.04 ng/mL (Control G, <i>p</i> < 0.001). The difference between Haenyeo G and Control G values in orexin and irisin appears not only in pre-exposure but also in post-exposure (<i>p</i> < 0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our experimental results suggest that Haenyeo G were relatively superior in cold tolerance to Control G under cold exposure conditions. Haenyeo's cold acclimatization is due to the basic differences in pyrogens regarding body temperature control such as orexin and irisin. This means that Haenyeo are advantageous for cold survival.</p>","PeriodicalId":46631,"journal":{"name":"Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2022-10-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/12/e1/aoem-34-e28.PMC9685290.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"40711987","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-10-11eCollection Date: 2022-01-01DOI: 10.35371/aoem.2022.34.e26
Taewoong Ha, Hyeoncheol Oh, Jungwon Kim
It is important to assess the blood flow of fingers in the verification of hand-arm vibration syndrome. In the Republic of Korea, most assessments of the blood flow in the fingers are performed using a cold provocation test with finger skin color change. However, this test is a non-objective method with a relatively low sensitivity, leading to possible social and legal problems. Thus, we reviewed the characteristics of several tests that assess the blood flow in the fingers. Among these tests, using the radioactive isotope method, Raynaud's scan has a relatively higher sensitivity and specificity than other tests, provides objective results, and is approachable in many hospitals. So we suggest using Raynaud's scan as an alternative test when cold provocation test with finger skin color change is negative in vibration exposed worker.
{"title":"Technetium-99m hand perfusion scintigraphy (Raynaud's scan) as a method of verification in hand arm vibration syndrome: a review.","authors":"Taewoong Ha, Hyeoncheol Oh, Jungwon Kim","doi":"10.35371/aoem.2022.34.e26","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.35371/aoem.2022.34.e26","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>It is important to assess the blood flow of fingers in the verification of hand-arm vibration syndrome. In the Republic of Korea, most assessments of the blood flow in the fingers are performed using a cold provocation test with finger skin color change. However, this test is a non-objective method with a relatively low sensitivity, leading to possible social and legal problems. Thus, we reviewed the characteristics of several tests that assess the blood flow in the fingers. Among these tests, using the radioactive isotope method, Raynaud's scan has a relatively higher sensitivity and specificity than other tests, provides objective results, and is approachable in many hospitals. So we suggest using Raynaud's scan as an alternative test when cold provocation test with finger skin color change is negative in vibration exposed worker.</p>","PeriodicalId":46631,"journal":{"name":"Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2022-10-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/f0/20/aoem-34-e26.PMC9685291.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"40518778","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-09-23eCollection Date: 2022-01-01DOI: 10.35371/aoem.2022.34.e25
Youna Won, Hwan-Cheol Kim, Jiho Kim, Minsun Kim, Seong-Cheol Yang, Shin-Goo Park, Jong-Han Leem
Background: Many studies have been conducted on presenteeism and absenteeism, but the relationship between presenteeism and absenteeism is unclear. This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of presenteeism on future absenteeism.
Methods: This study was conducted on non-white collar workers that underwent general health examinations in 2014 and 2015. We asked subjects to fill out a questionnaire about their experiences of presenteeism for the past one year in 2014. In 2015, it was checked whether the same subjects had any experience of absence from work due to injury or disease during the past year. The χ2 test was used to analyze relationships between sociodemographic and occupational characteristics, presenteeism, and absence. Odds ratios (ORs) were calculated by logistic regression analysis controlled for confounding factors.
Results: A total of 12,572 workers were included in the study. For workers who experienced presenteeism, the OR for injury absence was 2.705 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.044-3.581), and the OR for disease absence was 4.906 (95% CI: 3.996-6.024) after adjusting for sociodemographic and occupational confounding factors. For men that experienced presenteeism, the OR for injury absence was 3.035 (95% CI: 2.258-4.081), and the OR for disease absence was 5.508 (95% CI: 4.340-6.989). For women that experienced presenteeism, the OR for injury absence was 1.322 (95% CI: 0.577-3.028), which was not significant, and the OR for disease absence was 3.629 (95% CI: 2.405-5.475).
Conclusions: This study suggests that presenteeism can influence future absenteeism. The effect of presenteeism may depend on cause of absence. Men who experienced presenteeism showed greater effects on injury and disease absence than women. For women, experience of presenteeism had a significant effect on disease absence but not on injury absence.
{"title":"Impacts of presenteeism on work-related injury absence and disease absence.","authors":"Youna Won, Hwan-Cheol Kim, Jiho Kim, Minsun Kim, Seong-Cheol Yang, Shin-Goo Park, Jong-Han Leem","doi":"10.35371/aoem.2022.34.e25","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.35371/aoem.2022.34.e25","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Many studies have been conducted on presenteeism and absenteeism, but the relationship between presenteeism and absenteeism is unclear. This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of presenteeism on future absenteeism.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study was conducted on non-white collar workers that underwent general health examinations in 2014 and 2015. We asked subjects to fill out a questionnaire about their experiences of presenteeism for the past one year in 2014. In 2015, it was checked whether the same subjects had any experience of absence from work due to injury or disease during the past year. The χ<sup>2</sup> test was used to analyze relationships between sociodemographic and occupational characteristics, presenteeism, and absence. Odds ratios (ORs) were calculated by logistic regression analysis controlled for confounding factors.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 12,572 workers were included in the study. For workers who experienced presenteeism, the OR for injury absence was 2.705 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.044-3.581), and the OR for disease absence was 4.906 (95% CI: 3.996-6.024) after adjusting for sociodemographic and occupational confounding factors. For men that experienced presenteeism, the OR for injury absence was 3.035 (95% CI: 2.258-4.081), and the OR for disease absence was 5.508 (95% CI: 4.340-6.989). For women that experienced presenteeism, the OR for injury absence was 1.322 (95% CI: 0.577-3.028), which was not significant, and the OR for disease absence was 3.629 (95% CI: 2.405-5.475).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study suggests that presenteeism can influence future absenteeism. The effect of presenteeism may depend on cause of absence. Men who experienced presenteeism showed greater effects on injury and disease absence than women. For women, experience of presenteeism had a significant effect on disease absence but not on injury absence.</p>","PeriodicalId":46631,"journal":{"name":"Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2022-09-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/44/b4/aoem-34-e25.PMC9560897.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"40649458","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Background: In modern society, depression is serious issue that causes socioeconomic and family burden. To decrease the incidence of depression, risk factors should be identified and managed. Among many risk factors for depression, this study examined socioeconomic risk factors for depression.
Methods: We utilized first (2006), second (2008), and third (2010)-wave data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLoSA). Depressive symptom was measured with the 10-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, Short Form (CES-D-10) in the survey in 2008 and 2010. Three risk factors including job security, employment type and monthly income were measured in the survey in 2006. The association between risk factors and depressive symptom was analyzed by Cox proportional-hazard model.
Results: We analyzed data from 1,105 workers and hazard ratios (HRs) for 3 risk factors were significant entirely. In addition, regular worker with high income group is the most vulnerable group of poor job insecurity on depression among male workers (HR: 1.73; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.07-2.81). Finally, HRs for 7 groups who had at least 1 risk factor had higher HRs compared to groups who had no risk factors after stratifying 3 risk factors. In the analysis, significantly vulnerable groups were total 5 groups and the group who had highest HR was temporary/daily workers with poor job security (HR: 2.51; 95% CI: 1.36-4.64). The results concerning women, regardless of job type, were non-significant.
Conclusions: This study presented one or more risk factors among poor job security, low income, temporary/daily employment type increase hazard for depressive symptom in 2 or 4 years after the exposure. These results inform policy to screen for and protect against the risk of depression in vulnerable groups.
{"title":"The effect of job insecurity, employment type and monthly income on depressive symptom: analysis of Korean Longitudinal Study on Aging data.","authors":"Myeong-Hun Lim, Jong-Uk Won, Won-Tae Lee, Min-Seok Kim, Seong-Uk Baek, Jin-Ha Yoon","doi":"10.35371/aoem.2022.34.e24","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.35371/aoem.2022.34.e24","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>In modern society, depression is serious issue that causes socioeconomic and family burden. To decrease the incidence of depression, risk factors should be identified and managed. Among many risk factors for depression, this study examined socioeconomic risk factors for depression.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We utilized first (2006), second (2008), and third (2010)-wave data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLoSA). Depressive symptom was measured with the 10-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, Short Form (CES-D-10) in the survey in 2008 and 2010. Three risk factors including job security, employment type and monthly income were measured in the survey in 2006. The association between risk factors and depressive symptom was analyzed by Cox proportional-hazard model.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We analyzed data from 1,105 workers and hazard ratios (HRs) for 3 risk factors were significant entirely. In addition, regular worker with high income group is the most vulnerable group of poor job insecurity on depression among male workers (HR: 1.73; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.07-2.81). Finally, HRs for 7 groups who had at least 1 risk factor had higher HRs compared to groups who had no risk factors after stratifying 3 risk factors. In the analysis, significantly vulnerable groups were total 5 groups and the group who had highest HR was temporary/daily workers with poor job security (HR: 2.51; 95% CI: 1.36-4.64). The results concerning women, regardless of job type, were non-significant.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study presented one or more risk factors among poor job security, low income, temporary/daily employment type increase hazard for depressive symptom in 2 or 4 years after the exposure. These results inform policy to screen for and protect against the risk of depression in vulnerable groups.</p>","PeriodicalId":46631,"journal":{"name":"Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2022-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/b7/b0/aoem-34-e24.PMC9560896.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"40649457","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-09-07eCollection Date: 2022-01-01DOI: 10.35371/aoem.2022.34.e23
Jaehoo Lee, Bohyun Sim, Bonggyun Ju, Chul Gab Lee, Ki-Soo Park, Mi-Ji Kim, Jeong Ho Kim, Kunhyung Kim, Hansoo Song
Background: The musculoskeletal disease (MSD) burden is an important health problem among Korean fishers. We aimed to investigate the indicators of the prevalence of MSD and contributions of significant indicators to MSD in Korean fishers.
Methods: This cross-section study included 927 fishers (male, 371; female, 556) aged 40 to 79 years who were enrolled from 3 fishery safety and health centers. The outcome variable was one-year prevalence of MSD in 5 body parts (the neck, shoulder, hand, back, and knee). Independent variables were sex, age, educational attainment, household income, job classification, employment xlink:type, hazardous working environment (cold, heat, and noise), ergonomic risk by the 5 body parts, anxiety disorder, depression, hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia. The adjusted odds ratio of MSDs by the 5 body parts were calculated using multiple logistic regression analysis. We computed the population attributable fraction (PAF) for each indicators of MSDs using binary regression models.
Results: The one-year prevalence of MSD in the neck, shoulder, hand, back, and knee was 7.8%, 17.8%, 7.8%, 27.2%, and 16.2% in males vs. 16.4%, 28.1%, 23.0%, 38.7%, and 30.0% in females, respectively. The ergonomic risk PAF according to the body parts ranged from 22.8%-59.6% in males and 22.8%-50.3% in female. Mental diseases showed a significant PAF for all body parts only among female (PAF 9.1%-21.4%). Cold exposure showed a significant PAF for the neck, shoulder, and hand MSD only among female (25.6%-26.8%). Age was not a significant indicator except for the knee MSD among female.
Conclusions: Ergonomic risk contributed majorly as indicators of MSDs in both sexes of fishers. Mental disease and cold exposure were indicators of MSDs only among female fishers. This information may be important for determining priority risk groups for the prevention of work-related MSD among Korean fishers.
{"title":"Population attributable fraction of indicators for musculoskeletal diseases: a cross-sectional study of fishers in Korea.","authors":"Jaehoo Lee, Bohyun Sim, Bonggyun Ju, Chul Gab Lee, Ki-Soo Park, Mi-Ji Kim, Jeong Ho Kim, Kunhyung Kim, Hansoo Song","doi":"10.35371/aoem.2022.34.e23","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.35371/aoem.2022.34.e23","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The musculoskeletal disease (MSD) burden is an important health problem among Korean fishers. We aimed to investigate the indicators of the prevalence of MSD and contributions of significant indicators to MSD in Korean fishers.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This cross-section study included 927 fishers (male, 371; female, 556) aged 40 to 79 years who were enrolled from 3 fishery safety and health centers. The outcome variable was one-year prevalence of MSD in 5 body parts (the neck, shoulder, hand, back, and knee). Independent variables were sex, age, educational attainment, household income, job classification, employment xlink:type, hazardous working environment (cold, heat, and noise), ergonomic risk by the 5 body parts, anxiety disorder, depression, hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia. The adjusted odds ratio of MSDs by the 5 body parts were calculated using multiple logistic regression analysis. We computed the population attributable fraction (PAF) for each indicators of MSDs using binary regression models.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The one-year prevalence of MSD in the neck, shoulder, hand, back, and knee was 7.8%, 17.8%, 7.8%, 27.2%, and 16.2% in males vs. 16.4%, 28.1%, 23.0%, 38.7%, and 30.0% in females, respectively. The ergonomic risk PAF according to the body parts ranged from 22.8%-59.6% in males and 22.8%-50.3% in female. Mental diseases showed a significant PAF for all body parts only among female (PAF 9.1%-21.4%). Cold exposure showed a significant PAF for the neck, shoulder, and hand MSD only among female (25.6%-26.8%). Age was not a significant indicator except for the knee MSD among female.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Ergonomic risk contributed majorly as indicators of MSDs in both sexes of fishers. Mental disease and cold exposure were indicators of MSDs only among female fishers. This information may be important for determining priority risk groups for the prevention of work-related MSD among Korean fishers.</p>","PeriodicalId":46631,"journal":{"name":"Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2022-09-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/ee/a2/aoem-34-e23.PMC9560895.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"40649456","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-08-29eCollection Date: 2022-01-01DOI: 10.35371/aoem.2022.34.e22
Jong Hyun Hwang, Jung Il Kim
Background: Several cases of chloroform-induced hepatotoxicity have been reported worldwide, but only 2 cases have been reported in Korea. We encountered a case of toxic hepatitis due to chloroform exposure in February 2022 and report the diagnosis process and clinical findings.
Case presentation: A 38-year-old employee in charge of the coating after washing (degreasing) at an automotive parts manufacturer complained of jaundice and was diagnosed with acute toxic hepatitis. After the initial diagnosis, he continued to work, his symptoms worsened, and he was hospitalized for 8 days. Liver ultrasonography (elastography) revealed acute hepatitis. The washing agent contained chloroform, which was not listed on the materials safety data sheet, and the concentrations of chloroform in the workplace were up to 4.7 times the time-weighted average.
Conclusions: This patient showed typical toxic hepatitis with chloroform; further follow-up studies are required. Both employers and workers should be aware of information on toxic substances and take precautions to avoid exposure.
{"title":"A case report of toxic hepatitis caused by chloroform in automotive parts manufacturer coating process.","authors":"Jong Hyun Hwang, Jung Il Kim","doi":"10.35371/aoem.2022.34.e22","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.35371/aoem.2022.34.e22","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Several cases of chloroform-induced hepatotoxicity have been reported worldwide, but only 2 cases have been reported in Korea. We encountered a case of toxic hepatitis due to chloroform exposure in February 2022 and report the diagnosis process and clinical findings.</p><p><strong>Case presentation: </strong>A 38-year-old employee in charge of the coating after washing (degreasing) at an automotive parts manufacturer complained of jaundice and was diagnosed with acute toxic hepatitis. After the initial diagnosis, he continued to work, his symptoms worsened, and he was hospitalized for 8 days. Liver ultrasonography (elastography) revealed acute hepatitis. The washing agent contained chloroform, which was not listed on the materials safety data sheet, and the concentrations of chloroform in the workplace were up to 4.7 times the time-weighted average.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This patient showed typical toxic hepatitis with chloroform; further follow-up studies are required. Both employers and workers should be aware of information on toxic substances and take precautions to avoid exposure.</p>","PeriodicalId":46631,"journal":{"name":"Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2022-08-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/7d/1f/aoem-34-e22.PMC9483631.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"33478362","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-08-22eCollection Date: 2022-01-01DOI: 10.35371/aoem.2022.34.e21
Seongmin Jo, Kiook Baek, Joon Sakong, Chulyong Park
Background: Because particulate matter (PM) and asthma are closely related, the prevalence of school absence among adolescents with asthma can be affected by the concentration of PM. We aimed to investigate the relationship between school absences due to asthma and the total number of days that the PM concentration exceeded the standard.
Methods: We used the data from the 16th Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey and the PM levels of 17 metropolitan cities and provinces gathered from the AirKorea. Information on the characteristics of asthmatic adolescents and the prevalence of school absence was obtained using a questionnaire, while the PM levels based on the total number of days with poor and very poor PM grades were collected from the AirKorea website. Both χ2 test and logistic regression analysis were performed using the weights presented in the original dataset.
Results: In the case of particulate matter of 10 microns in diameter or smaller (PM10), the odds ratio (OR) after adjusting for confounders (sex, school year, body mass index, smoking history, diagnosis of allergic rhinitis, diagnosis of atopic dermatitis and city size) was 1.07 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01-1.13) for absents due to asthma when the total days of poor and very poor grades of PM10 (81 μg/m3 or higher) increased by 1 day. In the analysis of particulate matter of 2.5 microns in diameter or smaller (PM2.5), the OR after adjusting for confounders was 1.01 (95% CI: 1.00-1.03) for absents due to asthma when the total number of days with poor and very poor PM2.5 grades (36 μg/m3 or higher) increased by 1 day.
Conclusions: A significant association was observed between the total number of days of poor and very poor PM10 and PM2.5 grades and school absence due to asthma; PM can cause asthma exacerbation and affect the academic life.
{"title":"Association between exposure to particulate matter and school absences in Korean asthmatic adolescents.","authors":"Seongmin Jo, Kiook Baek, Joon Sakong, Chulyong Park","doi":"10.35371/aoem.2022.34.e21","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.35371/aoem.2022.34.e21","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Because particulate matter (PM) and asthma are closely related, the prevalence of school absence among adolescents with asthma can be affected by the concentration of PM. We aimed to investigate the relationship between school absences due to asthma and the total number of days that the PM concentration exceeded the standard.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We used the data from the 16th Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey and the PM levels of 17 metropolitan cities and provinces gathered from the AirKorea. Information on the characteristics of asthmatic adolescents and the prevalence of school absence was obtained using a questionnaire, while the PM levels based on the total number of days with poor and very poor PM grades were collected from the AirKorea website. Both χ<sup>2</sup> test and logistic regression analysis were performed using the weights presented in the original dataset.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In the case of particulate matter of 10 microns in diameter or smaller (PM<sub>10</sub>), the odds ratio (OR) after adjusting for confounders (sex, school year, body mass index, smoking history, diagnosis of allergic rhinitis, diagnosis of atopic dermatitis and city size) was 1.07 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01-1.13) for absents due to asthma when the total days of poor and very poor grades of PM<sub>10</sub> (81 μg/m<sup>3</sup> or higher) increased by 1 day. In the analysis of particulate matter of 2.5 microns in diameter or smaller (PM<sub>2.5</sub>), the OR after adjusting for confounders was 1.01 (95% CI: 1.00-1.03) for absents due to asthma when the total number of days with poor and very poor PM<sub>2.5</sub> grades (36 μg/m<sup>3</sup> or higher) increased by 1 day.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>A significant association was observed between the total number of days of poor and very poor PM<sub>10</sub> and PM<sub>2.5</sub> grades and school absence due to asthma; PM can cause asthma exacerbation and affect the academic life.</p>","PeriodicalId":46631,"journal":{"name":"Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2022-08-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/d3/59/aoem-34-e21.PMC9483635.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"33478801","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-08-08eCollection Date: 2022-01-01DOI: 10.35371/aoem.2022.34.e20
Yohan Lee, SooYoung Lee, Yoon-Ji Kim, Youngki Kim, Se-Yeong Kim, Dongmug Kang
Background: In the manufacturing industry, work-family conflict (WFC) is related to working hour characteristics. Earlier studies on the relationship between working hour characteristics and WFC in the manufacturing industry have been limited to some regions in Korea. No study has addressed the data on a national scale. Thus, this study investigated the impact of weekly working hours, weekend work, and shift work on WFC using national-scale data.
Methods: This study was based on the fifth Korean Working Conditions Survey of 5,432 manufacturers. WFC consists of 5 variables; WFC1 "kept worrying about work"; WFC2 "felt too tired after work"; WFC3 "work prevented time for family"; WFC4 "difficult to concentrate on work"; WFC5 "family responsibilities prevented time for work". As WFC refers to the inter-role conflict between the need for paid work and family work, WFC has been measured in two directions, work to family conflict (WTFC: WFC1, 2, 3) and family to work conflict (FTWC: WFC4, 5). With these WFC variables, we conducted multiple logistic analyses to study how working hours, weekend work, and shift work impact WFC.
Results: Korean manufacturers' prolonged working hours increased all aspects of WFCs. Odds ratios (ORs) of WFCs based on working hours (reference of under 40 hours) of 41-52, 53-60, over 61 were 1.247, 1.611, 2.279 (WFC1); 1.111, 2.561, 6.442 (WFC2); 1.219, 3.495, 8.327 (WFC3); 1.076, 2.019, 2.656 (WFC4); and 1.166, 1.592, 1.946 (WFC5), respectively. Shift-work in the WFC2 model showed a significantly higher OR of 1.390. Weekend work 'only on Saturday' had significant ORs with WFC2 (1.323) and WFC3 (1.552).
Conclusions: An increase in working hours leads to the spending of less time attending to problems between work and family, causing both WTFC and FTWC to increase. As weekends, evenings, and nighttime are considered to be family-friendly to people, working on weekends and shift-work were highly correlated to WTFC.
{"title":"Relationship between of working hours, weekend work, and shift work and work-family conflicts among Korean manufacturers.","authors":"Yohan Lee, SooYoung Lee, Yoon-Ji Kim, Youngki Kim, Se-Yeong Kim, Dongmug Kang","doi":"10.35371/aoem.2022.34.e20","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.35371/aoem.2022.34.e20","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>In the manufacturing industry, work-family conflict (WFC) is related to working hour characteristics. Earlier studies on the relationship between working hour characteristics and WFC in the manufacturing industry have been limited to some regions in Korea. No study has addressed the data on a national scale. Thus, this study investigated the impact of weekly working hours, weekend work, and shift work on WFC using national-scale data.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study was based on the fifth Korean Working Conditions Survey of 5,432 manufacturers. WFC consists of 5 variables; WFC1 \"kept worrying about work\"; WFC2 \"felt too tired after work\"; WFC3 \"work prevented time for family\"; WFC4 \"difficult to concentrate on work\"; WFC5 \"family responsibilities prevented time for work\". As WFC refers to the inter-role conflict between the need for paid work and family work, WFC has been measured in two directions, work to family conflict (WTFC: WFC1, 2, 3) and family to work conflict (FTWC: WFC4, 5). With these WFC variables, we conducted multiple logistic analyses to study how working hours, weekend work, and shift work impact WFC.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Korean manufacturers' prolonged working hours increased all aspects of WFCs. Odds ratios (ORs) of WFCs based on working hours (reference of under 40 hours) of 41-52, 53-60, over 61 were 1.247, 1.611, 2.279 (WFC1); 1.111, 2.561, 6.442 (WFC2); 1.219, 3.495, 8.327 (WFC3); 1.076, 2.019, 2.656 (WFC4); and 1.166, 1.592, 1.946 (WFC5), respectively. Shift-work in the WFC2 model showed a significantly higher OR of 1.390. Weekend work 'only on Saturday' had significant ORs with WFC2 (1.323) and WFC3 (1.552).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>An increase in working hours leads to the spending of less time attending to problems between work and family, causing both WTFC and FTWC to increase. As weekends, evenings, and nighttime are considered to be family-friendly to people, working on weekends and shift-work were highly correlated to WTFC.</p>","PeriodicalId":46631,"journal":{"name":"Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2022-08-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/78/52/aoem-34-e20.PMC9483637.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"33478363","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-08-03eCollection Date: 2022-01-01DOI: 10.35371/aoem.2022.34.e19
Seongwon Ma, Hoekyeong Seo, Dong Joon Park, Byeongju Choi, Shinhee Ye
Background: It is widely known that carbon dioxide (CO2) arc welding generates carbon monoxide (CO). However, to the best of our knowledge, no case reports have been published regarding CO poisoning in CO2 arc welders. Therefore, we aimed to report a case of CO poisoning-induced encephalopathy in a CO2 arc welder in the Republic of Korea to inform about the dangers of CO exposure among CO2arc welders.
Case presentation: A 40-year-old man working as a CO2 arc welder for 15 years visited a local hospital with a tremor, involuntary urination, and speaking gibberish, on April 9, 2019. He stated that he had intermittent headache and forgetting symptoms for the last 5 years, and had been lost on the way to work several times. On April 9, 2019, he was diagnosed with CO poisoning-induced encephalopathy through brain magnetic resonance imaging. He received hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and some of his symptoms improved. According to the exposure assessment of his work environment, he was continuously exposed to high concentrations of CO for 15 years while operating CO2 arc welding machines.
Conclusions: After evaluating the patient's work environment and evaluating his medical history, we concluded that his encephalopathy was caused by CO exposure during CO2 arc welding. Thus CO2 arc welders must be aware of the risk of CO poisoning and strive to avoid CO exposure.
{"title":"Carbon monoxide poisoning-induced encephalopathy in a carbon dioxide arc welder: a case report.","authors":"Seongwon Ma, Hoekyeong Seo, Dong Joon Park, Byeongju Choi, Shinhee Ye","doi":"10.35371/aoem.2022.34.e19","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.35371/aoem.2022.34.e19","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>It is widely known that carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) arc welding generates carbon monoxide (CO). However, to the best of our knowledge, no case reports have been published regarding CO poisoning in CO<sub>2</sub> arc welders. Therefore, we aimed to report a case of CO poisoning-induced encephalopathy in a CO<sub>2</sub> arc welder in the Republic of Korea to inform about the dangers of CO exposure among CO<sub>2</sub>arc welders.</p><p><strong>Case presentation: </strong>A 40-year-old man working as a CO<sub>2</sub> arc welder for 15 years visited a local hospital with a tremor, involuntary urination, and speaking gibberish, on April 9, 2019. He stated that he had intermittent headache and forgetting symptoms for the last 5 years, and had been lost on the way to work several times. On April 9, 2019, he was diagnosed with CO poisoning-induced encephalopathy through brain magnetic resonance imaging. He received hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and some of his symptoms improved. According to the exposure assessment of his work environment, he was continuously exposed to high concentrations of CO for 15 years while operating CO<sub>2</sub> arc welding machines.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>After evaluating the patient's work environment and evaluating his medical history, we concluded that his encephalopathy was caused by CO exposure during CO<sub>2</sub> arc welding. Thus CO<sub>2</sub> arc welders must be aware of the risk of CO poisoning and strive to avoid CO exposure.</p>","PeriodicalId":46631,"journal":{"name":"Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2022-08-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/60/46/aoem-34-e19.PMC9483627.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"33478361","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}