International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics最新文献

Objectives. In sub-Saharan Africa, mining employment continues to expose workers to a dangerous physical and psychosocial occupational environment. This study explored the prevalence of chronic musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and their risk factors among artisanal and small-scale miners. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted in eastern Rwanda in November 2022. Self-reported MSDs were assessed using the modified Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire. The study used χ² or t tests and multivariate analysis with backward stepwise selection for logistic regression to determine independent risk factors for chronic MSDs (lasting >3 months). Results. The prevalence of self-reported MSDs in the past week and chronic MSDs were 78.83% (n = 808 out of 1025) and 64.10% (n = 657), respectively. Higher odds of chronic MSD was significantly associated with employment length longer than 5 years, working in a high or very high intensity vibration and rock-drilling tasks. Rock-blasting tasks were associated with 38% lower odds for chronic MSDs. Discussion. Nearly 8 out of 10 artisanal and small-scale miners experienced MSDs. High-risk occupational characteristics increased the odds of chronic MSDs. Adoption of proper health and safety management systems, high standard mechanization, ergonomic training and better health-seeking behaviors may mitigate risks for MSDs in Rwanda and sub-Saharan Africa.

Problems in aspects including team structure, team members' collaboration, personality differences and language application ability can potentially give rise to communication failures of the entire team and systemic risks. Scant studies have focused on the distinctive risk factors of communication errors and the methods for quantifying these risks. For Zhengzhou metro, critical event technology is employed to construct the factors influencing the risk of communication error of the metro operation team, i.e., interpersonal risk, language application risk and external risk. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) is utilized to assign weights to each index, and the cloud model is adopted to evaluate the risk of communication error quantitatively. The results indicate that the risks were in the order of interpersonal > external > language application, and the main contributing factors are the risks of information management (U₁₃), global awareness (U₁₄), parallel task processing (U₃₂) and time pressure (U₃₄).

Accidents such as collapses, fires, explosions and mechanical injuries occur frequently in cement manufacturing plants. Understanding the causes of past accidents is essential to prevent future incidents and reduce safety risks. Hence, this article analyzes cement accident cases based on a unified report analysis framework. By integrating text mining technology, the article identifies patterns in cement production accidents and establishes a cement accident causation analysis model to support safety management decisions. First, 245 accident records were categorized using the latent Dirichlet allocation model to identify causal factors. Subsequently, a systematic accident causal analysis based on the 24Model was proposed to establish a unified report framework. An improved Apriori algorithm was then developed for multidimensional, multilayer correlation rule mining in cement enterprises, enhancing text mining efficiency. By applying this algorithm, the study quantitatively analyzed correlations between accident types, causative factors and their interactions. Finally, targeted safety management recommendations were formulated.

In this study, four types of functional knee pads with structure partitions were designed for delivery workers based on leg movement patterns during delivery. By selecting three characteristic points of the knee, experiments were conducted with the subjects to objectively analyze the effects of the knee pads with different fabrics on thermal and pressure comfort. The results showed that the structural partition of the knee pads with different fabrics had a significant effect on temperature; sample 3 had the highest temperature at the end of the experiment, which increased by 0.69 °C. At the same time, in the pressure comfort experiment, at the same test point the pressure on the knee at three bending angles gradually increases with the bending angle. The zonal structural design of knee pads can protect delivery workers' knee joints more effectively, which holds significant value for the design of functional knee pads.

This study identifies and analyses the primary elements contributing to accidents in scrap-based steelmaking plants in the Punjab state of India as a typical case study. The collected data for 2017-2022 from different scrap-based steelmaking plants were analysed utilizing Boston square matrix, Pareto chart, Ishikawa diagram and Poisson-distribution-based control chart analysis. The results revealed that fatal accidents contributed to around 13% of total accidents. The least fatal accidents are observed in the summer, around 17% of total accidents compared to the monsoon and winter seasons. The maximum contribution in non-fatal accidents is from lost-time injury, at around 85% of total non-fatal accidents. Moreover, compared to 2017, this study demonstrated a 78 and 45% decrease in non-fatal and fatal accidents in 2022. This decrease may be attributed to the efficacy and influence of regulatory measures, the acquisition of knowledge from past accidents and employee awareness in these scrap-based steelmaking facilities.

Trial registration: Clinical Trials Registry - India identifier: CTRI/2021/09/036992.

Hospital work situations concerning risks and accidents are complex and create a situation of uncertainty. Hence, there is a need to understand the underlying factors of workplace incidences and their prevention. This study investigates the link between fatalistic beliefs, perceived effectiveness of preventive actions and safety behaviour. Healthcare workers (n = 611) from public and private hospitals in three south-eastern states in Nigeria responded to scales measuring fatalistic beliefs, perceived effectiveness of preventive actions and safety behaviour. The results showed that fatalistic beliefs are negatively related to adoption of safety behaviour. Fatalistic individuals have low perceived effectiveness of preventive actions. Moreover, when individuals perceive that preventive actions are effective, they tend to adopt safer behaviour. An interaction analysis with age showed that the negative effect of fatalistic beliefs on perceived effectiveness of preventive actions is stronger when healthcare workers' age increases. Recommendations for effective preventive actions are discussed.

Preventing miners' unsafe behavior and reducing accidents in deep coal mines are crucial. This study comprehensively used methods such as the human factor analysis and classification system for China mines (HFACS-CM) model, grounded theory and the back propagation (BP) neural network model to construct an early warning index system for miners' unsafe behavior. A three-layer feed-forward BP neural network warning model with a structure of 13-14-4 layers was developed to predict miners' unsafe behavior. The results showed that the model can accurately predict miners' unsafe behavior and reflect the complex non-linear relationship between the driving factors and unsafe behavior. Unsafe supervision was the most critical driving factor affecting miners' unsafe behavior, followed by organizational influence, miners' unsafe state and environmental factors. This study can help mining enterprises formulate more effective management measures for miners' unsafe behavior so as to improve the efficiency of coal mine safety management.

Objectives: Surgeons, like other healthcare providers, are susceptible to work-related musculoskeletal complaints (WMSCs). This study aimed to assess the prevalence of WMSCs including musculoskeletal injuries among surgeons in Saudi Arabia and identify predisposing factors contributing to these complaints.

Methods: An anonymous online cross-sectional survey was conducted and descriptive statistics, Pearson's χ² test, Fisher's exact test, ϕ coefficient and Cramér's V test were used to analyze the data.

Results: A total of 316 surgeons participated, of whom 63% were aged between 21 and 40 years, 40.2% were female, 61.7% were not married and 82.3% were in full-time practice. Of the surveyed surgeons, 65.5% complained of musculoskeletal symptoms including 15.2% who reported having musculoskeletal injuries. Position, years of experience and duration of daily practice were significantly associated with musculoskeletal injuries. There was no significant difference between male and female surgeons in developing musculoskeletal injuries; however, a higher proportion of females, compared to males, were thinking of retirement because of these symptoms.

Conclusions: A considerable proportion of surgeons reported experiencing WMSCs and injuries that negatively affected their work performance. This may lead some to consider early retirement. Based on the results, suggestions to minimize WMSCs among surgeons are presented.

Hand-held power tools with high levels of vibration can give rise to hand-arm vibration syndrome, involving chronic nerve and vascular damage. The objective of this study was to identify aspects that could affect the implementation and future use of low-vibration tools in four types of industries: construction, quarrying, steelworks and dental laboratories. Field visits including observations and interviews were conducted in six organizations. Results showed a need to increase knowledge and awareness of vibration exposure and risks in the organizations, as well as a need for increased communication on the topic. Aspects affecting implementation were also user acceptance of new tools (to overcome fear of changes in craftsmanship and conservatism), having a clear and consistent leadership for change with great commitment, and manufacturers ensuring availability of low-vibrating tools. Implementation requires well-thought-out change processes with worker involvement. Customer demand for low-vibrating tools is needed for tool development and supply.