International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics最新文献

Objectives. Understanding working posture among information technologies (IT) professionals can help in specifying postural risks that make this population vulnerable to work-related musculoskeletal pain. This study analysed the working posture and risk of neck disability among IT professionals, as well as identifying their correlations. Methods. After recording demographic data, working posture and neck pain were assessed using rapid upper limb assessment (RULA) and the neck disability index (NDI). Subjects were also evaluated for cervical endurance and neck range of motion using pressure biofeedback and a universal goniometer. Results. In total, 71% of subjects reported mild discomfort, while 6.25% had a serious posture problem in RULA; 47.9% of IT professionals reported positive for neck pain with mild neck disability. Subjects with neck pain showed statistically significant neck disability and reduced left cervical rotation. Finally, the NDI showed a weak negative correlation with neck rotation, and RULA indicated a weak negative correlation with neck lateral flexion and rotation. Conclusion. IT professionals have improper posture at the workstation, with many subjects reporting positive findings for neck pain and mild neck disability. Also, the greater the neck disability and RULA scores, the lower the neck mobility for lateral flexion and rotation.

This study highlights the important role of self-control in improving safety performance in nuclear power plants. Drawing on the self-control depletion framework, the study investigates the antecedents and consequences of self-control failure in the context of occupational safety at the team level and examines the moderating effect of team descriptive safety norms. Data were collected from 346 operators across 81 teams. Results showed that team-level self-control demands reduced team safety compliance and participation through team-level self-control depletion, consequently increasing safety incidents. The impact of self-control depletion on team safety compliance and participation was moderated by the interaction of team safety descriptive norm levels and strength. The weakest negative effect occurred when both norm strength and norm levels were high, while the strongest negative effect occurred with high norm strength and low norm levels. To ensure workplace safety, self-management training should be implemented and social norms intervention programs developed.

Research on the relationship between technostress and individual performance has produced a wide of inconsistent empirical insights. This study distinguished between in-role and extra-role performance and interpreted these findings through a meta-analytic procedure based on 192 papers, 201 studies and 80,523 independent samples. The study found that overall technostress is detrimental to both an individual's in-role and extra-role performance, which is primarily transmitted through negative emotions, role stress and work-family conflict. Excluding these mechanisms, technostress is beneficial for in-role performance, but still detrimental to extra-role performance. Despite slight differences in effects, technostressors remain negative for individual in-role and extra-role performance. Individual resources and social support can mitigate the negative effects of technostress. In terms of social support, instrumental support mitigates the negative effects of technostress on in-role performance, while emotional support mitigates the effects of technostress on extra-role performance. The theoretical and practical implications of this study are discussed.

Objectives. The use of machinery in industrial tasks like load transportation exposes workers to ergonomic risk factors, particularly from non-neutral postures, increasing the chance of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). This study aimed to assess posture-related ergonomic risk among forklift and electric pallet truck operators. Methods. Conducted at a beverage bottling plant in Viña del Mar, Chile, the cross-sectional study involved 75 operators. Personal and occupational data were gathered through questionnaires, and the rapid entire body assessment (REBA) method was used to evaluate postural risk based on video analysis during machine operation. Results. Findings revealed that 49.3% of workers were at high ergonomic risk and 50.7% at very high risk, with pallet truck operation strongly associated with increased ergonomic risk (odds ratio [OR] 6.7; 95% confidence interval [2.5, 19.5]). The most significant risk factors were operating electric pallet trucks and being aged under 30 years. Pallet truck operation was strongly associated with increased ergonomic risk (crude OR 6.7), especially in workers with less experience. Conclusion. The study concludes that targeted ergonomic interventions, such as redesigning handle height or improving vibration isolation systems in electric pallet trucks, may be essential to protect younger and less experienced workers.

Objectives. High-temperature metal splash is one of the common factors leading to safety accidents in metallurgy and casting industries. There are few quantitative studies on the performance of thermal protective fabrics in a metal splash environment, as existing standards rely on qualitative damage criteria. Methods. A new method for evaluating the contact protective performance (CPP) of fabric was proposed. The second-degree skin burn time, calculated based on the skin temperature change curves, was adopted as a key metric for the quantitative analysis of the CPP. Furthermore, the effects of precisely controlled contact temperature and moisture content on the CPP were investigated. Results. Fabric thickness had a more significant impact on the CPP than fiber composition. Fabrics containing meta-aramid fibers exhibited superior protective performance compared to their flame-retardant cotton counterparts. The second-degree skin burn time at a contact temperature of 600 °C was 4.3-20.2 s. During the transition from a dry state to 100% wet for the test fabrics, an optimal value of the CPP might exist. The findings provide theoretical support for design of the protective clothing, which is crucial for enhancing the safety of personnel in the metallurgy and casting industries.

Objectives. Burnout has been shown to be associated with the risk of occupational accidents and workforce loss, and it has been reported that the initial signs of burnout among physicians begin during medical school or during residency training. This study therefore aimed to determine the prevalence of burnout and the relationship between burnout, occupational accidents and workforce loss among resident physicians working at a university hospital in Ankara, Türkiye. Methods. The cross-sectional study was conducted among 144 resident physicians in a university hospital using a face-to-face questionnaire focusing on burnout subscales, occupational accidents and absenteeism. Results. The study proved that having an occupational accident, the number of occupational accidents, the type of occupational accidents such as sharp injuries, exposure to blood and body fluids, and experiencing trip-and-fall incidents were associated with burnout subscale scores (except personal accomplishment). No relationship was found between all other variables and burnout subscale scores. Conclusion. A relationship was identified between the occurrence of occupational accidents and the number of accidents experienced with the level of burnout. This finding suggests that interventions aimed at preventing burnout may also contribute to a reduction in occupational accidents. This provides evidence for future prospective and interventional studies.

Objectives. Advances in wearable technology enable real-time biometric monitoring for risk mitigation, yet its impact on firefighter trainees' experiences of safety is underexplored. Existing studies mainly focus on career firefighters, despite higher trainee fatalities. Therefore, this review aims to identify firefighter trainees' safety experiences during training to inform wearable design to reduce occupational risks. Methods. Following the PRISMA approach, 754 articles were identified, with 13 meeting the inclusion criteria. A CERQual strategy employing a novel numerical confidence level analysis assessed each included study's alignment with the research question. Results. Only 46% of the included studies addressed firefighter training. Findings highlight the need for a structured needs-analysis model integrating trainees' safety experiences to guide wearable design, including sensing parameters and placement. Additionally, the results highlight the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration among designers, engineers, manufacturers and trainees to enhance safety-focused design and inform the development of wearable technologies aligned with trainees' needs. Conclusion. Firefighter trainees' safety experiences are underexplored. Emotional and social experiences are well studied, cognitive and behavioral aspects moderately addressed, and physical and psychological needs least covered. The review highlights the necessity for a safety needs analysis model that can serve as a guideline and framework for wearable device designers.

Objectives. Electrical work remains a dangerous occupation in Australia and around the world. Despite industry regulations and technological safety advancements, serious electrical incidents involving electrical workers, including electrical fatalities, continue to occur. Systems thinking approaches predict that incidents such as these are complex system problems caused by multiple factors at a range of system levels, rather than simply caused by worker error. Methods. This study extracted causal factors identified in 11 Australian coroner reports investigating electrical fatalities involving electrical workers. Extracted factors and inter-relationships were mapped on an AcciMap to identify where in the system the factor occurred and tested against the key predictions of Rasmussen's risk management framework (RMF), a systems thinking framework. Results. Causal factors of electrical incidents involving electrical workers were found to be numerous and extend to system levels beyond the front-line worker. Evidence within the coroner reports supported each of the seven key predictions of the RMF. Conclusion. This study identifies the electrical industry as a complex socio-technical system and determines that electrical incidents involving electrical workers are therefore complex systems problems. Recommendations are made for the adoption of systems thinking frameworks in electrical incident investigations, policy and preventative strategy development, and associated research.

Objectives. The health and safety (H&S) commitment level among construction project clients often remains minimal. Therefore, there is a need for a structured framework that delineates actionable strategies to enhance clients' commitment to H&S. This study identified drivers for enhancing clients' commitment to H&S and further developed a guiding framework to enhance clients' commitment to H&S. Methods. The study employed a qualitative research design, utilizing a structured interview guide to gather data purposively from 22 professionals. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the textual data, and Pareto analysis was conducted to prioritize the identified critical and non-critical drivers. Results. The identified critical drivers were health and safety regulations reform, cost savings and reduced expenses, risk management and liability reduction, effective stakeholder engagement, strong relationships between clients and contractors, clients' health and safety education, and high expectations from project stakeholders. The framework revealed that education, monitoring and innovation foster clients' accountability and ensure sustained H&S performance. Conclusion. The study informs clients about effective strategies for integrating H&S concerns into their decision-making. The framework also serves as a basis for policy recommendations, providing data-driven insights into the development of regulations and guidelines for enhancing clients' commitment to H&S.

This study examines the interplay of weave patterns, picks per inch (PPI) and key performance metrics including heat protective performance (HPP), air permeability, thermal resistance and water vapor transmission rate (WVTR). Three weave structures (twill, sateen and honeycomb) using Nomex-IIIA yarn were tested. Heat flux of 80 ± 2 kW/m² was applied, combining flame and radiative heat. The honeycomb weave exhibited superior heat protection compared to twill and sateen. HPP increased by approximately 24% with the PPI rising from 40 to 64. Air permeability and thermal conductivity decreased by roughly 50% and 38%, respectively, with increasing PPI. Sateen and twill showed similar trends. WVTR increased with PPI up to 52, then declined. Overall, higher PPI enhanced HPP for all weave structures, with the honeycomb structure showing the best performance. Thermal conductivity and air permeability decreased as PPI increased due to the greater compactness in these three fabrics.