International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics最新文献

In order to ascertain the conditions and pathways to improve the quality of work safety information disclosure of listed companies in high-risk industries in China, this study collated 222 listed companies in high-risk industries in China as valid samples, and used the fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) method to analyze the mixed effects of seven conditional variables. Seven kinds of substantive disclosure configurations and six kinds of symbolic disclosure configurations of work safety information were obtained. The results showed that any single condition is inadequate to drive enterprises to effectively disclose work safety information. The joint effect of the work safety strength and manager safety cognition is significant and they are mutually complementary. Moreover, there is a substitute relationship between regulatory pressure on stock exchange disclosure and the profitability and the work safety strength, respectively.

By considering the interaction mechanism of psychological safety and voice behavior in a justice culture context, this study aims to reveal the black box of how construction project-based organizations (CPOs) realize the behavior of learning from incidents (LFI) by improving psychological perception and encouraging speech. An empirical study was conducted based on partial least squares-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) methods with a sample of 273 CPOs in China. The findings showed that justice culture has a positive correlation to LFI. Both psychological safety and voice behavior have intermediate effects on the relationship between justice culture and LFI. Moreover, this study developed and examined a chain-mediating model that incorporated psychological safety and voice behavior into the relationship between justice culture and LFI. This study provides a theoretical foundation and viable management practices for CPOs in China to promote the LFI behavior from the resilience culture perspective.

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).

Objectives. This study aims to evaluate the frequency of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and associated impairments among bus drivers in South India. The main research question is to determine the prevalence and distribution of MSDs among bus drivers and assess the impact of these disorders on their daily activities and functioning. Methods. A supervised cross-sectional study was conducted involving 390 qualified bus drivers. MSDs were assessed using a standardized Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire, and impairments resulting from MSDs were measured using various assessment techniques. Results. The study found that 65.8% of the drivers self-reported experiencing MSDs, with the highest prevalence in the lower back, followed by the neck and upper back regions. Prevalence was relatively low in the elbow and wrist regions. MSDs were most prevalent in the neck, shoulder, upper back and lower back regions for individuals aged 29-39 years and over 40 years. The study also revealed that MSDs significantly affect daily activities, particularly in the lower and upper back regions. Disability index scores indicated that many drivers experienced mild to moderate disabilities. Conclusion. The findings underscore the necessity for appropriate healthcare and rehabilitation programs to prevent and manage MSDs among bus drivers.

This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the factors that affect the quality of life of drivers. Data were collected from 62 drivers working on long-haul transport who completed the short form-12 (SF-12), perceived stress scale (PSS), Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire (NMQ), work role function questionnaire-27 (WRFQ-27) and visual analog scale (VAS). According to the regression analysis, the physical health-related quality of life of drivers was predicted by age, marital status, unemployment, having an extra job, pain and stress (R² = 0,663). Due to intense working conditions, employers need to take various precautions against drivers' stress, fatigue, pain and job requirements. In addition, it is important for these people to be directed to occupational therapy services in order to increase their occupational balance and quality of life.

Objectives. Two-dimensional (2D) woven fabrics are inefficient in exhibiting viable thermal comfort and protective function in high-tech applications that govern a need for three-dimensional (3D) weaves. Such 3D fabrics offer superior performance over 2D fabrics; however, no study has reported the simultaneous comparison of thermal and protective performance properties of 2D and 3D structures with equal thread densities. Methods. This work developed four woven structures, i.e., single, double, three and four layers, using eco-friendly hemp yarn for low to medium tear and puncture hazard protection. Plain weave was used in 2D structures while orthogonal through thickness (OTT) interlocking was used with plain weave in 3D woven structures. Thermal comfort and protective performance were evaluated to analyze the application suitability of designed structures. Results. Four-layered 3D fabric showed the best results of dry fluid transmission, indicating an increase in transmission with increasing out-of-plane layers owing to the highest volume porosity of 97.8%. The overall moisture management capability (OMMC) index and thermal conductivity exhibited a decreasing trend from single-layered to four-layered fabrics. Initially, tensile and puncture resistance attributes increased with increasing number of layers; afterwards, both properties compromised by 11-50%. All terms were found statistically significant with p < 0.05 by analysis of variance.

Objectives. The first aim of this study was to examine the differences between dominant and non-dominant hand and finger muscle contractile abilities. The secondary aim was to assess the relationship between variables used in assessing healthcare workers' hand and finger muscle contractile abilities. Methods. The study included 129 healthcare women who performed handgrip strength and endurance tests. Quantitative data on the maximum force, time to maximum force, time to maximum rate of force development, the rate of force development and the time of endurance in force, expressed as the force impulse, were measured. Results. The t test for paired samples showed significant differences between dominant and non-dominant hands in maximum force and rate of force development. The factorial analysis revealed three main components. Contractile force included maximum force and rate of force development, neural speed included time to maximum force and time to rate of force development, while neuro-muscular endurance included endurance of the non-dominant and dominant hands. Conclusion. The results of this research show that it is essential to continue to assess variables from all three components of the resulting model in future research and clinical practice, regardless of the hand tested.

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.

Objectives. Cold-related adversities among poultry workers in Thailand vary by subgroup, but the impact of clothing insulation (I_cl) is not well understood. Methods. The authors interviewed 283 poultry workers and compared I_cl values across subgroups, adjusting for confounding factors. Results. The average worksite temperature was 3.8 °C, with average I_cl of 1.23 clo. After adjustments, I_cl was 0.38 clo lower in office workers compared to other job categories, and 0.11 clo lower in workers with the highest body mass index (37.5) compared to those with the lowest (15.6). I_cl was 0.08 clo higher in the oldest workers (age 57 years) compared to the youngest (age 18 years), 0.07 clo higher among weekly alcohol consumers compared to non-consumers, 0.06 clo higher in women than in men and 0.04 clo higher among those engaged in light compared to heavy work. Perceiving temperatures >0 °C as cold was associated with an increase of 0.22 clo in I_cl. Conclusions. Office workers should wear more clothing. Relatively high I_cl values observed in some subgroups suggest sensitivity to cold, warranting further individual examination to determine optimal I_cl levels. Targeting preventive measures at vulnerable worker groups in Thailand's poultry industry could reduce the burden of cold-related harm.

This study, grounded in the theories of psychological capital and social cognition, constructs a theoretical model exploring the impact of abusive management on employee unsafe behavior, incorporating psychological capital as a mediating variable and transformational leadership as a moderating variable. Survey data were collected from 412 employees of large coal mining enterprises, and structural equation modeling was employed for empirical validation. The findings reveal that abusive management can trigger unsafe behaviors among employees and diminish the influence of psychological capital. Additionally, psychological capital, serving as an intermediary, indirectly reduces unsafe production behaviors. Transformational leadership, by facilitating employees to attain optimal safety performance through personalized care, exerts a negative moderating effect between abusive management and unsafe behavior. The conclusions of this study offer valuable insights for enterprises aiming to minimize employee unsafe behaviors and enhance the efficiency of safety management.