International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics最新文献

This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and risk factors of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among midwives working in delivery rooms in Turkey. The study design was cross-sectional and descriptive. Data were collected using the introductory information form, visual analog scale and Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaires. The survey was completed between May and December 2022 by 386 midwives. All of the midwives had experienced at least one MSD symptom within the previous 12 months, with 24.9% taking sick leave due to MSDs. According to the participants, the most strenuous activities for the musculoskeletal system were assisting with births and suturing (53.4%), assisting with breastfeeding (50.3%) and positioning the pregnant woman during midwifery care (48.4%). Those midwives mentioning the latter activity experienced all MSDs (p ≥ 0.05). There was a significant positive association between working hours, job satisfaction, job stress and MSD.

This literature review examined the role of ambient intelligence (AmI) in occupational safety and health (OSH), focusing on its effectiveness across different workplaces, target groups and OSH hazards. The review aims to: identify occupational domains using AmI; assess the groups benefiting from them; evaluate the hazards addressed; and analyse the perceived benefits and limitations of AmI in OSH. Findings reveal that AmI enhances OSH through real-time monitoring, personalized feedback and proactive hazard prevention, addressing risks such as poor air quality, temperature shifts, noise exposure, toxic gases and stress-related conditions, particularly in high-risk sectors like oil and mining and in office settings. Although AmI improves safety awareness, challenges persist - including wearable discomfort, low tech literacy, privacy concerns and implementation difficulties. The review underscores the need for research to adapt AmI for vulnerable workers, refine user-friendly designs and balance automation with user control to create safer, human-centric workplaces.

Objectives. Healthcare facilities provide semi-solid nutrients to children requiring enteral tube feeding. The introduction of a new injection device (NEW) with a different syringe-to-tube connector geometry from a pre-existing device (PRE) results in increased workload, and an increase in nurses developing hand pain is a concern. A simulated experiment was conducted to determine the impact on upper extremity strain due to the difference between NEW and PRE. Methods. Twelve nurses performed two injection tasks for one portion of semi-solid nutrients into a dummy gastrostomy using the NEW and PRE. Surface electromyograms were measured on the upper extremity. Task time was divided into sucking and extruding manipulations. Task time and mean myoelectric potentials were calculated for each manipulation and statistically compared between the NEW and PRE. Forces required to manipulate the syringe for semi-solid nutrient injection were estimated using fluid dynamic models. Results. Task time was significantly longer with the NEW. Myoelectric potentials for sucking manipulation were significantly higher with the NEW. Sucking force with the NEW was approximately twice that of the PRE. Conclusion. Sucking with the NEW placed a high strain on the caregiver's hand/wrist. The NEW is less appropriate for enteral tube feeding of semi-solid nutrients.

Objectives. Following the first academic year, deck cadets experience increased psychosocial stressors during onboard training. As their adaptation affects readiness for high-stakes decisions and career sustainability, identifying protective resources and risk behaviors is crucial. This study examines the association between positivity and life satisfaction, testing whether doomscrolling - compulsive scrolling through negative news - mediates this association. Methods. A cross-sectional design was employed, utilizing validated scales among 380 deck cadets. Structural equation modeling was conducted to analyze the direct and indirect effects of positivity and doomscrolling on life satisfaction. Model selection relied on a nested χ² difference test, and indirect effects were estimated using bias-corrected bootstrapping with 5000 samples and a 95% confidence interval. Results. Positivity was positively associated with life satisfaction and negatively associated with doomscrolling, while doomscrolling was negatively associated with life satisfaction. The bootstrapped indirect effect of positivity on life satisfaction via doomscrolling was significant, supporting a partial mediation model with a retained direct path. Conclusions. Doomscrolling acts as a behavioral pathway that associates positivity with life satisfaction during onboard training. Addressing a gap in maritime psychology, the study provides the basis for cadet-focused resilience training and digital media literacy practices designed to reduce maladaptive news consumption habits.

Objective. This study evaluated the predictive performance of machine learning and deep learning models in estimating manual strength in men and women using anthropometric variables. Methods. Anthropometric and strength data were collected from 382 participants from the economically active population of Campeche, Mexico. Predictive models implemented included linear regression, random forest, AdaBoost, extreme gradient boosting, TabNet, TabPFN and a custom convolutional neural network. Their performance was assessed using the mean absolute error, mean squared error and explained variance score. Additionally, SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanations) analysis was conducted to interpret feature importance across models. Results. Deep learning models such as TabNet and TabPFN demonstrated superior prediction accuracy for torque strength, capturing complex non-linear interactions. Linear regression exhibited better generalization, particularly for grip strength prediction. SHAP analysis consistently identified palmar length and elbow-to-fingertip length as the most influential anthropometric predictors. Ensemble methods like random forest and AdaBoost performed well on training data but showed a tendency to overfit. Conclusions. Although advanced models enhanced performance in specific tasks, linear regression remained the most robust for generalization. Feature importance analysis confirmed the biomechanical relevance of the selected predictors. Future applications should balance model complexity with the need for interpretability, depending on ergonomic objectives.

Objectives. This study aimed to assess migraine prevalence among healthcare workers, identify work-related productivity loss and determine the need for a migraine-friendly workplace. Methods. An online survey was conducted among employees from 18 hospitals in a healthcare group, using a three-question ID-migraine test for diagnosis. Data collection was conducted between October and November 2023. The survey collected sociodemographic data, migraine characteristics, most bothersome symptoms, migraine disability assessment scale (MIDAS) scores, and work productivity and activity impairment (WPAI) data. The survey also inquired about workplace factors that worsen migraines. Results. The study included 666 participants, 366 (54.9%) diagnosed with migraine. Participants experienced a mean of 7.44 (SD 6.06) headache days per month, with 51.9% reporting severe headache intensity. Severe MIDAS scores were found in 47% (n = 172). WPAI scores were mean (SD) 4.71% (11.07) for absenteeism, 50.97% (25.53) for presenteeism, 52.24% (25.89) for overall work productivity loss and 55.07% (27.16) for non-work-related activity impairment. The most bothersome symptom was photophobia (43.2%). Common workplace migraine triggers included lighting conditions (79.5%), inadequate rest environments (70.4%) and prolonged screen exposure (69.6%). Conclusions. Improving lighting, creating comfortable rest areas, reducing screen time, shortening hours and lightening workloads could reduce productivity loss in workplaces.

This study investigates the effectiveness of watering indoor plants as a stress-reduction strategy compared to engaging in computer tasks among college students. Participants randomly assigned to one of two groups each performed their respective activities for 15 min. A comprehensive evaluation included measures of blood pressure, electroencephalography, the semantic differential method and the state-trait anxiety inventory to assess emotional and physiological responses. Results revealed a significant decrease in systolic blood pressure, while electroencephalography data showed neural patterns associated with a more relaxed cognitive state. Participants in the plant-watering group also exhibited higher meditation scores, reinforcing the stress-relieving potential of this intervention. Psychological data indicated that those in the plant-watering group reported greater relaxation, comfort and perceived connection to nature, as well as lower anxiety scores, compared to the computer task group. These findings highlight the benefits of nature-based activities in reducing stress and promoting well-being in academic and work environments.

Objectives. Fatigue Monitoring Tools (FMTs) are one strategy employed to monitor and mitigate effects of fatigue in occupational settings. In ambulance services, these tools often involve simple, validated, rapid self-assessment instruments. This study reports on the frequency of FMT completion by paramedics, identifies their attitudes and perceptions towards these tools and examines how prevalent fatigue education is among paramedics. Methods. The study was a cross-sectional, online survey using validated instruments and open-ended questions which were analysed via descriptive statistics and content analysis. Paramedics were recruited through college membership, social media and study flyers. Results. Of the 223 participants, nearly all (85.0%) were found to infrequently use FMTs, with 76.8% reporting no FMT completion in the last 30 days. Non-completion was due to poor managerial response, poor fatigue safety culture, competing priorities at the start of a shift and perception the tool is not fit for purpose. Half of all participants had received fatigue education, but 79.4% felt they would benefit from further training. Conclusion. This study demonstrates low utilization rates of FMTs amongst paramedics due to varying, potentially preventable, organizational factors. Integration of fatigue education and streamlined fatigue management processes could promote fatigue safety culture within the paramedical setting.

As noise is one of the most significant stress factors in the teaching profession, its impact in real classroom situations was investigated in Study 1. Noise levels (N = 56) were measured, and teachers were surveyed afterward. In Study 2, assumed correlations between school-specific noise sources, noise perception and strain were quantified in a sample of 820 teachers via online survey. The results show significant correlations between measured sound levels during classroom teaching and teachers' perceived loudness and annoyance. Noise annoyance turned out to be an important predictor for teachers' perceived strain and varied depending on the school-specific noise, with an important role of verbal student behavior. The results highlight the need for tailored noise prevention measures in schools to reduce noise-related strain among teachers. Furthermore, they indicate that existing regulations for workplace noise may not be always applicable to schools as measured 'ear-safe' volumes also cause noise-related strain.

This study investigates how sustained governance of hidden hazards influences safety performance in port systems, using data from 54 production and key non-production enterprises within the Tianjin Port Group. Employing correlation analysis, regression modeling and mediation-moderation analysis, the study finds that both systematic hazard governance and standardized safety management significantly improve safety outcomes. Basic management-level governance directly reduces the frequency of incidents, while site-level governance enhances safety performance indirectly by promoting standardization. Moreover, the overall risk level of hidden hazards moderates the effectiveness of these governance strategies. The study confirms the alignment between hazard inspection frameworks and safety management systems, and proposes a closed-loop model to support continuous improvement and long-term risk control in high-risk port environments.