Workplace Health & Safety最新文献

Background: This study examines working hours, shift work, and remote work patterns by occupation and industry among U.S. full-time workers, along with the association between working and sleeping hours.

Methods: Utilizing data from 2011 to 2020 American Time Use Survey, this national household survey examines how individuals aged 15 years or older in the United States spend their time within a 24-hour period.

Findings: In 2011 to 2019, U.S. full-time workers averaged 8.1 hours of work and 7.8 hours spent sleep on workdays, increasing to 9.6 hours on non-workdays. Among all occupations, Emergency medical technicians and paramedics had the longest average working hours (10.4 hours). Protective services occupations had the highest percentage (41.7%) of workers reporting often working shifts other than daytime. Among all industries, truck transportation industry had the longest average working hours (9.2). Food services and drinking places industries had the highest percentage (28.6%) of workers reporting often working shifts other than daytime. Working hours showed a negative association with sleeping hours. In 2020, 34.0% of full-time workers reported remote work due to COVID-19, with the largest percentage (72.3%) occurring in business and financial operations.

Conclusions: The study findings offer essential benchmarks for comparing working hours and schedules across diverse occupations and industries. These insights empower occupational health practitioners to advocate for prevention measures, addressing health concerns arising from prolonged working hours and shift work.

Background: Long-haul truck drivers (LHTDs) face a number of occupational hazards. One such hazard is exposure to diesel engine exhaust (DEE). However, this concept has yet to be analyzed. To address this gap, a concept analysis was conducted to explore the effects of DEE in relation to lung cancer.

Methods: Walker and Avant's eight-step concept analysis method was utilized: concept selection, analysis purpose, concept uses, defining attributes, model case, borderline case, antecedents and consequences, and empirical referents. PubMed, Scopus, and CINAHL databases were searched for relevant literature.

Findings: Diesel engine exhaust was identified as a mixture of gases and particulates that are considered carcinogenic. Defining attributes of DEE for truckers include respiratory effects such as decreased peak flow and increased airway resistance leading to symptoms such as a phlegm-producing cough, eye and throat irritation, exacerbation of asthma symptoms, and allergic responses. The identified level of DEE exposure associated with these attributes is 75 μg EC/m³ for 1 to 2 hours daily or a long-term exposure of 10 μg EC/m³. The conceptual definition of DEE in truckers was illustrated by the attributes, antecedents, consequences, model case, and empirical referents.

Conclusion: Lung cancer was identified as a significant consequence of occupational DEE exposure for LHTDs. This analysis highlights the need for future research to develop interventions that will safeguard truckers from the adverse health effects of DEE exposure.

Background: Occupational violence (OV) is a priority issue that significantly affects the safety of nurses, leading to staff burnout and poor retention issues. Security personnel are common in inpatient settings, yet there is limited research on their role, function, and impacts. The study aims to qualitatively evaluate a novel security role to reduce OV in inpatient settings. Methods: This qualitative study was conducted in a tertiary hospital in Brisbane, Queensland. A novel security role (Ambassador) was piloted in three inpatient wards over 6 months in 2020 to mitigate OV risk. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted. All interviews were audio recorded. Interview transcripts were transcribed. Deductive analysis based on the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) was used to identify the experiences and perceptions of the participants. Findings: 17 participants were interviewed. Five themes were identified including program characteristics, internal drivers, external drivers, individual experience, and implementation process. An Ambassador proactively engages with patients and visitors and employs behavioral strategies to de-escalate or redirect persons of concern. Participants considered Ambassadors to be important members of the health care team who supported the provision of patient and family-centered care. Successful implementation was said to require collaboration between clinical and security services and a small agile project team with authority and autonomy. Conclusion/Application to practice: This study provides many insights into the successful implementation of a novel security role in acute hospital settings. More research is needed on the effectiveness, appropriateness, feasibility, and cost of different security models.

Background: Workers' reporting of work-related injuries or illnesses is important for treatment and prevention, yet research often focuses on reporting barriers. This study aimed to identify factors related to work-related musculoskeletal disorder (WRMSD) reporting attitudes and their connection to reporting intention and behavior.

Methods: We analyzed data from 377 direct care workers employed in 19 long-term care facilities in South Korea. A self-administered questionnaire collected demographics, job characteristics, physical and psychosocial factors, musculoskeletal symptoms, reporting attitudes, and WRMSD reporting intentions and behavior between May and August 2022. We used a generalized linear mixed model with a random intercept by employers to identify factors influencing reporting attitudes. To explore the relationship between reporting attitude and reporting intention and behavior, simple logistic regression was also conducted.

Results: We achieved an 86% response rate. The majority of the study participants were female (87.2%), married (95.9%), and non-immigrant (72.8%). Of the study participants, 48.9% had no intention to report WRMSDs, and 44.3% held negative reporting attitudes. Among 200 workers with WRMSDs, 86.5% did not report them. Attitudes were associated with work duration, safety training, management safety priority, WRMSD experience, and symptom severity and frequency. Management safety priority did not moderate this relationship. Significant links existed between attitudes and reporting intention and behavior.

Conclusions/applications to practice: This study highlights the vital influence of workers' attitudes on reporting work-related injuries and illnesses. Occupational health providers should employ strategies, such as tailored safety training and management commitment, with a focus on addressing the unique needs of long-tenured and musculoskeletal-exposed workers. Fostering a safety culture that promotes open and timely reporting is crucial, and implementing these strategies can significantly enhance workplace safety and health.

Background: The sedentary aspects of work have been associated with increased health risks. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of high intensity interval training (HIIT) and increased steps on anthropometric, body mass, and body composition changes over a 12-week period.

Methods: 12 sedentary, obese, body mass index (BMI) = 32.98 ± 3.21 kg/m², adult (46.10 ± 9.56 years), females volunteered for the study and were randomly assigned into one of the two groups, the HIIT group and the STEP group. During the 12-week study, all participants' movements were monitored during their workday, via an accelerometer, a Movband™, 5 days/week.

Findings: The HIIT group (n = 5) engaged in structured exercise (~15.0 ± 3.5 minutes), defined as total body moves which consisted of eight different routines: upper and lower extremity, two cardio segments, two total body, yoga, and abdominal exercises. The STEP group (n = 7) averaged ~7,000 steps/day throughout 12 weeks. Pre- and post-program measurements included: five anthropometric measurements (biceps, waist, abdomen, hips, and thigh), along with body mass and body composition measures: relative (%) body fat via dual x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan, fat mass, fat-free mass, and lean mass.

Conclusions: Statistical significance was determined among participants for biceps, hips, and thigh measurements along with body mass and body composition changes for improved health.

Application to practice: This work is suggestive that a physical activity intervention integrated into the workplace via work processes and/or structured exercise is supportive in reducing anthropometric and body composition measurements, while changing body mass, to increase health and reduce obesity-related chronic disease risks in sedentary women.