Workplace Health & Safety最新文献

Background: Work-related injuries and diseases have a significant impact on workers and their families, society, and the economy. There is a gap in the literature regarding the structures, content, quality, and outcomes of international occupational health systems serving injured and ill workers. This global round table was an attempt to elucidate, evaluate, and identify areas needing improvement.

Methods: International occupational health professionals were identified via chain/snowball sampling and asked to answer five questions designed to evaluate the structures, processes, and outcomes of the workers' compensation systems in each country.

Findings: Areas for improvement identified during this round table included timely access, reducing the impact of liability and eligibility determinations on access to medical care, equitable access to care, and the accuracy of reporting. Canada had successfully utilized a virtual approach to care for the geographically remote worker.

Conclusions: International workers' compensation structures are designed to ensure timely access to quality care and services. Financial incentives optimize the safety of the working environment. There remain areas for improvement. Resources are limited, especially within the public health systems, which may delay care and affect quality. Informal and remote workers often do not have the same access to care. Occupational Health Services (OHS) and national reporting databases exist throughout the world but may not accurately capture data on informal, self-employed, small business, migrant, and remote workers.

Background: Understanding the psychological well-being (PWB) of university staff and factors that influence it is critical for developing intervention programs that promote PWB and enhance productivity and worker engagement.

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the level of PWB in university staff and identify personal, social, and workplace environmental factors related to their PWB.

Methods: A cross-sectional, correlational study design was used. A convenience sample of university staff was recruited from two universities in Texas. Participants completed an online questionnaire, which included Ryff's PWB scale to measure PWB, along with questions related to personal, social, and workplace factors. Hierarchical multiple regression was used to analyze the influence of these factors on the PWB of university staff.

Results: The PWB of university staff (n = 202) was significantly influenced by personal factors (i.e., race and perceived mental health status), social factors (i.e., social support of friends), and workplace environmental factors (i.e., physical demands).

Conclusion/application to practice: To effectively promote PWB among university staff, occupational health nurses should proactively track and monitor their PWB. Policies and interventions should consider the various personal, social, and workplace environment factors identified in this study, such as mental health, social support resources, and physical demands.

Background: Healthcare providers putting their patient's health before their own has negative consequences. Utilizing evidence-based research, nurse leaders can implement practices to positively affect employee health. This project assessed the utilization of a workplace relaxation room to reduce occupational stress.

Method: Multiple methods were used to recruit participants. Participants completed pre/post surveys (demographic, PSS-10, GallupQ12, and open-ended questions) via email. The relaxation room contained stress reducing items for staff to utilize while at work. Data was collected using Qualtrics Survey software.

Findings: Data from the PSS-10 and GallupQ12 did not reveal statistically significant results. The participants responses to the open-ended questions did indicate a positive impact.

Conclusions/application to practice: While the aims of the project were not met during the intervention, the open-ended responses indicated that for the employees who participated in the project, the intervention was a positive addition to the workplace.

Background: Cardiovascular events are known to be the leading cause of death among on-duty firefighters. Implementing fitness standards may help reduce the incidence of cardiovascular deaths; however, standards vary between firefighter type and states. We aimed to investigate the rate of cardiovascular events among firefighters across states.

Methods: Using publicly available data from the United States Fire Administration, we explored the rates of cardiovascular deaths between firefighter type (e.g., career, volunteer, and wildland) and state. Specifically, we examined rates of cardiovascular deaths between California and Tennessee, which have fitness standards for all firefighters, and New York, which does not have fitness standards for volunteer firefighters. We used descriptive statistics and trend analysis to examine the data.

Findings: Most cardiovascular events occur among volunteer firefighters (60.6%, n = 877). Volunteer firefighters had 7.5 (95% CI = [4.8, 11.7], p < .001) greater odds of cardiovascular events compared to wildland firefighters, who had the lowest incidence of cardiovascular events (1.7%, n = 24). New York reported the most cardiovascular events (n = 161), primarily among volunteer firefighters (73.9%, n = 119). After the passage of legislation mandating fitness standards in California, a downtrend in the number of volunteer firefighter fatalities is observed. However, a null effect was observed in Tennessee after the passage of similar fitness standards as in California.

Conclusions/applications to practice: Volunteer firefighters are significantly more likely to die of a cardiovascular event than career and wildland firefighters, both of which have stricter fitness standards. However, the effect of legislation mandating stricter fitness standards among volunteers did not produce a clear benefit for preventing fatalities. Nurses need to promote cardiovascular health among volunteer firefighters.

Background: The quest to increase safety awareness, make job sites safer, and promote decent work for all has led to the utilization of digital technologies in hazardous occupations. This study investigated the use of digital innovations for safety and health management in hazardous industries. The key challenges and recommendations associated with such use were also explored.

Method: Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocol, a total of 48 studies were reviewed to provide a framework for future pathways for the effective implementation of these innovations.

Findings: The results revealed four main categories of digital safety systems: wearable-based systems, augmented/virtual reality-based systems, artificial intelligence-based systems, and navigation-based systems. A wide range of technological, behavioral, and organizational challenges were identified in relation to the key themes.

Conclusion: Outcomes from this review can inform policymakers and industrial decision-makers about the application of digital innovations for best safety practices in various hazardous work conditions.