Workplace Health & Safety最新文献

Background: Comparing 2018 to 2022, active shooter incidents (ASIs) increased by over 66% from 30 to 50 shootings, respectively. There are limited data on the effectiveness of currently available active shooter preparedness programs. This quality improvement (QI) project evaluated the effectiveness of the 2022 active shooter training (AST) for staff and faculty of a large southeastern university's School of Nursing (SON).

Methods: Survey participants were SON faculty and staff recruited via emails sent pre- and post-AST. An online survey was used to obtain the participants' demographics, knowledge regarding the recommended actions for responding to ASI, and confidence in their ability to react appropriately. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.

Findings: Information was obtained from 141 survey responses (80 pre- and 61 post-survey responses). Overall, group confidence in the ability to react to ASIs increased from pre- to post-training. Correct responses to knowledge-based questions based on the training increased by 7.8% in the post-training survey. Post-survey respondents indicated a 33.6% increased accurate response to the question, "What is the correct response to an active shooter?"

Conclusion: The SON AST effectively improved the readiness and confidence of the trainees in case of such a future shooting incident. Future AST should integrate didactic and simulation aspects into programs for further efficacy.

Application to practice: Active shooter incident instruction in the workplace and further evaluation of the effectiveness of training programs should become a national priority. Occupational health nurses are well suited to help evaluate and improve AST effectiveness.

In the U.S., there are approximately 4.6 million workplace injuries that require emergency medical care. Worksite emergencies can occur at any point of the workday and employers and workers need to be prepared to manage them. Providing additional training to workers regarding potential emergencies is essential and could save lives. Teaching life-saving skills is an important part of worksite training now due to increase in violence at work and in preparation for natural and man-made disasters. The occupational health nurse (OHN), through education and skills training, can prepare the worksite for such events. While OSHA requires an emergency action plan for worksite, the OHN should provide additional training in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), Stop the Bleed®, and active shooter preparedness. According to the American Heart Association, doubling the number of individuals trained in CPR would double the survival rate for cardiac arrest events inside and outside the hospital. Trauma related hemorrhages can lead to death in a matter of minutes. Stop the Bleed® training empowers bystanders to administer aid during a life-threatening emergency. Workplace violence has increased and being prepared with active shooter training is essential to reduce worker fatalities. These additional life-saving skills are essential to worksite emergency preparation. The OHN is in a crucial position to provide lifesaving skills to their worksite.

Background: Clinician well-being is crucial to the healthcare system, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, which intensified psychological distress among clinicians. This study examines well-being disparities between rural and urban clinicians using the NIOSH Worker Well-Being Questionnaire (WellBQ).

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 222 clinicians from one urban and three rural hospitals in North Carolina between September and December 2022. The WellBQ assessed well-being across five domains. Data analysis identified concerning thresholds based on positive and negative responses, with discrepancies resolved through independent reviews and focus group validation.

Findings: In the work evaluation and experience domain, rural hospitals reported concerns with time paucity and work overload, while urban hospitals focused on work-related fatigue and job engagement. Rural hospitals noted issues with job benefits, health programs, and schedule flexibility, whereas urban hospitals emphasized the lack of supportive work culture and management trust. Both settings reported concerns in the physical environment and safety climate domain, including sexual harassment, physical violence, and bullying. Health status concerns in rural hospitals included overall stress and poor mental health, while urban hospitals highlighted chronic health conditions and risky drinking.

Conclusion: This study identified significant well-being disparities between rural and urban clinicians, with urban hospitals showing higher concerning thresholds. Future research should refine these thresholds, explore workplace violence causes, and assess long-term impacts on clinician well-being.Applications to Practice:This study reveals significant well-being disparities between rural and urban clinicians, emphasizing the need for tailored occupational health interventions.

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) have become the primary cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The aim of this study was to examine the differential cardiovascular risk profile among university professionals.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 1,483 workers from a public university in Madrid. Sociodemographic variables, lifestyle factors, and cardiovascular risk factors were collected. Cardiovascular morbidity and mortality risk were calculated using the SCORE2 system. The workers were classified according to their professional category (faculty vs. administrative personnel), sex, or type of contract (government employees vs. non-government employees). Multinomial logistic regression was conducted with the variables professional category, physical activity (PA), and SCORE2.

Findings: The calculated risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality was lower in women than in men (3.00 ± 1.91 vs. 4.06 ± 2.26; p < .001), higher in the administrative personnel than in the faculty (3.82 ± 2.10 vs. 3.20 ± 2.18; p < .001), and lower in the non-government employees compared to the government employees (3.21 ± 2.05 vs. 3.83 ± 2.22; p < .001). The group that engaged in less PA was the administrative personnel non-government employees. The regression model results corroborate the hypothesis that administrative personnel government employees and non-government employees as well as faculty non-government employees, are at a higher risk of physical inactivity than faculty government employees. Furthermore, the data indicates that administrative personnel government employees are at an elevated cardiovascular risk.Conclusion/Applications to Practice:It is essential to consider the professional category and the type of contract to assess cardiovascular risk in university workers. It is recommended that strategies be implemented to promote PA among university professionals.

Background: Identifying work-related musculoskeletal pain and the factors that influence it is the first step in preventing and reducing office worker complaints.

Purpose: This study aimed to analyze occupational and non-occupational risk factors related to spinal pain and to develop a model for predicting the risk of spinal pain in office workers.

Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used. The Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire was used to determine the presence of spinal pain. The sample consisted of computer-using office workers from a university (N = 264), of whom 162 (61.3%) were male, 102 (38.7%) were female. They were assessed for occupational (work-related inquiries, Rapid Upper Limb Assessment [RULA] evaluates the risk of workers to upper extremity-related ergonomic risk factors, and Rapid Office Strain Assessment [ROSA] evaluates workplace-related ergonomic risk factors) and non-occupational factors (demographic information). Independent samples t-test was used to compare office workers with and without spinal pain. The model was developed using stepwise multiple regression analysis.

Results: Chair features were linked to pain in the neck, upper and lower back. Computer peripherals were related to the pain in the neck and upper back. Accurate predictors of spinal pain in computer-using office workers were identified as older age, female gender, higher BMI, prolonged weekly computer use time, no passive rest breaks, higher RULA and ROSA scores.

Conclusion: Prevention of spinal pain should be focused on comprehensive health strategies aimed at increasing awareness of work posture and workplace ergonomics, especially for older, female, and high BMI computer-using office workers.

Background: Existing research primarily focuses on high-frequency hearing loss (HFHL) among manufacturing workers, with limited studies on hospital workers. This study aims to examine factors associated with HFHL among hospital workers engaged in laundry and nutrition departments.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted during October and December 2023 in the laundry and nutrition departments of a tertiary hospital, Thailand. Noise monitoring using area sampling methods was carried out over an 8-hour period, with 8-hour time-weighted average calculated. A total of 107 workers were interviewed and underwent audiometry testing.

Results: Of the 107 workers, 75.7% reported HFHL in both the right and left ears, 14.9% experienced unilateral HFHL, and 68.2% had bilateral HFHL. Binary logistic regression revealed that HFHL in the right ear was positively associated with not wearing earplugs (adj.OR = 3.84, 95% CI [1.27, 11.58)] and longer daily working hours (adj.OR = 1.42, 95% CI [1.05, 1.90]). HFHL in the left ear was associated with age (adj.OR = 1.08, 95% CI [1.01, 1.14]). Unilateral HL was linked to the department of employment (adj.OR = 0.11, 95% CI [0.02, 0.55]), while bilateral HL was associated with age (adj.OR = 1.07, 95% CI [1.01, 1.13]).

Conclusion: HFHL among workers is influenced by factors including age, department of employment, daily working hours, and the use of earplugs during work. HFHL in the right ear is notably affected by earplug use and daily working hours. Occupational health practices to ensure proper use of hearing protection devices and limiting daily work durations to no more than 8 hours are essential.

Background: The frequency of chromosomal aberrations (CAs) in peripheral blood lymphocytes has been shown not only to be a useful biomarker of chemotherapeutic drugs (CDs) exposure-associated genetic damage but also to be predictive of increased future cancer risk and mortality. Therefore, this study aimed to assess CAs and their possible associated factors among healthcare workers (HCWs) occupationally exposed to CDs in Mansoura University Hospitals (MUHs).

Methods: A cross-sectional study using a convenience sample of 100 HCWs who were directly involved in handling CDs while working in chemotherapy units at MUHs. They were subjected to an interview-based, semi structured questionnaire including enquiries on sociodemographic, occupational characteristics, self-reported medical history, and CAs analysis.

Findings: This study revealed that the majority of HCWs exposed to CDs in MUHs (83%) had CAs, predominantly chromosomal breaks (75%). The frequency of CAs was statistically significantly higher among nurses compared to pharmacists. Nurses working in the clinical oncology and nuclear medicine department, those with longer working durations (>5 years), nurses who were responsible for the preparation and administration of CDs, and non-use of biological safety cabinets had statistically significantly higher frequencies of CAs. Using the linear regression model, the job title was the only significant predictor of the variation of the square root of CAs.Conclusions and Application to Practice:This study indicates that HCWs, particularly nurses, who handle CDs without appropriate safety measures are at increased risk of genotoxicity. These findings address the need for regular biomonitoring for the occupational risks among HCWs handling these drugs.