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Xie Y, Jiao Y, Shi L, Liu D, Liu Y, Tang Z, Gong W, Yu H, Ma Y. A study on the influencing factors of mental health of Chinese garden workers: a cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:765. [PMID: 38475777 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-18025-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Occupational hazards occur in all walks of life. China's horticulture industry is undergoing rapid development. However, the mental health of garden workers has not received much attention. This study investigates the mental health status and influencing factors of Chinese garden workers and provides a basis for promoting their mental health and ensuring the healthy development of Chinese horticulture. METHODS A cross-sectional survey of garden workers in Beijing was conducted from 10 July 2021 to 10 October 2021. A total of 3349 valid questionnaires were recovered, with an effective response rate of 95.69%. Descriptive statistical analysis was carried out on the demographic characteristics, job satisfaction, stress, anxiety, and depression of garden workers, and the influencing factors affecting the mental health of Chinese garden workers were found through a t-test, variance analysis, and ordinal multi-class logistic regression analysis. RESULTS Survey respondents were mostly male (54.4%) and under the age of 40 (64.1%). The anxiety and depression symptoms of the garden workers were moderate. Among staff members, 40.2% were in a normal state of stress. Gender, three meals on time, monthly income, and job satisfaction were the factors influencing stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms among garden workers. CONCLUSION Compared to medical staff and other groups, the stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms of Chinese garden workers are severe. Gender, monthly income, and job satisfaction are important factors affecting their mental health. Managers should continuously improve the working environment of garden workers, provide salaries that match their positions, and improve their job recognition and satisfaction to reduce the impact of negative emotions on personal health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujin Xie
- Beijing Rehabilitation Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yang Jiao
- Beijing Rehabilitation Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Lei Shi
- School of Health Management, Guangzhou Medical University , Guangzhou, China
| | - Di Liu
- School of Marxism, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Ying Liu
- Beijing Rehabilitation Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhen Tang
- Beijing Rehabilitation Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Weijun Gong
- Beijing Rehabilitation Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
| | - Hong Yu
- Beijing Rehabilitation Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
| | - Yuanshuo Ma
- School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Hebei, China.
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Goyal A, Ravindra K, Mor S. Occupational exposure to airborne pollen and associated health risks among gardeners: a perception-based survey. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:70084-70098. [PMID: 35583755 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-20595-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Airborne pollen are considered a major trigger of respiratory diseases that causes morbidity and subsequently affects a person's quality of life (QOL). Outdoor workers, such as gardeners, florists, etc., are at greater risk of allergies due to continuous exposure to the high concentration of allergens. The current study aims to assess the associated health risks among gardeners due to occupational exposure to airborne pollen. A semi-structured questionnaire-based survey was conducted among gardeners (496) in Chandigarh, covering their socio-demographic status, occupational and environmental history, and respiratory and other health-related problems. Out of 496 respondents from 26 gardens in the city, 72.58% fall under the category of plantsman (mali), followed by 15.72% of grass cutters and 3.02% of headmali/supervisor. The majority of gardeners were males (95.76%) and a maximum number of respondents were in the age group of 29-38 years (27.41%). Among all, 4.2%, 3.6%, and 3.2% of respondents perceived the problem of shortness of breath and breathing problems. At the same time, 3.2% of respondents perceived that their breathing is never wholly satisfactory and surprisingly, all of them are plantsman (mali). Moreover, 18.9% of the respondents covered their faces with a cloth and only 0.5% of the respondents wore both spectacles and covered their faces with a cloth. Out of all respondents, 6.5% reported irritation in the eyes without wearing any personal protective device. The results show that a large proportion of gardeners are illiterate and unaware of occupational hazards and pollen allergies in their workplaces. Moreover, the regulatory authorities conduct no formal health awareness and training/education sessions to minimize the exposure and associate risk. The findings of the study will aid in a better understanding of the working conditions and health status of occupational gardeners, as well as the development of appropriate methods to improve their working conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akshi Goyal
- Department of Environment Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, India
| | - Khaiwal Ravindra
- Department of Community Medicine & School of Public Health, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, 160012, India
| | - Suman Mor
- Department of Environment Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, India.
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de Graaf L, Boulanger M, Bureau M, Bouvier G, Meryet-Figuiere M, Tual S, Lebailly P, Baldi I. Occupational pesticide exposure, cancer and chronic neurological disorders: A systematic review of epidemiological studies in greenspace workers. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 203:111822. [PMID: 34352232 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Revised: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT The greenspace sector includes a broad range of occupations: gardeners, landscapers, municipal workers, maintenance operators of public facilities, golf-course employees and other sports facilities, horticulturists, plant and tree nursery workers etc. The health impact of occupational pesticide exposure has mainly been studied among farmers. Other professionals such as greenspace workers are also extremely exposed, presenting specific exposure features (practices, types of pesticide used). The aim of this review was to summarize epidemiological literature that examine the relationship between pesticide exposure and the risk of cancer and long-term health effects in greenspace workers. METHOD Six main groups of greenspace workers were identified and examined through a systematic literature review based on PubMed and Scopus. The studies were then grouped according to their design, health outcomes and the type of population studied. RESULTS Forty-four articles were selected among the 1679 identified. Fifteen studies were conducted exclusively among greenspace workers, while ten also studied these workers with other pesticide applicators. Six were cohorts from the general population in which greenspace workers were identified. Elevated risks were found in several studies for leukaemia, soft-tissue sarcoma, multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma and Parkinson's disease. DISCUSSION The majority of studies used rough parameters for defining exposure such as job titles which could lead to the misclassification of exposure, with the risk of false or positive negative conclusions. Health outcomes were mainly collected through registries or death certificates, and information regarding potential confounders was often missing. CONCLUSION The review identified only 15 studies conducted exclusively among greenspace workers. Elevated risk was found for several sites of cancer and Parkinson's diseases. Further epidemiological research is needed, conducted specifically on these workers, to better characterize this population, its exposure to pesticides and the related health effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- L de Graaf
- ISPED, Université de Bordeaux, 146 rue Léo Saignat, 33076, Bordeaux, France; INSERM U1219 Epicene, 146 rue Léo Saignat, 33076, Bordeaux, France.
| | - M Boulanger
- INSERM U1086 Anticipe, 3 avenue Général Harris, 14000, Caen, France; Centre de Lutte contre le Cancer François Baclesse, 3 avenue Général Harris, 14000, Caen, France; Université de Caen Normandie, Esplanade de la Paix, 14000, Caen, France
| | - M Bureau
- ISPED, Université de Bordeaux, 146 rue Léo Saignat, 33076, Bordeaux, France; INSERM U1219 Epicene, 146 rue Léo Saignat, 33076, Bordeaux, France
| | - G Bouvier
- ISPED, Université de Bordeaux, 146 rue Léo Saignat, 33076, Bordeaux, France; INSERM U1219 Epicene, 146 rue Léo Saignat, 33076, Bordeaux, France
| | - M Meryet-Figuiere
- INSERM U1086 Anticipe, 3 avenue Général Harris, 14000, Caen, France; Centre de Lutte contre le Cancer François Baclesse, 3 avenue Général Harris, 14000, Caen, France; Université de Caen Normandie, Esplanade de la Paix, 14000, Caen, France
| | - S Tual
- INSERM U1086 Anticipe, 3 avenue Général Harris, 14000, Caen, France; Centre de Lutte contre le Cancer François Baclesse, 3 avenue Général Harris, 14000, Caen, France; Université de Caen Normandie, Esplanade de la Paix, 14000, Caen, France
| | - P Lebailly
- INSERM U1086 Anticipe, 3 avenue Général Harris, 14000, Caen, France; Centre de Lutte contre le Cancer François Baclesse, 3 avenue Général Harris, 14000, Caen, France; Université de Caen Normandie, Esplanade de la Paix, 14000, Caen, France
| | - I Baldi
- ISPED, Université de Bordeaux, 146 rue Léo Saignat, 33076, Bordeaux, France; INSERM U1219 Epicene, 146 rue Léo Saignat, 33076, Bordeaux, France; Service Santé Travail Environnement, CHU de Bordeaux, Place Amélie Raba Léon, 33076, Bordeaux, France
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Lim MC, Awang Lukman K, Giloi N, Lim JF, Salleh H, Radzran AS, Jeffree MS, Syed Abdul Rahim SS. Landscaping Work: Work-related Musculoskeletal Problems and Ergonomic Risk Factors. Risk Manag Healthc Policy 2021; 14:3411-3421. [PMID: 34429672 PMCID: PMC8380128 DOI: 10.2147/rmhp.s314843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) are considered one of the foremost reason of disability globally with significant economic impact due to loss of productivity. Landscaping work is considered a high-risk industry in the service sector. Landscape workers are susceptible to WRMSDs as they are exposed to high physical demands at work, and exert significant physical effort to complete daily repetitive tasks during long working hours. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of WRMSDs and to identify the ergonomic risk factors among landscape workers in a university setting. Methods This was a cross-sectional study conducted among landscape workers at a public university in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. Interviews were conducted due to low literacy of the participants, using structured questionnaires which consist of personal characteristics, work descriptions, ergonomic risk factors, as well as self-reported WRMSD symptoms using NORDIC questionnaire. Ergonomic risk assessment (ERA) using rapid entire body assessment (REBA) was then conducted. Results Fifty-five of 60 landscape workers agreed to participate (92% response rate). The overall prevalence of WRMSDs among landscape workers was 85.5%. The highest prevalence involving the shoulder (65.5%), followed by neck (23.6%), wrist/hand (23.6%), and lower back (20.0%) regions based on their self-reported WRMSD symptoms over the past 12 months. Awkward posture was the risk factor identified through ergonomic risk assessment (ERA) conducted by ERA trained personnel. None of the working postures during assessment was noted to be appropriate. Although no significant difference was associated with self-reported WRMSDs, majority of the landscape workers (71%) were classified as medium ergonomic risk group using REBA, with the remaining 29% considered to be high ergonomic risk group. Conclusion Improvement in awareness campaigns, modification of working tools, and enhanced administrative approaches are among the control and prevention measures recommended to delay or prevent the occurrence of WRMSDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei Ching Lim
- Department of Public Health Medicine, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, 88400, Malaysia
| | - Khamisah Awang Lukman
- Department of Public Health Medicine, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, 88400, Malaysia.,Centre for Occupational Safety & Health, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
| | - Nelbon Giloi
- Department of Public Health Medicine, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, 88400, Malaysia
| | - Jac Fang Lim
- Department of Public Health Medicine, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, 88400, Malaysia
| | - Hazeqa Salleh
- Department of Public Health Medicine, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, 88400, Malaysia
| | - Ahmad Syukri Radzran
- Department of Public Health Medicine, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, 88400, Malaysia
| | - Mohammad Saffree Jeffree
- Department of Public Health Medicine, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, 88400, Malaysia
| | - Syed Sharizman Syed Abdul Rahim
- Department of Public Health Medicine, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, 88400, Malaysia
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Mohamad Jamil PAS, Karuppiah K, Rasdi I, How V, Mohd Tamrin SB, Mani KKC, Sambasivam S, Naeini HS, Mohammad Yusof NAD, Hashim NM. Occupational hazard in Malaysian traffic police: special focus on air pollutants. REVIEWS ON ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH 2021; 36:167-176. [PMID: 33594842 DOI: 10.1515/reveh-2020-0107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
This paper provides a specific deliberation on occupational hazards confronted daily by Malaysian Traffic Police. Traffic police is a high-risk occupation that involves a wide range of tasks and, indirectly, faced with an equally wide variety of hazards at work namely, physical, biological, psychosocial, chemical, and ergonomic hazards. Thereupon, occupational injuries, diseases, and even death are common in the field. The objective of this paper is to collate and explain the major hazards of working as Malaysian traffic police especially in Point Duty Unit, their health effects, and control measures. There are many ways in which these hazards can be minimised by ensuring that sufficient safety measures are taken such as a wireless outdoor individual exposure indicator system for the traffic police. By having this system, air monitoring among traffic police may potentially be easier and accurate. Other methods of mitigating these unfortunate events are incorporated and addressed in this paper according to the duty and needs of traffic police.
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Affiliation(s)
- Putri Anis Syahira Mohamad Jamil
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Karmegam Karuppiah
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Irniza Rasdi
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Vivien How
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Shamsul Bahri Mohd Tamrin
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Kulanthayan K C Mani
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
- Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia,Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Sivasankar Sambasivam
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Hassan Sadeghi Naeini
- Department of Industrial Engineering Design, School of Architecture and Environmental Design, Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
| | - Nur Athirah Diyana Mohammad Yusof
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Nurul Maizura Hashim
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
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Riley K, Majano R. Using workers' compensation claims to investigate occupational injuries among residential day laborers and domestic workers. Am J Ind Med 2021; 64:358-368. [PMID: 33634501 DOI: 10.1002/ajim.23234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Revised: 01/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND While many states have legal provisions to extend workers' compensation eligibility to day laborers or domestic workers hired directly by homeowners or families, little is known about the nature or frequency of injury claims submitted on behalf of these "residential employees." METHODS We examined California workers' compensation claims records for injuries that appear to have occurred in residential settings between 2008 and 2018 and where the employer of record was an individual or family. We examined the demographic, occupational, and injury characteristics of our sample and analyzed factors that contribute to the likelihood of a claim resulting in some sort of payment. RESULTS We identified 5,463 workers' compensation claims that were likely submitted on behalf of residential employees. Claims most commonly reflected injuries to workers performing housekeeping tasks, followed by construction/maintenance and caregiving. Workers performing construction/maintenance or gardening/landscaping tasks were more likely to be injured on the same day of hire and were more likely to require hospitalization or emergency treatment for their injuries; however, these workers also had a smaller proportion of claims that resulted in payment. We found that employment tenure had the biggest impact on the likelihood of payment, with the odds increasing sharply after the first day of work. CONCLUSIONS Although the claims in our data set likely represent only a small fraction of all injuries to residential day laborers and domestic workers during this period, we suggest that workers' compensation claims can provide valuable clues for better understanding occupational injuries among workers in this largely informal sector.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Riley
- Labor Occupational Safety and Health Program University of California Los Angeles California USA
| | - Rosario Majano
- Labor Occupational Safety and Health Program University of California Los Angeles California USA
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Ncube F, Kanda A, Sanyanga T. Standing working posture and musculoskeletal pain among Citrus sinensis workers in a low-income country. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND ERGONOMICS 2019; 27:128-135. [PMID: 30412040 DOI: 10.1080/10803548.2018.1544799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Background. Work-related musculoskeletal pain (WRMP) among Citrus sinensis farm workers has barely been studied. Yet most work tasks in such farms are manually performed using awkward standing postures that can contribute to WRMP. Aim. This study assessed the standing working posture in relation to WRMP among C. sinensis workers. Methods. Ninety-two workers engaged in manual tasks participated in this cross-sectional study. Postures at the upper limbs were analysed using the rapid upper limb assessment (RULA) method. Data were analysed using SPSS version 20. Results. Analyses generally showed statistically significant associations (p < 0.05) between a body part RULA score and WRMP at the concerned body part. The upper arm score was >1 in 77.2% of the workers and caused upper arm pain in 66.3%; the association between the upper score and upper pain was statistically significant (χ 2 = 20.57; p < 0.05). Similarly, significant associations were found between: (a) wrist score and wrist pain; (b) neck score and neck pain; (c) trunk score and back pain. Conclusions. C. sinensis workers use unsafe postures which contribute to WRMP at the upper arm, trunk, neck and wrists. Ergonomics measures are required to improve their working posture.
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Affiliation(s)
- France Ncube
- Department of Environmental Science, Bindura University of Science Education, Zimbabwe
| | - Artwell Kanda
- Department of Environmental Science, Bindura University of Science Education, Zimbabwe
| | - Tatenda Sanyanga
- Department of Environmental Science, Bindura University of Science Education, Zimbabwe
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Ncube F, Ncube EJ, Voyi K. Bioaerosols, Noise, and Ultraviolet Radiation Exposures for Municipal Solid Waste Handlers. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2017; 2017:3081638. [PMID: 28167969 PMCID: PMC5266811 DOI: 10.1155/2017/3081638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2016] [Accepted: 12/25/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Few studies have investigated the occupational hazards of municipal solid waste workers, particularly in developing countries. Resultantly these workers are currently exposed to unknown and unabated occupational hazards that may endanger their health. We determined municipal solid waste workers' work related hazards and associated adverse health endpoints. A multifaceted approach was utilised comprising bioaerosols sampling, occupational noise, thermal conditions measurement, and field based waste compositional analysis. Results from our current study showed highest exposure concentrations for Gram-negative bacteria (6.8 × 103 cfu/m3) and fungi (12.8 × 103 cfu/m3), in the truck cabins. Significant proportions of toxic, infectious, and surgical waste were observed. Conclusively, municipal solid waste workers are exposed to diverse work related risks requiring urgent sound interventions. A framework for assessing occupational risks of these workers must prioritize performance of exposure assessment with regard to the physical, biological, and chemical hazards of the job.
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Affiliation(s)
- France Ncube
- School of Health Systems and Public Health (SHSPH), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Esper Jacobeth Ncube
- School of Health Systems and Public Health (SHSPH), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Kuku Voyi
- School of Health Systems and Public Health (SHSPH), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
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