Occupational Stressors and Safety Behaviour among Oil and Gas Workers in Kuwait: The Mediating Role of Mental Health and Fatigue

This paper provides an examination of direct and mediated relationships among occupational stressors (responsibilities towards family and living environment), mental health (anxiety and depression), fatigue (physical and mental fatigue), and safety behaviour (safety compliance and safety participation). In this cross-sectional study, data were collected by means of a questionnaire among oil and gas workers (foreign employees working at a remote oil and gas field site located in Kuwait), during a two-month period (November-December 2018). Regression analyses (bivariate and hierarchical), carried out on 387 responses, were employed to test the links between occupational stressors, mental health, fatigue, and safety behaviour in the hypothesised model. The results provide support for the direct relationship in the model, in that both responsibilities towards family and living environment predicted safety behaviour participation. Further, the results provide partial support for the mediated relationships in the model, as mental health and fatigue were found to mediate the relationship of responsibilities towards family and living environment with safety participation behaviour. It is concluded that occupational stressors have a negative effect on safety behaviour, while mental health and fatigue can operate as risk factors. Given this, it is recommended that organisations need to enhance remote oil and gas workers' safety behaviour by encouraging them to effectively balance their stress, mental health, and level of fatigue. This can be achieved by actions such as promoting spirituality, boosting workers' resilience, providing recreational facilities and encouraging communications.

The Mental Health and Syndemic Effect on Suicidal Ideation among Migrant Workers in China: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Migrant workers are in a socially disadvantaged position and thus suffer from more stress and mental health disorders, resulting in a high risk of suicidal ideation. This study aimed to explore the association between psychosocial problems and suicidal ideation, and the syndemic effect of concurrent psychosocial problems on suicidal ideation among migrant workers. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study and recruited 1805 migrant workers in Shenzhen, China. Each participant completed a self-administered questionnaire to report sociodemographic information and mental health status. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to explore the association between psychosocial variables and suicidal ideation, and their syndemic effect on suicidal ideation. Results: The prevalence of suicidal ideation among migrant workers was 7.5%. All selected psychosocial variables were independently associated with suicidal ideation. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that three psychosocial variables were associated with suicidal ideation: anxiety (ORm: 1783, 95% CI: 1.089–2.920), entrapment (ORm: 2.064, 95% CI: 1.257–3.388), and defeat (ORm: 2.572, 95% CI: 1.612–4.103). Various mental health issues can exist simultaneously to increase the risk of suicidal ideation (AOR: 5.762, 95% CI: 3.773–8.802). Workers with more psychosocial problems were more likely to have suicidal ideation. Conclusions: The association between poor mental health and suicidal ideation should not be overlooked among migrant workers. The co-occurring or syndemic effect of psychosocial problems may increase the risk of suicidal ideation.

Global overview of dietary outcomes and dietary intake assessment methods in maritime settings: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Seafaring is a risky occupation with high prevalence of risk factors for non-communicable diseases. Food intake and eating habits are important cornerstones regarding health and health promotion. The aim of this study was to provide an overview of dietary intake and dietary intake assessment methods of seafarers and suggestions for applicable assessment tools.

METHODS

We systematically searched PubMed and NLM Gateway (for MEDLINE), Web of Science, and SCOPUS up to February 2020 using standard keywords including nutrition OR diet OR meal AND maritime settings. Two independent reviewers extracted the data. The quality of included studies was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal checklist.

RESULTS

From 4449 studies initially identified, 26 articles were included in the final review. Qualitative data (e.g. on unhealthy eating) had been gathered using in-depth individual or group interviews, participant observations, and phone-based chats. Composition of menu analysis, 24 h dietary recall, food diaries/ diet records, dietary habits questionnaire, food stores and food waste of the ship were used to assess the quantitative outcomes (e.g. dietary intakes). Access to meat, processed meat and egg, frozen and canned food items, sugary drinks, alcohol, greasy and salty food was high. In contrast, consumption of fruit, vegetables, dairy products, and cereals was lower than recommended.

CONCLUSIONS

Eating habits and dietary intakes in maritime settings are unhealthy. Subjective dietary assessment methods combining menu analysis with new technologies (e.g. mobile-based) might be an applicable method in this hard to reach setting which is the vessels.

Health and well-being of rotation workers in the mining, offshore oil and gas, and construction industry: a systematic review

Introduction

Rotation work, characterised by travelling long distances to work in isolated areas where workers typically rotate consecutive days working and living on-site with periods at home, is increasingly used in the resources and construction sectors globally. Such employment practices may have an impact on workers’ health and well-being. This systematic review explores the impact rotation work has on mental and physical outcomes in rotation workers in the resources and construction sectors.

Method

The PubMed, Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Scopus databases were systematically searched on 1 May 2020 to identify quantitative, qualitative and mixed-method studies addressing the health of rotation workers published in peer-reviewed journals. Findings from the studies were summarised narratively.

Results

Of 6268 studies retrieved, 90 studies were included in the review. Studies suggested higher prevalence of psychological distress in onshore rotation workers and higher overweight/obesity rates among rotation workers as compared with the general population. We found more sleep problems and higher levels of smoking during work periods compared with off-site days; and higher alcohol intake during off-site days compared with on-site days. Workers generally perceived their physical health status as good. High-perceived job demands (such as workload, repetitive work) were associated with mental distress and exhaustion, sleep problems and perceived poor physical health status, while high-perceived job resources (such as job clarity/control, support) were associated with low mental distress and exhaustion, less smoking and alcohol intake, and better sleep.

Conclusion

Rotation work is associated with several poorer health behaviours and outcomes, such as sleep problems, smoking, alcohol consumption and overweight/obesity. Interventions needed to improve rotation workers’ health should include maximising available job resources and reducing job demands. Further longitudinal studies are needed to explore the long-term health effects of rotation work and the short-term contextual effects of the different aspects of rotation work.

Stress and well-being at work: a literature review

The study presents empirical evidence of the personal and contextual variables that protect against the negative effects of stress on workers' well-being and health. A systematic review of the literature of the last eleven years (2006 to 2016) was carried out in the Ebsco, LILACS, SciELO, Google Scholar, and PubMed databases, and in six Annual Reviews journals. Fifty national and international articles related to stress and well-being were analyzed. The results show that work-related factors, personal resources such as resilience, self-efficacy, emotional competencies, psychological detachment, work-life interface, and group-level factors have effects on well-being. The perceived social support of peers and managers, alongside autonomy at work, attenuate the negative impact of stress on well-being. It ends with suggestions for future studies to test relationships between variables that have not yet been explored and to deepen the understanding of the relationships between stress and well-being at work.

Association between Stress at Work and Temporomandibular Disorders: A Systematic Review

Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) have been traditionally associated with psychosocial factors; however, occupational stress as a factor related to TMD has not been adequately assessed in the literature. The aim was to investigate the association between stress at work and TMD on adult paid workers. An electronic search included PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and LILACS databases. Manual searches in the included articles' reference and gray literature were performed. There were no restrictions regarding language or publication period. The inclusion criteria comprised observational studies with paid workers of any category, of both sexes, above 18 years old, assessing occupational stress/stress or distress and TMD as diagnosis or isolated signs and symptoms. Methodological quality was evaluated using Joanna Briggs tools. We narratively assessed the evidence using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. We collected 12 studies. 50% reported a positive association between stress and TMD diagnostic across various job categories. On the other hand, TMJ sounds (a TMD sign) and work stress were associated only in a musicians' population. However, the shortage of eligible articles and the methodological limitations provided a very low certainty of the evidence; only 4 of the studies used validated tools for both stress and TMD (2 reporting positive association). The association between stress and TMD is inconclusive by the available data. In the future, we expect more robust epidemiologic studies addressing these relevant aspects.

Factors associated with quality of life and work ability among Finnish municipal employees: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES

Quality of life (QoL) and work ability are elementary parts in defining the well-being of an employed person. The aim of this study was to demonstrate factors associated with QoL and self-reported work ability among public sector employees, while taking into account several confounding factors, including sleep quality, occupational stress and psychological symptoms.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted in Finland among 710 employees (89% women, mean age 49 (SD=10) years) from 10 municipal work units in 2015. Information about the participants was collected by physical examination, self-administered questionnaire and from medical history. QoL was assessed with the EUROHIS-Quality of Life 8-item index and work ability with the Work Ability Score (WAS).

RESULTS

The EUROHIS-QOL mean score among all participants was 4.07 (95% CI 4.03 to 4.11). QoL was positively associated with good sleep quality, cohabiting, university-level education and lower body mass index (BMI), and negatively associated with occupational stress, depression and/or anxiety and disease burden. Work ability was reported good or excellent by 80% of the participants and the WAS mean score among all participants was 8.31 (95% CI 8.21 to 8.41). Work ability was positively associated with good sleep quality, younger age, lower BMI and university-level education, and negatively associated with occupational stress and disease burden.

CONCLUSIONS

Occupational stress and self-reported sleep quality were strongly associated with both QoL and work ability among Finnish public sector employees. These findings highlight the need for screening and handling of work stress and sleep problems in occupational and primary healthcare.

Cross-Sectional Survey of Mental Health Risk Factors and Comparison of the Monoamine oxidase A Gene DNA Methylation Level in Different Mental Health Conditions among Oilfield Workers in Xinjiang, China

The incidence of psychological problems among occupational groups is becoming increasingly more serious, and adverse psychological conditions will seriously affect the working ability of occupational groups and harm the health of their bodies. This study adopted a multi-stage stratified cluster sampling method to conduct a cross-sectional survey on the mental health of 3631 oil workers in Karamay, Xinjiang from March 2017 to June 2018. The mental health status of oil workers was evaluated using the Symptom Checklist-90, and mental health risk factors were evaluated. The correlation between the monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) gene and mental health was analyzed, and the DNA methylation level of the MAOA gene was compared between the normal group and the abnormal group. The results show the incidence of mental health problems among oil workers according to differences in age, nationality, type of work, length of service, professional title, shift work, and marital status. The evaluation of mental health risk factors revealed that shift work, occupational stress, and high payment/low return affect mental health. The somatization scores of different genotypes of rs6323 in the MAOA gene were statistically significant (p < 0.05), suggesting that the somatization scores of different genotypes of rs6323 were different. According to the average rank, the TT genotype group had the highest score, followed by the GT genotype group, and the GG genotype group had the lowest score. The level of DNA methylation in the abnormal group was lower than that in the normal group (p < 0.05). The results suggested that occupational mental health can be enhanced by improving shift work, reducing stress, and balancing effort and reward. This preliminary investigation suggests that methylation status can affect mental health, indicating that methylation level may be a predictor of mental health status.

Characteristics of anxiety and the factors associated with presence or absence of each anxiety among radiation decontamination workers in Fukushima

The aims of the present study were to investigate what kind of anxiety radiation decontamination workers have, and to analyze what factors are associated to presence or absence of their anxieties. A self-administered questionnaire was conducted, which included 10 anxiety items. A logistic regression model was then used to determine what factors were related to increased anxiety. Of 531 workers who completed the questionnaire, 477 (91.6%) complained of at least one of the 8 anxiety items. The most common anxiety item was job security (41.8%), and the least common item was working hours (6.0%). The logistic regression analysis revealed that the most common causes of related to presence of anxiety was heat illness and the most common causes of related to absence of anxiety was having someone available for consultation. The current study revealed the kinds of anxiety, and the factors associated with presence or absence of each anxiety among radiation decontamination workers. These results provide important implications for the improvement of educational content and occupational health management for radiation decontamination workers in the future.

Food offerings on board and dietary intake of European and Kiribati seafarers - cross-sectional data from the seafarer nutrition study

Background

Overweight and cardiovascular risk factors are a common phenomenon in seafarers. According to internal observation particularly crew members from the Pacific Island State of Kiribati are exposed to a high risk. However, in mixed crews, cultural background plays an important role, influencing food choice, and the actual risk.

Methods

The Seafarer Nutrition Study (SeaNut study) compared dietary factors in 48 Kiribati and 33 European male seafarers recruited from four merchant ships with a high level of Kiribati manning within a German shipping company. Analysis encompassed the assessment of dietary quality on board, satisfaction with prepared dishes, and individual food intake obtained from 24-h recalls in comparison with nutritional recommendations.

Results

The overall supply of meat, fat and eggs was more than double, whereas the proportions of fruits, vegetables, dairy products and cereals were much lower than recommended. Based on the reported food choices, both groups, but notably Kiribati seafarers, did not reach reference values as to macronutrient, micronutrient and fiber intake. In addition, satisfaction with the meals served, food preferences and knowledge about a healthy diet varied markedly between Kiribati and Europeans.

Conclusions

The present analysis of the SeaNut study revealed the necessity of future health intervention programs, including the quality of the food supply as well as information about a healthy diet and adequate food selection. In mixed crews, culture-specific differences should be considered, in order to facilitate the long-term success of interventions.

Trial registration

German Clinical Trials Registry DRKS00010819 retrospectively. Registered 18 July 2016 (www.germanctr.de).

The effects of probiotics on mental health and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in petrochemical workers

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to determine effects of probiotic yogurt and multispecies probiotic capsule supplementation on mental health and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in petrochemical workers.

METHODS

The present randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted on 70 petrochemical workers. Subjects were randomly divided into three groups to receive 100 g/day probiotic yogurt + one placebo capsule (n = 25) or one probiotic capsule daily + 100 g/day conventional yogurt (n = 25) or 100 g/day conventional yogurt + one placebo capsule (n = 20) for 6 weeks. Mental health parameters including general health questionnaire (GHQ) and depression anxiety and stress scale (DASS) scores were measured. Fasting blood samples were obtained at the beginning and 6 weeks after the intervention to quantify hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.

RESULTS

After 6 weeks of intervention, a significant improvement of GHQ was observed in the probiotic yogurt (18.0 ± 1.5 vs. 13.5 ± 1.9, P = 0.007) and in the probiotic capsule group (16.9 ± 1.8 vs. 9.8 ± 1.9, P = 0.001), as well as a significant improvement in DASS scores in the probiotic yogurt (23.3 ± 3.7 vs. 13.0 ± 3.7, P = 0.02) and the probiotic capsule group (18.9 ± 3.2 vs. 9.4 ± 4.0, P = 0.006). However, there was no significant improvement in the conventional yogurt group (P = 0.05 for GHQ and P = 0.08 for DASS).

DISCUSSION

The consumption of probiotic yogurt or a multispecies probiotic capsule had beneficial effects on mental health parameters in petrochemical workers.

The importance of both workplace and private life factors in psychological distress: a large cross-sectional survey of French railway company employees

PURPOSE

The psychological well-being of employees is a priority in occupational health. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of psychological distress among employees of a large French company, to calculate the associations between distress and stressors in the workplace and private life domains, and to explore confounding across stressor domains.

METHODS

8,058 employees of the French national railways company completed a nation-wide survey in 2006 (94.3 % participation). Psychological distress was measured by the 12-item General Health Questionnaire and 21 potential stressors and socio-demographic factors by a self-administered questionnaire. Stressors were summarized in scores for work pressure, workplace conflict, and personal life domains. Risk ratios (RRs) between psychological distress and stressors were calculated using robust-variance Poisson regression.

RESULTS

The prevalence of psychological distress was 32.8 % (95 % CI 31.8-33.9 %), higher among women (48.9 %, 95 % CI 46.5-51.7 %) than men (30.1 %, 95 % CI 29.0-31.2 %). Each stressor domain was associated with distress in the final model containing likely confounders and all three domains (RR highest vs. lowest level-work pressure: men 1.55, 95 % CI 1.42-1.70, women 1.42, 95 % CI 1.23-1.63; work conflict: men 2.63, 95 % CI 2.38-2.91, women 1.98, 95 % CI 1.70-2.30; life concerns: men 2.04, 95 % CI 1.86-2.23, women 1.53, 95 % CI 1.32-1.78). The mutually adjusted RRs for the stressor domains were smaller than the unadjusted RRs.

CONCLUSIONS

Almost one-third of all employees and one-half of female employees experienced psychological distress. All three stressor domains were associated with psychological distress and adjustment reduced the association size, suggesting possible over-estimation if one or more domains are omitted from the survey.

Aspectos do regime de embarque, turnos e gestão do trabalho em plataformas offshore da Bacia de Campos (RJ) e sua relação com a saúde e a segurança dos trabalhadores

O artigo aborda pesquisa desenvolvida na indústria petrolífera offshore da Bacia de Campos (Rio de Janeiro, Brasil), campo empírico que acompanhamos de forma sistemática desde 2003 e que se situa no rol dos sistemas sociotécnicos complexos. Nosso objetivo é destacar os riscos potenciais associados à organização do trabalho, em especial o regime de embarque e o sistema de turnos adotados nas plataformas de petróleo por algumas das empresas atuantes na região. Isto porque entendemos que, no contexto investigado, os problemas relacionados à saúde - aí inclusos os que se situam na esfera mental - e à segurança dos trabalhadores possuem relação importante com aspectos da organização do trabalho, como aqueles que aqui se encontram em foco. Indicam-se proposições de mudança com o intuito de reduzir os impactos deletérios de tais fatores sobre a saúde e a segurança dos trabalhadores. A base teórico-metodológica utilizada na pesquisa se fundamenta, principalmente, no instrumental da Ergonomia da Atividade e da Psicodinâmica do Trabalho, numa perspectiva ergológica.

Occupational risks and challenges of seafaring

Seafarers are exposed to a high diversity of occupational health hazards onboard ships.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this article is to present a survey of the current, most important hazards in seafaring including recommendations on measures how to deal with these problems.

METHODS

The review is based on maritime expert opinions as well a PubMed analysis related to the occupational risks of seafaring.

RESULTS

Despite recent advances in injury prevention, accidents due to harmful working and living conditions at sea and of non-observance of safety rules remain a main cause of injury and death. Mortality in seafaring from cardiovascular diseases (CVD) is mainly caused by increased risks and impaired treatment options of CVD at sea. Further, shipboard stress and high demand may lead to fatigue and isolation which have an impact on the health of onboard seafarers. Communicable diseases in seafaring remain an occupational problem. Exposures to hazardous substances and UV-light are important health risks onboard ships. Because of harsh working conditions onboard including environmental conditions, sufficient recreational activities are needed for the seafarers' compensation both onboard and ashore. However, in reality there is often a lack of leisure time possibilities.

DISCUSSION

Seafaring is still an occupation with specific work-related risks. Thus, a further reduction of occupational hazards aboard ships is needed and poses a challenge for maritime health specialists and stakeholders. Nowadays, maritime medicine encompasses a broad field of workplaces with different job-related challenges.

Occupational stress among tunnel workers in Sikkim

BACKGROUND

Job stress has been linked to a wide range of adverse effects on mental, physical and organizational health.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to determine the impact of job stress on mental, physical and social health of the underground construction workers in Sikkim.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study population comprised of tunnel workers and a comparable group of controls. Using the interview technique, data was collected using the SF-36 General Health Survey Questionnaire.

RESULTS

The study population comprised of individuals of whom more than half were below 40 years of age and was comparable to the group of controls. Majority reported good health, while poor health was reported by 22 % of the subjects under study Compared to their health status last year, 52% rated their health as somewhat worse. Majority reported that their physical health problems limited them in activities of daily life, viz., running, lifting heavy objects, participation in strenuous sports, climbing several flights of stairs, bending, stooping or kneeling and walking more than a mile, during the past four weeks. More than half of them had severe body ache in the past four weeks that interfered with both work outside home and housework. This was true for emotional problems also, which interfered with their normal social activities involving family, friends, neighbors or groups. The associations of occupational stress with physical, emotional and social life and with limitation of day-to-day activities among tunnel workers were found to be statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

The results emphasize the importance of assessment of the effects of job stress and of fulfilling the need of underground workers for optimum preventive measures.