Sickness Absenteeism, Morbidity and Workplace Injuries among Iron and Steel workers - A Cross Sectional Study from Karnataka, Southern India

Randomized controlled trial investigating the role of yoga at workplace in improving fatigue, burnout, pain, strength, and quality of life among blue-collar workers

BACKGROUND

Due to the physical demands of work, blue-collar workers (BCW) frequently experience fatigue, musculoskeletal pain, and burnout. The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility and utility of introducing yoga-based loosening exercises (YLE) at the workplace for improving fatigue, musculoskeletal pain, and burnout among BCW.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

One hundred and twenty-eight BCW were randomized into a yoga group that received 40 minutes of supervised YLE daily, 5 days a week, for 1 month, followed by 1 month of unsupervised practice at home or a waitlisted control group. The Chalder Fatigue Scale (CFS), Visual Analog Scale for pain, Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OLBI), sit-and-reach test (SRT), handgrip strength dynamometer, and the Short Form-8 (SF-8) questionnaire were measured at baseline, at the end of the first month, and at follow-up after the first month.

RESULTS

All the participants adhered well to the YLE (≈86% at the workplace, ≈70% at home). Compared to the controls, the yoga group reported significant reductions in fatigue, pain, and burnout and significant improvements in flexibility, strength, and quality of life (P < 0.001) at all the time points.

CONCLUSION

Our findings demonstrate that workplace yoga programs for BCW are feasible and can considerably reduce fatigue, pain, and burnout and improve their quality of life.

Latent Classes of Circadian Type and Presenteeism and Work-Related Flow Differences Among Clinical Nurses: A Cross-Sectional Study

OBJECTIVE

To classify the characteristics of circadian type among clinical nurses and examine their relationships with presenteeism and work-related flow.

METHODS

Using a cross-sectional design, 568 nurses were recruited through convenience sampling in January 2021 from three hospitals in Shandong Province, China. The data were collected using self-report measures, including the 11-item Circadian Type Inventory, Stanford Presenteeism Scale-6, and Work-Related Flow Inventory. Latent class analysis was performed to identify any clustering of circadian types. One-way analysis was performed to compare the differences between presenteeism and work-related flow in different circadian types.

RESULTS

Four latent classes were identified, including high response class (14.4%), high flexible class (20.1%), high languid class (51.1%), and low response class (14.4%). Regarding presenteeism, the high languid class had higher scores than others. Regarding work-related flow, the scores of high flexible class were higher than those of high languid class, while the differences in all three dimensions were statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

Although the shift work mode is not expected to change, nursing managers could use circadian type as a predictive index to select and employ individuals for shift work to enhance work performance and provide sufficient support to staff who are intolerant to shift work.

The Effect of High Temperature on Cardiovascular Autonomic Function Tests in Steel Plant Furnace Worker

Background:

The high temperature in the working environment could be one of the risk factors for cardiovascular diseases in steel plant workers. The excessive high temperature at the working place leads to altered autonomic activity and is related to more cardiovascular risk.

Aims and Objectives:

The effect of high temperature on cardiovascular autonomic function tests in steel plant furnace worker.

Material and Method:

This was a case-control study for which 50 steel plant furnace workers and 50 controls were selected. The cardiovascular sympathetic function status in worker and control were analyzed by three tests: (i) Blood pressure (BP) response to sustained isometric handgrip test, (ii) BP response to the cold pressor test, and (iii) BP response to standing from a supine position (orthostasis). Statistical analysis was done by using an independent t-test.

Results:

Diastolic BP (DBP) response to sustained isometric handgrip and systolic BP (SBP) and DBP response to the cold pressor test showed that the increase BP in workers were more than controls but the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). SBP response to standing from the supine position showed statistically significant (P < 0.001) greater fall in steel plant workers.

Conclusion:

The sympathetic autonomic dysfunction was seen in steel furnace workers in response to environmental stressor–excessive heat.

The pattern of morbidity and use of social security schemes among the steel plant workers in an industrial district of Odisha

Background:

Materials and Methods:

Results:

Conclusions:

Sickness-related absenteeism and risk factors associated among flower farm industry workers in Bishoftu town, Southeast Ethiopia, 2018: a cross-sectional study

Objective

The objective of this study was to investigate prevalence and factors affecting sickness absenteeism among flower farm industry workers in Bishoftu town, Ethiopia. A workplace-based cross-sectional study was conducted from March to April 2018. A sample of 444 participants were included using a stratified sampling technique. We performed binary logistic regression analysis to identify factors associated with sickness absenteeism.

Results

The entire sampled workers (N = 444) were interviewed. Of the respondents, 55.6% (N = 247) were females. The mean age was 24.2 (SD ± 6.6) years. About 54.5% (N = 242) [95% CI (50.2, 59.0)] of the participants indicated that they had experienced sickness absence of at least 3 consecutive working days in the past 12 months. A total of 1357 days were lost with an average duration of 5.6 days per worker per year. Female sex [AOR: 2.63; 95% CI (1.723, 4.036)], sickness presenteeism [AOR: 3.15; 95% CI (2.026, 4.904)], job dissatisfaction [AOR: 1.60; 95% CI (1.047, 2.462)] and drinking alcohol [AOR: 1.64; 95% CI (1.023, 2.621)] were associated factors. Sickness absenteeism had been found common in this study. Employers and policy designers need to formulate preventive schemes focusing on gender difference, job satisfaction, and the concomitant tackling of sickness absenteeism and presenteeism.

Association of Amplitude and Stability of Circadian Rhythm, Sleep Quality, and Occupational Stress with Sickness Absence among a Gas Company Employees-A Cross Sectional Study from Iran

Background

The present study was carried out to assess the relationship between sickness absence and occupational stress, sleep quality, and amplitude and stability of circadian rhythm as well as to determine contributing factors of sickness absence.

Methods

This cross sectional study was conducted on 400 randomly selected employees of an Iranian gas company. The data were collected using Pittsburgh sleep quality index, Karolinska sleepiness scale, circadian type inventory, and Osipow occupational stress questionnaires.

Results

The mean age and job tenure of the participants were 33.18 ± 5.64 years and 6.06 ± 4.99 years, respectively. Also, the participants had been absent from work on average 2.16 days a year. According to the results, 209 participants had no absences, 129 participants had short-term absences, and 62 participants had long-term absences. The results showed a significant relationship between short-term absenteeism and amplitude of circadian rhythm [odds ratio (OR) = 6.13], sleep quality (OR = 14.46), sleepiness (OR = 2.08), role boundary (OR = 6.45), and responsibility (OR = 5.23). Long-term absenteeism was also significantly associated with amplitude of circadian rhythm (OR = 2.42), sleep quality (OR = 21.56), sleepiness (OR = 6.44), role overload (OR = 4.84), role boundary (OR = 4.27), and responsibility (OR = 3.72).

Conclusion

The results revealed that poor sleep quality, amplitude of circadian rhythm, and occupational stress were the contributing factors for sickness absence in the study population.

Comparison of workers' perceptions toward work climate and health symptoms between ceramic and iron foundry workers

Background:

Workers exposed to heavy manual material handling (MMH) in a hot working environment succumb to severe physical stress and psychological stress.

Aims:

(1) Recognize the heat load at workplaces of ceramic industry and iron industry, and (2) comparatively examine the characteristics of self-reported physiological responses and heat-health perception among these workers.

Settings and Design:

Cross-sectional prospective study.

Materials and Methods:

Workplace microclimate in the ceramic industry and iron industry was monitored. An ergonomic checklist and a questionnaire was used to record self-reported workers’ perceptions toward heat stress at workplace (ceramic workers N = 321, iron foundry workers N = 253). The prevalence rates of subjective symptoms among workers of both the industries were compared.

Statistical Analysis:

Chi-square test was used to examine the association between stressors and health complaints at a significance level set at P < 0.05.

Results:

Iron foundries recorded higher mean ambient temperature (43.4 ± 3.7°C) and wet-bulb globe temperature (WGBT) index (31.5 ± 0.7°C) as compared to ceramic industries (39.9 ± 3.3°C and 28 ± 1.5°C, respectively). Heavy sweating, elevated body temperature, sleeplessness, excessive thirst, muscular discomforts, and fatigue were prime symptoms recorded among workers of both industries. Skin-related disorders (red face, dry skin, bumps, itching) were significantly higher among iron foundry workers, whereas sleeplessness, high blood pressure, heavy sweating, kidney stone, decreased urination, muscular discomforts, and fatigue were significantly more among ceramic workers. Young workers reported more sweating and fatigue than older workers.

Conclusions:

A hot work climate and heavy manual labor designate ceramic and iron industries as arduous. Direct contact with hot surface and continuous MMH in tandem with the mechanical pace of production process makes work in ceramic industries more difficult than iron foundries.

Internal and External Factors Related to Burnout among Iron and Steel Workers: A Cross-Sectional Study in Anshan, China

Background

Burnout is a syndrome of emotional exhaustion, cynicism and reduced professional efficacy, which can result from long-term work stress. Although the burnout level is high among iron and steel workers, little is known concerning burnout among iron and steel worker. This study aimed to evaluate the burnout and to explore its associated internal and external factors in iron and steel workers.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted in iron and steel workers at the Anshan iron-steel complex in Anshan, northeast China. Self-administered questionnaires were distributed to 1,600 workers, and finally 1,300 questionnaires were returned. Burnout was measured using the Chinese version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey (MBI-GS). Effort-reward imbalance (ERI), perceived organizational support (POS), and psychological capital (PsyCap) were measured anonymously. A hierarchical regression model was applied to explore the internal and external factors associated with burnout.

Results

Mean MBI-GS scores were 13.11±8.06 for emotional exhaustion, 6.64±6.44 for cynicism, and 28.96±10.39 for professional efficacy. Hierarchical linear regression analysis showed that ERI and POS were the most powerful predictors for emotional exhaustion and cynicism, and PsyCap was the most robust predictor for high professional efficacy.

Conclusions

Chinese iron and steel workers have a high level of burnout. Burnout might be associated with internal and external factors, including ERI, POS, and PsyCap. Further studies are recommended to develop an integrated model including both internal and external factors, to reduce the level of ERI, and improve POS and workers’ PsyCap, thereby alleviating the level of burnout among iron and steel workers.

A study of morbidity pattern among iron and steel workers from an industry in central India

Background:

Iron is the world's most commonly used metal and can usually be found with other elements in the form of steel. In this era of machines, it is the inevitable part in production of various materials like eyeglass frames, jet aircraft, the space shuttle, automobiles, and surgical instruments. Occupational factors make an important contribution to the global burden of disease, but the reliable data on occupational disease are much more difficult to obtain. Hence, the current study was carried out to find out the morbidity pattern among iron and steel workers

Materials and Methods:

A cross-sectional study. was carried out after obtaining permission from Institutional Ethics Committee in an iron and steel factory. Worker's detailed information regarding profile was taken in pretested questionnaire format after obtaining the informed written consent and explaining the purpose of study. Workers were also interviewed regarding their years of job, job satisfaction, usage of protective devices, and history of injuries during work. Worker's detailed general and systemic examination was conducted.

Results:

The overall prevalence of morbidities among the workers was 60%. It was observed that commonest morbidity in the workers was lumbago (musculoskeletal pain), that is, 33.25%which was more in Group B (49.73%) than Group A (18.78%), followed by occupational dermatitis (27%) which more common in Group A (33.33%) than Group B (19.79%). It was seen that occupation-related morbidities were more prevalent in Group A, i.e. Exposed group (P < 0.001).

Conclusion:

It was observed that occupation-related morbidities were more common in exposed group (EG) than that of nonexposed group (NEG) and the difference was found to be statistically significant (P < 0.001).

Socio-demographic and clinical predictors of absenteeism - A cross-sectional study of urban industrial employees

CONTEXT

Public sector undertakings are facing a threat of privatization due to unsatisfactory performance putting pressure on management and in turn to employees. There is an increasing trend of absenteeism observed amongst employees citing job stress.

AIM

To find an association between job stress and absenteeism in relation to socio-demographic and clinical profile.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study was conducted in an urban aeronautical industry with 68 employees who mentioned stress at workplace during evaluation. Job stress was assessed using Professional Life Stress Scale (David Fontana). Those who scored more than 30 (n = 43) were taken up for the study after an informed consent. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered to find socio-demographic and clinical profile. Employees who reported taking leave in last six months just to avoid work or workplace constitute the "absenteeism" group. The absenteeism group was compared to non-absenteeism group using Fisher exact/Chi-square test or independent t-test depending on type of variables.

RESULTS

Out of 43 subjects, 18 had absenteeism while 25 did not have absenteeism. Comparing the two groups, interstate migration, having more than one previous job, commuting time more than an hour, co-morbid anxiety/depression, and alcohol abuse were significantly associated with absenteeism (P < 0.05). Absentees complained more about fatigue and relationship problem with colleagues than non-absentees (P < 0.05). Factors like age, sex, marital status, education, gross pay, job tenure, past or family history of psychiatry illnesses had no significant association with absenteeism (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

In absenteeism research, one of the widely accepted models is Steer and Rhode's "Process model of absenteeism." The model postulates job stress as one of the barriers for attendance. Thus, knowing the factors for absenteeism would help in preventing absenteeism.