Association of objectively measured lifting load with low-back pain, stress, and fatigue: A prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVES

Limited knowledge exists about the association of lifting loads on a daily basis with physical and mental symptoms among warehouse workers. This study investigated associations between objectively measured lifting load and low-back pain (LBP), mental stress, and bodily fatigue after work and the following morning.

METHODS

Warehouse workers (N=85) from the retail industry replied to daily questionnaires before and after work for 21 days about LBP intensity, mental stress, and bodily fatigue (outcome, all scales 0-10). We assessed lifting exposure using company records from the warehouse logistic systems on total lifting load (kg) per workday. Associations between variables were tested using linear mixed models with repeated measures controlling for relevant confounders.

RESULTS

Mean daily lifting load was 1667.2 kg (range: 0-9998.4 kg). Compared to lifting 0-499 kg during a workday, lifting 500-1999 kg was associated with 0.59 points [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.10-1.08] elevated LBP intensity after work, while lifting ≥5000 showed a higher LBP intensity of 1.26 points (95% CI 0.48-2.03). LBP intensity remained elevated the following morning. Lifting ≥5000 kg was associated with higher mental stress after work of 0.74 points (95% CI 0.10-1.37), while no association was observed for bodily fatigue.

CONCLUSIONS

Higher daily lifting loads were associated with higher LBP intensity after work and the following morning. These findings suggest that warehouses should consider the daily lifting loads when organizing warehouse work to prevent development of LBP, eg, using company records to provide a more equal distribution of daily lifting loads between workers.

Working Condition and Job Satisfaction of Nurses as Predicting Factors of the Prevalence of Health care-associated Infections among Elderly Inpatients

Background

Health care-Associated Infections (HCAIs) are among the most common adverse events (AEs) that can negatively affect both patients and health systems. The elderly is among patients at high risk for infections. Some controllable risk factors have received less attention in research. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the relationship between prevalence of HCAIs among elderly inpatients, job satisfaction of nurses, and working condition.

Materials and Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 211 nurses working in hospitals affiliated with Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, in 2021. The data were collected from HCAIs reports by the Nosocomial Infection Control Committee, a demographic questionnaire, the Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index (PES-NWI), and the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ). The data were statistically analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficient, ANOVA, t-test, and multiple linear regression (MLR) in SPSS 26.

Results

The results showed that there was a significant relationship between the PES-NWI and MSQ (r = 0.68, p < 0.00). The MLR results indicated that staffing and resource adequacy, nurse participation in hospital affairs, job satisfaction, nursing manager's leadership, and nursing foundations for quality of care are predictive factors that these could explain 78% of the changes in the prevalence of HCAIs and the goodness of fit of the regression model was acceptable [F6.210 = 129.47, p < 0.001].

Conclusions

Since job satisfaction and the work condition could predict HCAIs among the elderly patients, healthcare administers are recommended to consider these two variables in the development of HCAIs prevention and control programs.

Differences in the Effects of Work Environment on Health Problems and Satisfaction of Working Condition by Gender: The 6th Korean Working Conditions Survey

This study investigated gender differences in exposure to hazardous factors, health problems, and work environment satisfaction and identified the effects of such differences on farmworkers in Korea. Through the 6th Korean Working Conditions Survey (KWCS) conducted by the Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute (OSHRI), the raw data on 2347 farmworkers were analyzed to present descriptive statistics for demographic characteristics, exposure to hazardous factors, health problems, and work environment satisfaction. We compared genders using chi-squared tests and investigated the effects of gender-specific working conditions on work-related health problems and work environment satisfaction using multivariate logistic analysis. The results were presented as an odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval. Job position predicted work-related health problems in male farmworkers and work environment satisfaction in female farmworkers. Furthermore, female farmworkers perceived themselves to have more health problems than male farmworkers. Nevertheless, female farmworkers received less health and safety information and had lower work environment satisfaction compared to male farmworkers. The findings may improve the occupational welfare of farmworkers through continuous enhancement of the agricultural labor environment.

Benefits of Working from Home During the COVID-19 Pandemic for Undiagnosed Workers with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms

Purpose

Our previous study suggested that working conditions might impact work productivity amid the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to investigate the association between working from home (WFH) and depressive symptoms, work productivity, and quality of life (QOL), in undiagnosed workers with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

During the pandemic, the survey was conducted among eligible workers with (N = 904) and without (N = 900) ADHD symptoms based on the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale [ASRS]. Each group was further stratified by working conditions (full working on-site [FWOS], hybrid, full WFH [FWFH]). Two-way ANOVA was performed to investigate the impact of WFH on depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ-9] score), work productivity (Work Productivity and Activity Impairment scale [WPAI] scores), and QOL (EuroQol 5-Dimensions 5-Levels [EQ-5D-5L] score). The Tukey-Kramer test was used to assess differences between the stratified subgroups. Poisson and multiple regression analyses were also performed to assess the factors associated with these outcomes.

Results

Other than PHQ-9 score between FWOS and hybrid work in workers with ADHD symptoms (p < 0.05), no significant differences were observed in outcomes among the working condition subgroups in both workers with and without ADHD symptoms. In workers with ADHD symptoms, hybrid work and FWFH were significantly associated with a lower PHQ-9 score (hybrid, p < 0.001; FWFH, p < 0.05) but neither were significantly associated with WPAI score nor EQ-5D-5L. Annual income and discretionary work were significantly associated with a lower PHQ-9 score and a higher EQ-5D-5L score in workers with ADHD symptoms. Job type (manufacture/construction) was significantly associated with a lower presenteeism score.

Conclusion

WFH (hybrid and FWFH) may be associated with lower depressive symptoms compared with FWOS in undiagnosed workers with ADHD symptoms. The findings may be useful when considering suitable working environments for workers especially with ADHD symptoms.

Assessment of selected psychosocial risk factors: stress, job burnout, and bullying in the case of medical staff as part of workplace ergonomics during the COVID-19 pandemic-A prospective pilot study

Background

The purpose of the pilot study conducted by the authors was to assess occupational risk in selected areas of psychosocial risk factors among health professions in a pilot study. Medical staff working in the healthcare sector experience stress, job burnout and bullying on a daily basis. Monitoring occupational risks in the above areas provides an opportunity to take appropriate preventive measures.

Methods

The prospective online survey included 143 health care workers from various professional groups. Eighteen participants did not complete the survey, and the results of 125 participants were eventually included in the analysis. The study used health and safety questionnaires in the healthcare sector, which are not widely used as screening tools in Poland.

Results

The following statistical methods were performed in the study: the Mann-Whitney test, Kruskal-Wallis test, Dunn's test. In addition, multivariate analysis was performed. The results obtained in the study indicate that the questionnaires used in the study can be widely used by employers or occupational medicine as screening tools.

Conclusions

Our findings show that level of education attainment in healthcare is correlated with higher chance of experiencing stress and burnout. Among the surveyed professions, nurses reported a higher amount of stress and burnout. Paramedics reported the highest chance of being bullied at work. This can be explained by their nature of work which requires directly interacting with patients and their families. In addition, it should be noted that the tools used can be successfully applied in workplaces as elements of workplace ergonomics assessment in the context of cognitive ergonomics.

Autonomy or Working Conditions?-Research on Heterogeneity and Influencing Mechanism of Self-Employment on Job Satisfaction in China

The development of globalization and information technology has been promoting informal work rapidly. In this process, self-employment is gradually becoming an important employment approach. As two of the key variables, self-employment laborers' work autonomy and work conditions are largely discussed as the potential determinants of their work satisfaction. Which of these two factors is actually influencing labors' satisfaction level? So far, relevant studies are insufficient to respond to this question, especially in developing countries. This study investigates the influence of work autonomy and working conditions on self-employed workers' job satisfaction in China. China Labor-force Dynamics Survey data is used to examine the impact of self-employment on workers' job satisfaction and the influence mechanism of work autonomy and working conditions. Propensity score matching and instrumental variable methods were applied to avoid sample selection bias and endogeneity. We found that self-employment has a significant negative effect on job satisfaction; poor working conditions are responsible for self-employed workers' lower satisfaction level, and self-employment behavior impacts job satisfaction differently in terms of the type and gender of self-employed workers. Therefore, stronger social security and better working conditions for the self-employed should be provided.

Overqualification at work and risk of hospitalization for psychiatric and somatic diseases among immigrants in Sweden - a prospective register-based study

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to (i) describe the prevalence of overqualification at work among immigrants in Sweden and (ii) analyze any association between overqualification and the risk of hospitalization for somatic and psychiatric disease among refugees and labor immigrants.

METHODS

We performed a prospective register study in a cohort of 120 339 adults who immigrated to Sweden in 1991-2005 and were employed in 2006. Education-occupation status was defined as the combination of an individual's highest level of education and their occupation skill level. Individuals were followed from 2007 to 2016 with regard to hospitalization for a psychiatric, cardiovascular, respiratory or musculoskeletal disease or diabetes. Hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated in a multivariate Cox regression analysis adjusted for age, gender, reason for residence and duration of residence.

RESULTS

The overall prevalence of overqualification among immigrants with an academic education was 39%. Overqualified individuals had an increased risk of hospitalization for any disease (HR 1.33, 95% CI 1.21-1.46) compared to "job-matched with an academic education". However, the risk estimates were lower than that of "job-matched with no academic education" (HR 1.56, 1.46-1.68). The increased risk of hospitalization for a psychiatric disease of overqualified individuals did not differ from that of job-matched with no academic education.

CONCLUSION

Our study showed that being overqualified was associated with poorer health outcomes than job-matched individuals with an academic education. Considering the high prevalence of overqualification in immigrants, this constitutes a concern, for both society and individuals.

Family assistants' living and working conditions and their interaction with patient and family caregiver variables

BACKGROUND AND AIM

The progressive and constant aging of the global population together with the economy crises and the social variations within family contexts increasingly leads to the use of external resources (Home Care Workers, HCWs) for health care within one's own family of origin. Purpose of the study is to describe Italian Home Care Workers' (HCWs) living and working conditions and understand the interactions with outcomes of the patients and informal caregiver.

METHODS

Observational study with cross sectional design to evaluate the interaction of HCWs without specific training on patients and informal caregivers' outcomes.

RESULTS

understand Italian HCWs' condition and interaction between these conditions and outcomes of patients and informal caregiver.

CONCLUSIONS

understanding how HCWs' conditions can affect outcome about patient and informal caregivers, represents a fundamental step in order to increase QoL of these families.

[Questionnaire Survey of Japanese Medical Physicists on Working Conditions in 2020]

The questionnaire survey was conducted in 2020 to investigate the working conditions of qualified medical physicists in Japan. We developed a web-based system for administering the questionnaire and surveyed 1,228 qualified medical physicists. The number of received responses was 405. We summarized the results of the survey by job category. The obtained results showed that most of the people working as certified medical physicists met the following conditions: (1) position of healthcare occupation, (2) direct supervisor is a medical doctor or a medical physicist, (3) licensed or passed an examination for a Class I Radiation Protection Supervisor, (4) without the license of professional radiotherapy technologist, (5) master's or doctor's degree, (6) being assigned to the section that is different from the radiological technologist section. The average annual salary was approximately 600,000 yen higher for those employed as medical physicists than for those employed as radiotherapy technologists. The percentage of work performed by a certified medical physicist in radiation therapy greatly varies depending on whether the physicist is dedicated to treatment planning and equipment quality control. Alternatively, the proportion of the true duties of medical physicists in charge of radiation therapy, as considered by qualified medical physicists in radiation therapy, was the same regardless of whether they were working full-time or not. The results of this survey updated the working status of certified medical physicists in Japan. We will continue to conduct the survey periodically and update the information to contribute to the improvement of the working conditions of medical physicists and policy recommendations.

Work hours and overtime of nurses working in Cambodian hospitals

Aim

To examine the nature and prevalence of Cambodian nurses’ work hours and overtime and related factors

Background

The chronic shortage of nursing workforce is a major cause of overtime among nurses.

Introduction

Nursing shortage and working overtime among nurses negatively affect nurse and patient outcomes, but nurses’ work hours and overtime in Cambodia have not been comprehensively examined.

Methods

A multicenter cross‐sectional study was conducted in four Cambodian hospitals. Data were collected from 253 nurses providing direct nursing care using a questionnaire. The STROBE checklist was used for reporting this study.

Results

More than a fifth of staff nurses worked more than 48 h, which is the legal work hour limit in Cambodia. Two major reasons for working mandatory or voluntary overtime, on‐call or 24‐h on‐call were (a) not wanting to let down colleagues and (b) able to get all work done. The number of patients cared for was related to whether or not nurses worked 48 h or more.

Conclusion

Overtime work and adverse nurse scheduling are common in Cambodia.

Implications for nursing and health policy

Nurse managers and healthcare institutes in Cambodia need to monitor Cambodian nurses’ work hours, which are often beyond the legal work hour limit. Moreover, it is important to understand why nurses work overtime and develop health policies, strategies, and programs that can help promote patient and nurse safety and retain qualified nursing staff. The 24‐h on‐call practice needs to be regulated according to the labor policy in healthcare institutes to prevent adverse nurse and patient outcomes.

Health-Related Symptoms and Working Conditions on Vulnerability to Presenteeism Among Nurses in South Korea

Presenteeism among nurses is reported to be higher than that of other professional workers, and affects one's health and the safety of their patients. Therefore, study on correlation between complex working condition and presenteeism is needed among nurses. This study aimed to predict characteristics of high-risk groups for presenteeism among nurses. The analysis used data which generated 478 nurses who participated in the fifth Korean Working Conditions Survey (2017). This study built a complex samples logistic regression model and decision tree analysis. Presenteeism was significantly higher among those who experienced musculoskeletal pain, high emotional demands, discrimination, and psychological adverse social behavior at the workplace. Combined presence of psychological adverse social behavior and musculoskeletal pain was predicted presenteeism, and should be treated as groups with a high risk of presenteeism. Nurses should be aware of high-risk group for presenteeism and treat them as a priority group to manage.

How the Intensity of Night Shift Work Affects Breast Cancer Risk

Background-In 2019, the IARC concluded that "night shift work is probably carcinogenic to humans (Group 2A), based on limited evidence from human epidemiological studies and sufficient evidence of cancer and strong mechanistic evidence in experimental Animals." The negative health consequences of night shift work may depend on how the night shifts are scheduled. The aim of this study was to investigate how the characteristics of night work affect the risk of developing breast cancer. Methods-A case-control study was conducted in 2015-2019 in the Lodz region. The case group included 494 women with breast cancer, while the control group included 515 healthy women. Results-Night work was found to be the third most important factor regarding breast cancer after a high BMI and a short or no breastfeeding period and before factors such as early menstruation, late menopause, no pregnancy, and smoking. The harmful effects of night work were influenced by its intensity, frequency, rotation, and the number of night shift years worked. Night work increases the breast cancer risk by 2.34 times, and high-intensity night work increases the breast cancer risk by 2.66 times. Conclusions-Appropriate ergonomic recommendations for night shift work for employers should be considered.

Attitudes toward overtime work and self-training: A survey on obstetricians and gynecologists in Japan

AIM

The Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare of Japan proposed a regulation of overtime work as a reform in work style. However, the regulation may deteriorate the quality of medical services due to the reduction in training time. Thus, the study aimed to reveal perceptions in terms of generation gaps in views on self-training and overtime work, among members of the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology (JSOG).

METHODS

A web-based, self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted among members of the JSOG. In total, 1256 respondents were included in the analysis. Data were collected on age, sex, experience as a medical doctor, location of workplace, work style, the type of main workplace, and number of full-time doctors in the main workplace. The study examined the attitudes of the respondents toward overtime work and self-training. The respondents were categorized based on experience as a medical doctor.

RESULTS

According to years of experience, 112 (8.9%), 226 (18.0%), 383 (30.5%), 535 (42.6%) doctors have been working for ≤5, 6-10, 11-19, and ≥ 20 years, respectively. Although 54.5% of doctors with ≤5 years of experience expected the regulation on working hours to improve the quality of medical services, those with ≥20 years of experience expressed potential deterioration. After adjusting for covariates, more years of experience were significantly related with the expectation of deterioration in the quality of medical services.

CONCLUSIONS

The study revealed a generation gap in the views about self-training and overtime work among obstetricians and gynecologists in Japan.

Work Stress in NHS Employees: A Mixed-Methods Study

The United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS) has a higher-than-average level of stress-related sickness absence of all job sectors in the country. It is important that this is addressed as work stress is damaging to employees and the organisation, and subsequently impacts patient care. The aim of this study was to gain an in-depth understanding of working conditions and wellbeing in NHS employees from three employing NHS Trusts through a mixed-methods investigation. First, a cross-sectional organisational survey was completed by 1644 respondents. Questions examined working conditions, stress, psychological wellbeing, job satisfaction, and presenteeism. This was followed by 33 individual semistructured interviews with NHS staff from a variety of clinical and nonclinical roles. Quantitative findings revealed that working conditions were generally positive, although most staff groups had high levels of workload. Regression outcomes demonstrated that a number of working conditions influenced mental wellbeing and stress. Three themes were generated from thematic analysis of the interview data: wellbeing at work, relationships, and communication. These highlight areas which may be contributing to workplace stress. Suggestions are made for practical changes which could improve areas of difficulty. Such changes could improve staff wellbeing and job satisfaction and reduce sickness absence.

More than an apple: better lunch enhances bus drivers' work performance and well-being

This study aims to seek affordable solutions to help bus drivers reach their health goals and improve work performance. Guided by Herzberg's motivation theory and self-determination theory, the study investigates ways of reducing the psychological risks bus drivers face by conducting an experiment among them in Shenzhen, China. During the experiment, a serving of fresh fruit (e.g., an apple or a banana) was added to their lunch for 3 weeks. The enhanced lunch helped improve work performance and well-being. Specifically, eating an extra apple or banana was found to reduce depression, and improve self-efficacy and traffic safety. The results indicate that bus drivers could be motivated to work harder as a response to small attention paid to them. This research contributes to a better understanding of food impact on work performance and well-being. It also makes a theoretical contribution to the debate on how hygiene factors may alter job performance.

Analyzing psychological conditions of field-workers in the construction industry

The Korean construction industry has experienced poor labor productivity and high accident rates. Previous studies have reported that workers' mental health can cause negative impacts on work performance; thus, enhancing workers' psychological conditions would help achieve more productive and safer workplaces. This research aimed to understand the level of psychological conditions of construction field-workers using four categories: (1) stress (occupational stress and stress-coping style), (2) personal temperament, (3) emotional disturbance (depression and trait anxiety), and (4) drinking habits. This research used validated questionnaires commonly used in the field of clinical psychology, surveyed 430 respondents from road, bridge, tunnel, subway, and apartment construction sites in Korea, and analyzed the overall psychological tendency of construction workers with the collaboration of professional clinical psychologists using the Z-test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and cross-tabulation. The research also investigated how the mental conditions differed according to different working conditions, such as demographic information, employment status, work types, work experience, and wage conditions. The results indicated that construction workers suffer from a high level of stress and showed high inclination for problem-focused coping: impulsive, cautious, and dependent on other people. Two out of five construction workers suffer from depression and experience trait anxiety. More seriously, three out of five workers show alcohol-use problems that require clinical attention. This study also revealed the particular psychological problems that occur under different working conditions. The findings can be used to promote the awareness of the importance of construction workers' mental well-being and to help in setting targets for improvement.

Pre-injury job characteristics and return to work among injured workers in South Korea: differences by socio-demographic and injury-related characteristics

PURPOSE

This study examined the effect of pre-injury job characteristics on the odds of RTW outcomes for specific socio-demographic and injury-related characteristics among injured workers in South Korea.

METHODS

This study employed first-wave data for 1993 participants from the Panel Study of Workers' Compensation Insurance. A two-step cluster analysis was conducted to profile pre-injury job characteristics, including monthly wages, length of service, company size, contract type, and working hours. For each subsample selected by the characteristics of the independent variables, multinomial logistic regression analyses were performed to predict the odds ratio for being unemployed or working in a new firm versus returning to the pre-injury job, depending on cluster membership.

RESULTS

Two clusters were identified with pre-injury job characteristics. Workers in the unstable employment cluster were more likely than were workers in the stable employment cluster to be unemployed or work in a new firm rather than return to the pre-injury job; this held for all socio-demographic and injury-related characteristics.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results showed a need to develop differential RTW strategies for injured workers in insecure jobs at the time of injury. Implications for rehabilitation Policymakers and rehabilitation practitioners need to take into account not only socio-demographic or injury-related characteristics but also working conditions at the time of injury when designing return-to-work programs for injured workers in South Korea. Injured employees in poor working conditions are relatively more vulnerable in the return-to-work process and deserve special attention and supports from the Korean government. The Korean government needs to review return-to-work policies for injured workers in unstable employment environment in the context of employment relationships rather than individual characteristics.

[From occupational medicine to occupational health: evolution of the concepts]

From occupational medicine to occupational health: evolution of the concepts, what current approach? The evolution of occupational medicine since 1946 shows the evolution of health at work consideration both in the companies and in the society. Directed at first towards an insurance-related approach, she becomes more and more an actor of prevention within health policies. Related to the transformation of working conditions, to increased scientific knowledge thanks to epidemiology, toxicology, ergonomics, psychodynamics at work, the application of European directives relative to the improvement of health and safety at work has been a determining factor for the evolution of the system in France, which had been set up in 2011. The implementation of the multidisciplinary teams and the recent laws consolidate the major role of "health at work" in primary prevention.

[An Exploration of Working Conditions and Flexible System for Hospital Nurses]

BACKGROUND

The lack of sufficient numbers of professional nurses in the healthcare system in Taiwan is an issue that affects the sustainability of this system and that relates closely to working conditions.

PURPOSE

The present study explores the expectations that nurses hold with regard to working conditions and the operation of a flexible system in hospitals.

METHODS

A literature review and focus-group interviews were used to develop the questionnaire Working Conditions and Flexible System. A total of 1,150 copies of this questionnaire were distributed to practicing nurses using stratified random sampling, with 1,146 valid copies returned for a valid recovery rate of 99.65%.

RESULTS

The results show that the expectations of participants concerning working conditions and a flexible system focus on the 6 factors of task, numerical, divisional, temporal, wages, and leading flexibility. The total mean was 4.35 (SD=0.42). The means for the 6 types of flexibility were all greater than 4.0. Participants deemed flexibility to be of high importance. The demographic variables hospital, work location, age, education level, work position, work unit, and total work years all affected the 6 types of flexibility significantly.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study supports that the retention of nurses is significantly associated with working conditions and the operation of a flexible system. Administrators and mangers must create positive working conditions and a flexible system in order to enhance the retention and career development of nurses.

Review article: Staff perception of the emergency department working environment: Integrative review of the literature

Employees in EDs report increasing role overload because of critical staff shortages, budgetary cuts and increased patient numbers and acuity. Such overload could compromise staff satisfaction with their working environment. This integrative review identifies, synthesises and evaluates current research around staff perceptions of the working conditions in EDs. A systematic search of relevant databases, using MeSH descriptors ED/EDs, Emergency room/s, ER/s, or A&E coupled with (and) working environment, working condition/s, staff perception/s, as well as reference chaining was conducted. We identified 31 key studies that were evaluated using the mixed methods assessment tool (MMAT). These comprised 24 quantitative-descriptive studies, four mixed descriptive/comparative (non-randomised controlled trial) studies and three qualitative studies. Studies included varied widely in quality with MMAT scores ranging from 0% to 100%. A key finding was that perceptions of working environment varied across clinical staff and study location, but that high levels of autonomy and teamwork offset stress around high pressure and high volume workloads. The large range of tools used to assess staff perception of working environment limits the comparability of the studies. A dearth of intervention studies around enhancing working environments in EDs limits the capacity to recommend evidence-based interventions to improve staff morale.

Subcontractors and increased risk for work-related diseases and absenteeism

BACKGROUND

Despite increasing reliance on subcontracting in many economic sectors, there is little information available on occupational health and safety issues among subcontractor employees. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of subcontracting on self-reported health problems and absences due to occupational accidents and sickness using a nationally representative sample from South Korea.

METHODS

The data used were sampled from the second wave of the Korean Working Conditions Survey [2010]. Information on 3,282 parent firm employees and 728 subcontractor employees was obtained. For the logistic regression model, the outcomes were work-related health problems and absenteeism. The independent variables were personal and occupational characteristics, job aspects, and working hazards.

RESULTS

Subcontractor employees were significantly more likely to experience health problems than the employee at parent firms. In particular, subcontractors' risk of injuries and anxiety/depression increased twofold (odd ratios, OR=2.01, 95% confidence interval, CIs, 1.24-3.26) and threefold (OR=2.95, 95% CIs 1.52-5.73), respectively, after controlling for potential variables. In addition, subcontractor employees were three times more likely than employees at parent firms to miss work due to illness (OR=3.56; 95% CIs 2.02-6.26). Working conditions, especially those related to job aspects and workplace exposures, attenuated these risks.

CONCLUSION

Subcontracting workers were found to have a higher risk of work-related diseases and a higher absenteeism rate than parent firm workers. Our study highlights the need to protect and improve the occupational health and safety of subcontractor employees.

Working condition and health hazards in beedi rollers residing in the urban slums of Mumbai

BACKGROUND

Beedi rollers are exposed to unburnt tobacco dust through cutaneous and pharyngeal route. They are not aware of their rights. Studies have been conducted on beedi workers but not many studies are carried out in urban areas. Thus, study was carried out to understand working condition and health hazards in beedi workers residing in the urban slums of Mumbai and to know whether beedi roller are in better condition in urban areas.

AIM

To study working condition and health hazard in beedi rollers in the urban slums.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Descriptive, cross-sectional, community based study was carried in the urban slums of Mumbai with population of 8985 from April 2011 to June 2011. With snow balling sampling technique, 52 beedi workers were interviewed regarding their socio-economic status, working conditions and health problems after informed consent. Data entry and statistical analysis were performed using the SPSS windows version 14.0 software.

RESULTS

The mean age was 45 years with SD of 12 years. All were Hindu females. Around 42.31% were illiterate. Mean years of service were 30 years and they work on an average for eight hours. Children were not involved in beedi rolling. Most common morbidity was fatigue. None were aware of the benefits provided for them. Awareness regarding health hazard and safety measures was poor.

CONCLUSIONS

The working condition of beedi rollers in the urban areas is not favourable.

Excessive work and risk of haemorrhagic stroke: a nationwide case-control study

BACKGROUND

Adverse effect of excessive work on health has been suggested previously, but it was not documented in cerebrovascular diseases.

AIM

The authors investigated whether excessive working conditions would associate with increased risk of haemorrhagic stroke.

METHODS

A nationwide matched case-control study database, which contains 940 cases of incident haemorrhagic stroke (498 intracerebral haemorrhages and 442 sub-arachnoid haemorrhages) with 1880 gender- and age- (± 5-year) matched controls, was analysed. Work-related information based on the regular job situation, including type of occupation, regular working time, duration of strenuous activity during regular work and shift work, was gathered through face-to-face interviews. Conditional logistic regression analyses were used for the multivariable analyses.

RESULTS

Compared with white-collar workers, blue-collar workers had a higher risk for haemorrhagic stroke (odds ratio, 1.33 [95% confidence interval, 1.06-1.66]). Longer regular working time was associated with increased risk of haemorrhagic stroke [odds ratio, 1.38 (95% confidence interval, 1.05-1.81) for 8-12 h/day; odds ratio, 1.95 (95% confidence interval, 1.33-2.86) for ≥ 13 h/day; compared with ≤ 4 h/day]. Exposure to ≥ 8 h/week of strenuous activity also associated haemorrhagic stroke risk [odds ratio, 1.61 (95% confidence interval, 1.26-2.05); compared with no strenuous activity]. Shift work was not associated with haemorrhagic stroke (P = 0.98). Positive associations between working condition indices and haemorrhagic stroke risk were consistent regardless of haemorrhagic stroke sub-types and current employment status.

CONCLUSIONS

Blue-collar occupation, longer regular working time and extended duration of strenuous activity during work may relate to an increased risk of haemorrhagic stroke.