Search

Hairdressers are exposed to awkward posture, prolonged standing, long working hours and chemical hazards capable of causing adverse health effects. The present study aimed to evaluate hairdressers' safety and health risks. The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional and analytical design. Systematic random sampling was used to select salons and hairdressers. Closed and open-ended questionnaires were distributed to 286 hairdressers who consented to participate in the study. An observation checklist, WISHA caution checklist, thermometer, light meter and noise level meter were used to collect data in the sampled salon. Data were analyzed descriptively and with regression analysis. It was found that the average space for salons was 8.79 m2, and 68.5% of hairdressers work for long hours (11-12 hours). It was established that 5.48% of salons have an adequate amount of light and that 8.22% of salons have high temperatures. Aprons were the most used personal protective equipment by hairdressers. Manual handling of salon equipment and awkward posture cause musculoskeletal disorders among hairdressers. Their odd ratios impacting the health and safety of hairdressers were 2.706 and 2.728, respectively. The study reveals that hairdressing salon designs, space, lighting, and temperatures affect the health and safety of hairdressers. The hours off work and minimal or no breaks also have negative impacts on the health and safety of hairdressers

The Occupational Health and Safety Authority (OHSA) was established in Malta in 2002. Since then, trends indicate that non-fatal accidents have decreased in Malta, while changes in fatal accidents are less clear. Since these trends have not been statistically investigated before, this study aims to do so. The study also aims to analyse the link between specific OHSA deterrent measures and changes in non-fatal accidents. A database compiled by the OHSA on the frequency of accident statistics in Malta and OHSA deterrent measures between 2002 and 2022 was analysed. The study demonstrated that the incidence of fatal and non-fatal accidents decreased significantly during the analysed period. The incidence of non-fatal accidents was more common in the transport and storage sector, the construction sector and the manufacturing sector. Fatal accidents were most frequent within the construction sector. Fatal accidents were common among the self-employed and foreign workers. Deterrents, especially those related to inspections and fines, were significantly associated with a decrease in fatal and non-fatal accidents. The study underscores those accidents have declined significantly since the establishment of the OHSA and demonstrates the benefits of specific deterrent measures. Continued focus is required on specific areas, including the construction sector, self-employed workers and foreign workers.

This study aimed to find the factors affecting the fruit vendor’s safety measures and sanitation facilities during COVID-19 in Bangladesh. A quantitative research design was used to conduct this study. Random sampling techniques were executed to collect data from 416 fruit vendors through a field survey. The study reveals that 87% of the fruit vendors took safety measures during COVID-19. Most of them had better sanitation facilities at home compared to their workplaces. Their safety measures and sanitation facilities were associated with socioeconomic backgrounds. Age, type of house, place of business, and receiving financial support influenced fruit vendors’ safety measures. Sanitation facilities at home were affected by their sex, schooling, types of houses, and working hours. Types of houses, family income, and business duration impacted the workplace's sanitation facilities. Their socio-demographic and economic situations affected fruit vendors' safety measures and sanitation facilities during COVID-19. Fear of death and government market mechanisms also might have played a significant role in measuring the different steps against Coronavirus infection. Health and hygiene rules prescribed by the authorities should be followed strictly to avoid dire situations during the pandemic. Both government and non-government initiatives should be given the utmost priority to create sanitation awareness, whether about personal cleanliness or workplace hygiene and paired with financial support.

Stressors from everyday life, along with those from work and academic environment, may compromise the mental health and well-being of allied health professionals. With this study, we tried to estimate the prevalence and factors associated with burnout and depression among students of Bachelor of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy in Delhi NCR region. This cross-sectional study was carried out among 197 students pursuing a Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT) and Occupational Therapy (BOT) in Delhi, NCR region. Data collection was online, using Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OLBI) and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) to assess burnout and depression, respectively, along with basic socio-demographic information. Data analysis was carried out on Stata 15.1. Prevalence was estimated, and factors associated with Burnout and depression were explored using Linear and logistic regression models, respectively. Among 197 participants, the majority were females and the mean age was 22 years. The prevalence of burnout and depression was 79.7% (95% CI: 73.4, 84.7) and 66.5% (95% CI: 59.6, 72.7), respectively. Some factors, like experiencing symptoms of physical exhaustion and satisfaction with academic support from faculty at college, were associated with both burnout and depression separately. The prevalence of burnout and depression among BPT/BOT students in Delhi, NCR, was alarming yet comparable to other health professionals in India and globally. The study provides a narrative of these issues along with associated factors identified among the study population. A need for a longitudinal study to establish a causal association of factors with burnout and depression among this study population is iterated.

A commitment to safety is not a once-a-year endeavor that requires minimum training or awareness, but rather, it is a comprehensive concern for all stakeholders. Every business should provide a safe environment for their workers. This paper provides an overview of safety concerns, legal requirements, and best practices based on a review of the literature and government fatality data in the workplace, especially in the construction industry. Managers and human resource professionals must ensure their workplace places are as safe as possible. Using personality assessments to identify high-safety risk professionals can be one tool in their toolbox for creating and sustaining a safe and healthy work environment.

According to previous studies, the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms among call center operators is high. However, although this is a developing occupation in Portugal, there is a lack of studies assessing this issue as well as its associations with different risk factors. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the 7-day and 12-month prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms among Portuguese call center operators and their associations with gender, body mass index, hours of work and sitting time. The study was conducted in a call center company in Portugal. One-hundred and forty-eight workers agreed to participate, and filled out questionnaires to evaluate sociodemographic, anthropometric, and occupational variables, as well as the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) to assess musculoskeletal symptoms in the last 7 days and 12 months of 9 body regions. NMQ revealed the 12-month prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms, the 3 most affected body regions were the neck (56.1%), the low back (54.7%) and the shoulders (43.9%). And the 7-day prevalence, the three most affected body region were the same, but in different percentages: low back (31.8%), neck (23.6%) and shoulders (21.6%). Significant associations were found between gender and reporting symptoms in the wrist/hands (p=0.033) and the knees (p=0.031), with females reporting significantly more symptoms than males; and between body mass index and reporting symptoms in the thighs/hips, with overweight operators reporting more symptoms (p=0.010). No significant associations were found for the hours of work, neither in sitting time. Conclusion: Workplace interventions are needed to decrease the prevalence of musculoskeletal complaints among call center workers.

The COVID-19 pandemic can produce considerable impacts on the mental health of healthcare professionals, as they face several stressors at work. Purpose: This study aims to assess Brazilian healthcare professionals’ mental health and quality of life. Method: participants were divided into four groups according to their occupational fields: administrative(n=129), emergency (n=39), primary care (n=257) and specialties (n=51). Participants completed a sociodemographic questionnaire, the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF and the Self-Reporting Questionnaire. Data analysis: Data were analyzed with Variance Analysis, Chi-square, and linear and logistic regressions. Results: Results showed that health providers have an average quality of life but presented high rates of mental disorders, especially those working in emergency and primary care. Some risk factors, such as demographic (gender, age, educational attainment, marital status), lifestyle (physical activity, diet, religion, social support, leisure), and labor (job satisfaction, job congruence, presence of deaths at work) were observed. Conclusions: This research shows the importance of designing specific psychological interventions for this population, which seems to be at risk for more severe mental conditions.

Faced with health pandemic, companies producing goods and / or services must continue their activities to ensure their sustainability. They must organize accordingly by putting in place an organization and working means and hygiene in the company remains the most effective means of preventing risks. In this context, this article proposes implementation of a behavior hygiene and prevention model during the COVID-19 and post COVID-19 periods. Indeed, preserving human potential in the workplace is a fundamental performance lever to boost economy and company must take appropriate preventive measures. The adopted approach is based on the 5S method, which the main objective is continuous improvement of company's activities, thus offering an adequate solution to reduce risks in terms of health and safety. Besides the economic aspect, the proposed sustainable model is also part of pedagogical perspective for educating the population over time.

The construction industry is complex, dynamic, multicultural, and full of diverse activities and dangerous machinery. Many accidents occur because of limiting factors, such as safety and health culture, requirements, poor training of workers, and the restricted technologies implemented to prevent, plan, and monitor risks. Building Information Modelling (BIM) is recognised to enhance project management, planning, and inspection, reduce time and costs, strengthen collaboration, and decrease risks and accidents. A wide array of BIM-based tools and technologies with various functionalities are being investigated to enhance construction workers' health and safety. Among such technologies and methods are tracking devices, Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR), automated rule checking, risk identification and Artificial Intelligence (AI). A systematic review following PRISMA Statement is proposed, aiming to investigate the current BIM-based technologies and evaluate effectiveness and usability within the Architecture, Engineering, Construction and Operations (AECO) industry to enhance occupational health and safety status. Consequently, this PRISMA Protocol (PRISMA-P) represents a complementary document to the systematic review that will be developed. Related articles will be gathered from top electronic databases in construction, safety, and health fields. Moreover, the literature review will focus on the BIM and associated technologies utilised in the AECO sector, exploring the construction fields, targeted groups and the system architectures developed. Likewise, examine the evaluation methods of the implemented tools to assess each technology's effectiveness. Finally, after stating the limitations of each study, the article will propose a safety and health framework involving the most efficient tools involving the whole project lifecycle.

Fused deposition modelling, or 3D printing, is an additive manufacturing technique that is quickly gaining popularity because of its ability to produce usable parts with several geometries. It provides multiple advantages in everyday life. However, the emerging risks of using 3D printers at home is an issue that needs to be addressed. It is estimated that a person spends, on average, 80-90% of their time inside a building, up to 60% of that time is at home. Therefore it is essential to control the pollutants in the indoor environment. This paper evaluated the Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and nanoparticle emissions during 3D printing with the most common Poly-Lactic Acid (PLA) and Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) materials. Real-time aerosol monitors were used to characterise particulate emission, and laboratory analysis was used to check the VOCs levels. During printing, an increase of VOCs and nanoparticles was observed. This increase was more significant during printing with ABS filaments than during printing with PLA filaments. The nanoparticles size emitted for the ABS filament was smaller than the particles emitted for the PLA filament. A carcinogen substance like benzene was found during printing. The pollutants levels observed may cause health problems, and it is recommended that printing be avoided without engineering controls in place, e.g. a good ventilation and extraction system.

Introduction: Considerable media attention has recently focused on an increased number of professional athletes that experience forced retirement due to severe injuries. Despite the highly completive, physical nature and tolerance of risk in contact sports, no Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) awareness-related measurement instrument exists in professional sports. As part of a wider project, this study aimed to develop a survey instrument to evaluate risk and safety awareness in sports, taking elite rugby (union) as an example. Methods: Based on the identified conceptual framework incorporating theories from the OSH discipline, the survey has been updated for three rounds according to the feedback from a multidisciplinary team of experts before the pilot test. The pilot test data (n=46, response rate 76.7%) were imported to SPSS for analysis and validation. The survey's key themes included health outlook, tackle behavior, awareness of risk acceptance, reasons for risk-taking, and safety consideration for other players. Results: Overall, the survey has a high internal consistency (Cronbach's α= 0.742). Some sections of the survey require a further factor analysis, such as awareness of risk acceptance during the competition (Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin Measure of Sampling Adequacy - KMO

Construction work is one of the most hazardous industries worldwide. Accidents, incidents, injuries, occupational diseases, and illnesses at work represent a significant burden for various stakeholders, including society. Different project management approaches have been introduced to facilitate construction work and occupational safety (OS) in practice. This study focuses on OS in construction alliance projects. Alliances are an emerging new form of a project delivery method in construction. In construction alliance projects, the project stakeholders collaborate with mutual interest to achieve the best result for the entire project. Alliance projects are a relatively new mode of project deliveries in construction. A systematic literature review was conducted using Scopus, Web of Science and PubMed—to learn how OS has been acknowledged in alliance projects. The literature review shows the scarcity of research in this area. To in-depth the review, personal interviews were conducted at two large alliance projects in Finland. Interviews bring out the complex nature of OS management in alliances and highlight issues related to partner selection and site-specific OS management within alliances. This study deepens the very limited scientific knowledge of OS in alliance projects. By drawing together the existing knowledge on the topic, new insights are provided on developing OS management in alliance projects. In addition, several new arenas for novel empirical research in the field of OS in construction and the alliance context are proposed.

Introduction. Small fibre neuropathy (SFN) is a heterogeneous condition involving the thinly-myelinated Aδ and unmyelinated C-fibres, characterised by pain and altered temperature sensation and perception. Toxins such as alcohol and chemotherapeutic agents are known causes of SFN, with research into other toxic aetiologies well underway. Pathologists are routinely exposed to a variety of organic solvents, such as xylene, acetone and methanol, which potentially lead to the development of SFN. Methods. We performed a retrospective review of all pathologists who were treated at the SFN clinic in our hospital between January 2020 and May 2021. Their clinical presentation, disease course, treatment and outcomes were described. Results. Three patients with SFN were identified. These patients experienced somatic symptoms of SFN such as burning pain, paraesthesia and autonomic symptoms including tachycardia and postural hypotension. Normal nerve conduction studies indicated intact large nerve fibres. Abnormal SFN tests including quantitative sensory testing, quantitative sudomotor axonal testing, and tilt table testing contributed to the diagnosis of SFN. Inflammatory and autoimmune markers were raised in two of the three pathologists. Toxicology screens performed later were negative, possibly indicating that blood solvent concentrations had decreased to undetectable levels over time. Administration of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) resulted in an improvement in symptoms and functional outcomes. Conclusion. Chronic exposure to organic solvents in the routine job scope of pathologists may lead to the development of SFN. Awareness of this hazard is imperative in order to ensure occupational safety.

The offshore environment is a high-risk and demanding workplace exposing crew members to various physical and psychological stressors. Health and safety programs are implemented to prevent accidents and promote well-being among personnel. This study aims to determine the association between vital exhaustion and psychosocial health among offshore workers in the Philippines. Quantitative non-experimental descriptive correlational design was used and standardized questionnaires namely: Maastricht Vital Exhaustion (MVEQ) and Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaires (COPSOQ III) were utilized to gather data from fifty-five respondents (54 male; Mage = 42.69). Majority of them are assigned in the maintenance and marine departments with an average offshore experience of 11.69 years. Offshore workers have low vital exhaustion (VE) levels and good psychosocial health (PH) scores. Highest recorded scores for PH fall under Influence and Development, Outcome Scales and Interpersonal relations and leadership. Lower mean scores in Further Parameters and Demands at work also translate to favourable PH. There was a significant relationship among four PH scales and VE levels of respondents. There was also a significant relationship between VE and the demographic profile of offshore workers in terms of job assignment and work type however there was no significant association between PH and all demographic variables considered in the study. Majority of the participants claimed that environmental conditions are well-designed and safety concerns are managed appropriately in the workplace. The responses from offshore personnel provide a clear picture of their overall health. The resilience and camaraderie among the all-Filipino crew played a major role in keeping their VE levels low and promoting good PH scores.

Complementary protective measures are of increasing importance with rising degree of automation. As free robots become part of our daily life in industry, on shop floors and beyond, the overall safety of persons has to be ensured. However, assessing the reliability of complementary safety functions remains a challenge, particularly when humans are in the loop. The paper shows how to use the eye-tracking methodology to gain data for assessing the reliability of the human interaction with machine interfaces for complementary protective measures. The paper first identifies factors relevant for eye-tracking, then selects related eye tracking test parameters and finally provides a systematic procedure to assess both, in particular regarding visibility and susceptibility. The methodology is applied and the parameter selection is validated. It is found that in particular the identified and measured parameters fixation count for area of interest (AOI) and the associated average visit duration can be used to assess the factor perceptibility. The parameter deviation of fixation can thereby be used to assess usability. Based on this, a full-scale eye-tracking assessment is proposed for the reliability of the interaction of humans with the machine interfaces of supplementary protective measures. In summary, the preliminary test run execution shows that eye-tracking technology is a promising method for measuring and quantifying the human reliability when interacting with safety-related human-machine interfaces.

The “Safety Score Permit” (SSP) is a new tool that focuses on behaviour and is based on a point system which allows individual performance’s tracking, thus encouraging safe actions. The present study aims at verifying the applicability and practical validation of the first SSP version; the ultimate goal is to evaluate its coverage within different industrial contexts and identify limitations and opportunities for improvement. A pilot implementation was conducted in three large companies, presented as three case studies. The records of safety behaviour observations (SBO) of each case were analysed to verify if all the “observed deviations” fitted into the classes and subclasses typified in the system. Although the study basis was the same in all three cases, in two of them the research was based on existing SBO records collected in 2019, whilst in the 3rd case there was a much higher interaction throughout the work. In this case, the process was started from scratch, including the SBO procedure, its monitoring and subsequent data analysis, to create the necessary conditions for the implementation of the full system. The results obtained revealed that, in general, the SSP platform has the ability to cover most deviations identified in an organization. The system has the potential to become a useful and transparent tool to monitor employees’ safety performance at all hierarchical levels; it also helps to identify weaknesses in the companies’ OHS processes. This work was essentially exploratory but it shed light on how to improve the system further and also unveiled new opportunities. A key issue to enhance SSP as a management tool is to expand its scope to all types of human errors, thus offering better support to strategic OHS decisions.

Background: Workers who are exposed to high levels of noise should consider wearing HPDs when elimination of noise cannot be put in place. There are several factors including health and safety management systems, peers and policy that could influence workers to either use or not use HPDs. Objectives: To determine worker’s perception of noise risk in a mining setting and to determine if there is an association between organisational rules, knowledge, and the wearing of Hearing Protection Devices (HPDs). Methods: A cross- sectional study was conducted at a mining setting in Ireland in which 116 workers participated; a self-administered questionnaire survey was used. Data analysis was carried out using descriptive statistics and binary regression analysis. Results: The study had a response rate of 94% of the entire population. The mean exposure to noise levels that require HPDs is 5.32 hours. The results showed an association between using HPDs and organisation rules; and no association between preventing abnormal hearing, perceived influences in the workplace, knowledge and information. Conclusion: Factors that can influence workers likelihood to wear HPDs are organisation rules; this is unaffected by the influence of colleagues. Each company should have a clear policy to encourage workers to wear HPDs for preventing Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL). Application: The findings highlighted that a company’s health and safety policy is important to encourage employees to wear HPDs. Mine settings or noisy workplaces should have transparent policies for employees to follow and benefit their hearing health, even if an employee is not aware of the full content of a policy, aspects are known.

Background: This study was conducted to demonstrate the importance of occupational health and safety (OHS) management in construction project environments, taking into account the successful development of those projects. The associated problems in OHS management projects were also studied, as substantial empirical research has shown this is a complex theme with a large number of associated factors. Methods: In this study three projects developed in the Portuguese petrochemical industry were analysed using documentary analysis, on-going interaction with workers and direct observations of work activity. A systematic literature review was also carried out. Results: Strengths and weaknesses related to OHS management of the three analysed projects were identified. Grounded on the case studies results a proposal of OHS management in construction projects, in a recommendations format, is also presented. Conclusion: Good results from OHS management in projects can be obtained as long as it is focused on success factors such as: top management commitment; line responsibility; involvement of all employees and, mainly, of direct and indirect managers. Well-defined OHS responsibilities; a well sized and structured organization and the creation of an honest, healthy, motivating and useful OHS environment team with a competent and dynamic coordinator leader are also important success factors.

Background: Hexavalent chromium compounds are sensitizers of the skin and lung. Chronic exposure to hexavalent chromium compounds is associated with respiratory effects and ulceration and perforation of the nasal septum. Such compounds are also considered carcinogens of the lung and nasal and paranasal sinus. Objectives: To demonstrate the importance of studying occupational and non-occupational exposure when assessing the concentration of substances in the urine. Case study: A study was conducted of environmental chromium concentrations in the workplace. In addition, an occupational medical examination was performed, recording activities inside and outside the workplace, eating habits, blood lead and urine chromium at the beginning and end of the workday. Results: One worker exposed to lead chromate presented high chromium concentrations in urine (up to 62 µg/l before the working day and 52 µg/l at the end of the working day). Environmental chromium concentrations in the workplace were below 0.25 µg/m3. In view of the results, a full study was conducted of the patient’s habits outside work. He reported having bought a kilo of a medicinal herb infusion at a street market three weeks previously. The concentration of total chromium in the prepared infusion was 12000 µg/l. The patient stopped consuming the medicinal herb. Subsequently, the urine chromium analysis was below 0.5 µg/l. Discussion and Conclusions: This case is interesting because it demonstrates that the consumption of medicinal herbs can interfere with biological monitoring of workers exposed to hexavalent chromium compounds. This may give rise to confusion and can also create legal problems for companies and workers. It is important to provide advice to workers and to investigate their habits outside work, especially when there is a discrepancy between environmental and biological values. In this case, the increase in urinary chromium is due to the consumption of medicinal herbs.

Building Information Modelling (BIM) is used in construction projects to improve efficiency. In general, it improves project management and monitoring, reduces time and costs, strengthens collaboration among stakeholders, and reduces risks and injuries. Sensor technologies with various functionalities are being implemented in the construction site. Technologies such as tracking workers and transmitting real-time site inspections to support the BIM tools in various fields are being used. To evaluate sensor technologies’ usability and effectiveness in Architecture, Engineering, Construction and Operations (AECO) sector, a literature review adapting PRISMA Statement is proposed. Consequently, this document represents a complementary manuscript as a PRISMA Protocol (PRISMA-P). Relevant articles are collected from top electronic databases in the construction field. This review aims to investigate the sensor connected BIM models and the technologies being utilised in the AECO sector, investigating the targeted groups, construction field, and the system architectures being used. Furthermore, the study will examine the case studies of the implemented sensors to evaluate each technology’s effectiveness. Finally, the reliability of the tools and future proposals is projected.

Lebanon and Northern Cyprus are two developing regions where both have been witnessing an increase in population size and medium-rise buildings. Therefore, workers and construction sites increase, which makes workers more vulnerable to various fatal/non-fatal accidents. The effective and efficient management of health and safety is crucial for all projects undertaken under significant risk levels. This study investigates the Occupational Health and Safety regulations and how both countries deal with them to achieve maximum knowledge regarding construction health and safety. The data collected based on personal observations by site visits and conducting brief face-to-face informal interviews. Both oral interviews and observations are informal data collection methods but are suitable for certain kinds of data collection methods or techniques. The most common type of accident is falling from heights, electrical shocks that occur in construction sites of both countries. The findings of this research work proved that accidents could be prevented and even eliminated if all the required safety precautions are implemented. The root causes of the accidents need to be identified, and effective prevention measures should be taken to minimize the frequency and intensity of the accidents. This will surely improve the safety performance of the personnel on construction sites.

Industry 4.0 has shaped the way people look at the world and interact with it, especially concerning the work environment with respect to occupational safety and health (OSH). Machine learning (ML), as a branch of Artificial Intelligence (AI), can be effectively used to create expert systems to exhibit intelligent behavior to provide solutions to complicated problems and finally process massive data. Therefore, a study is proposed to provide the best methodological practice in the light of ML. Alongside the review of previous investigations, the following research aims to determine the ML approaches appropriate to OSH issues. In other words, highlighting specific ML methodologies, which have been employed successfully in others areas. Bearing this objective in mind, one can identify an appropriate ML technique to solve a problem in the OSH domain. Accordingly, several questions were designed to conduct the research. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) extension for Protocols and Systematic Reviews were used to draw the research outline. The chosen databases were SCOPUS, PubMed, Science Direct, Inspect, and Web of Science. A set of keywords related to the topic were defined, and both exclusion and inclusion criteria were determined. All of the eligible papers will be analyzed, and the extracted information will be included in an Excel form sheet. The results will be presented in a narrative-based form. Additionally, all tables summarizing the most important findings will be offered.

On March 11, 2020 the World Health Organisation declared the SARS-CoV-2 viral outbreak a pandemic. This rapid review aimed to identify the pandemic's impact on frontline healthcare workers during the viral outbreak's initial months. Database searches December 1, 2019 to August 29, 2020 retrieved 18 relevant studies. Findings showed that healthcare workers internationally were negatively impacted by the pandemic. Compared to non-frontline healthcare workers a significantly greater proportion of frontline healthcare workers experienced: burnout, stress, and stressors regarding: childcare, job interference with work-family balance and difficulty getting off-duty time. Compared to male physicians, a significantly greater proportion of female physicians scored low for psychological well-being. Mean scores for stress were significantly higher among females and young healthcare workers (22 to 35 years). Mean scores for anxiety were significantly higher for: nurses compared to technicians, healthcare workers reporting extreme lack of protective equipment and those aged > 30 years. The prevalence of depression among frontline healthcare workers across studies in this review ranged from 9% to 51%. The prevalence of sleep issues ranged from 24% to 60% with some reporting nightmares. However, these studies lack homogeneity. Healthcare workers experienced fear of: contracting the virus (89.8%), spreading it to family (91.3%) and fear of an uncontrollable epidemic (86.8%). Over 90% reported skin lesions due to prolonged use of personal protective equipment. Many lost their lives to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. One prominent impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is the reported loss of healthcare worker's lives and this paper wishes to pay them tribute.

Occupational noise-induced hearing loss (ONIHL) is one of the most recognised occupational diseases globally. Mining and earthworks are among those with the greatest impact in this matter. A systematic review addressing the noise exposure characterisation, in order to develop a preventive design, is being proposed in this protocol. The Preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis protocols (PRISMA-P) guidelines were used to draw the research outline, where the study and report characteristics are provided. All of the selected keywords and databases/journals were priorly identified and are now presented. The search methodology is clarified, and an example for Scopus is provided. A methodology to deal with bias within studies is proposed, and all the systematic review narrative processes of the systematic review are discussed in the protocol, including information that will be extracted from the selected records. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis guidelines will be used to help develop the review.

This article examines a network approach to sustainably developing suppliers in the context of a Finnish industrial cluster. The approach (HSEQ AP) aims to assess and develop the health, safety, environmental and quality-related capabilities of the suppliers of the buying companies that form the cluster. In this study, the impact of this approach, which has been operating for more than a decade, is examined through a mixed-methods approach. Suppliers that have been audited two times or more (n = 29) were quantitatively analyzed in terms of safety performance, consecutive assessment scores and the relationship between assessment scores and financial indicators. To support the quantitative analyses, interviews were conducted with buyers and suppliers. The results suggest that the HSEQ AP can be linked to improvement in operational results and to enhancing social sustainability in the supply network, and that the suppliers and buyers generally find it a worthy investment. The antecedents for this network approach are partially similar to supplier development in general: Buyer demonstration of commitment, particularly through purchasing processes, is crucial and not fully realized in all cases. The use of a competent, trained third-party assessor was seen to bring value, and the suppliers also rated buyer participation very highly. Interestingly, no significant improvement was found regarding environmental capabilities. The HSEQ AP can be viewed as a CSR practice, but the results show there could be further potential to unlock.

Thermal comfort affects satisfaction in the workplace, which impacts work efficiency and productivity. Since office workers spend most of their working hours performing sedentary tasks, a scoping review is proposed to contextualize how thermal sensation and thermal comfort are experimentally assessed in the scientific literature. This work presents the scoping review protocol for the scoping review. It follows the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses for systematic review protocols (PRISMA-P). The scoping review will be elaborated based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR). The scoping review will consider peer-reviewed articles written in English, published or in-press. Grey literature and conference papers will be excluded. Only studies performing the experimental assessment of thermal sensation and thermal comfort of human subjects engaged in sedentary activities within homogeneous environments will be considered suitable for the scoping review. Studies will be retrieved from the Journal Storage (JSTOR), PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. The search strategy will consist of the use of the expression ("thermal comfort" OR "therm* sensation" OR "thermosensation") AND ("sedentary" or "office work*" or "office task*"). After removing duplicates, the remaining studies will have their title, abstract, and keywords screened. Studies meeting the eligibility criteria will be selected for full-text screening. Data items will be summarized using summary tables, and their reporting will consider the PRISMA-ScR checklist. The scoping review aims to summarize the existing scientific evidence and identify research needs to experimentally assess the thermal sensation and the thermal comfort of subjects performing sedentary tasks.

Shift work has become a common practice across many sectors during the past decades as a result of the growing demands of human life. There are many possibilities to organize shift schedules, however, all of them, some more than others, impose serious impacts on the individual´s health, social life and organization level. Thus, we conducted a review using Scopus, Science Direct and Web of Science, and using the keywords and criteria deemed appropriate, with the main objective of identifying the main consequences that have been positively associated with shift work at several domains to this day. The results of this review indicated that shift work and everything that this type of work implies, can lead to severe health consequences, namely sleep disorders, psychiatric disorders, gastrointestinal disturbances, metabolic disorders, cardiovascular disease, urologic disorders and even some types of cancer. These health consequences arise due to the disruption of the circadian clock system, which is associated with alterations at genetic level. Moreover, shift work also causes impacts in social life, as the individual may experience more difficulties in socializing with family and friends, which may lead to isolation and organization level, as excessive sleepiness, stress and dissatisfaction may lead to a detriment of the performance and alertness, which may result in more accidents. In conclusion, considering the nefarious effects that this type of organization of working time can impose, primarily for the worker, but also for the worker’s family and also organization in which this works, it is crucial that the organization seek to protect the worker safety and health, which can be achieved by consultation the working physician but also with the use of tools that allow monitoring the worker health and general cognitive state.

While economic slowdown challenges stock-markets and the wider economic and financial system, significant pressure is posed to labour market challenging also working conditions. Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) is not given the appropriate importance, especially in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This study attempts to describe and analyse the complex interactions between some of the factors that determine occupational safety and health, based on previous models of social risk amplification/attenuation as well as the risk perception factor. The model is applied for the case of Greece during recession. The proposed approach explains the lack of measures taken during a variety of challenging situations and the reasoning behind the regarded significance that is given or not given to specific situations. This case study identified the dominant factors that predispose and trigger or casually affect the amplification/attenuation of risk and can significantly affect the lay public. Those were found to be the media, the National Labour Inspectorate (NLI) and legislation. Social media were also found to have the potential for supporting both proactive regulatory actions and capacity-building for social dialogue.

This paper analyses the content of fatal electrical accident records (n=157) in Finland during the years 1980–2019 in order to identify and classify accident types and causes. During the 40-year period, the death rate from electrical accidents has decreased from 0.29 per 100,000 people per year to 0.00-0.07 in the last decade. The number of accidents rooting from accidentally touching live parts and by making illegal electrical installations has plummeted. Of all fatalities, 37% could probably have been prevented if the circuit had been protected with a residual current device, which is now mandatory in new installations. The most common electrical accident in 2010–2019 was an electric shock from a railway overhead power line. Of fatal electrical accidents, 76% occur between April and September and 92.5% of victims are male. Child casualties are very rare. The level of electrical safety can be considered acceptable, but educating the public still has room for improvement.

Automation of assembly work was originally developed to increase operation efficiency and to reduce workload. However, a considerable number of unanticipated ergonomic problems have been observed such as the interaction between humans and automated systems. The aims of this study were to quantify joint angle positions (shoulder, elbow and wrist) of workers in two assembly lines with different mechanization levels and analyse the performance of an inertial motion capture system. Seven experienced female assemblers participated in this study. The measurements were performed in the workplace with a full-body inertial measurement system (Xsens MVN BIOMECH system). Maximum cross-correlation between angle-time courses was calculated to quantify the waveform similarities. In manual line, there are larger variations of joint angles than in the semi-automatic one. The analysis of cross correlation coefficients revealed that electromagnetic interferences are potential limitations to the use of these systems under field conditions.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is characterized by interruption of breath during sleep. OSAS is related to hypertension, type II diabetes and obesity. This disease has various implications on patient’s quality of life. The gold standard for OSAS treatment is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). Due to the high level of patients that complain about CPAP therapy, mandibular advancement devices could play an important role in OSAS treatment. Objectives: The purpose of this review is to appraise scientific evidence concerning the effectiveness of Mandibular Advancement Devices (MADs) for OSAS treatment and look over MADs designs that are currently being used scanning for its efficacy. Data sources: Five databases will be accessed (SCOPUS, PubMed, Web of Science, Science Direct and Wiley Online Library) and 6 keywords will be combined. Study eligibility and criteria: This systematic review will only include study’s developed with humans diagnosed with OSAS and with more than eighteen years old. English is the only language accepted. Study appraisal and synthesis methods: Studies assessment will be made by two authors (HCS and FM) and organized in three different parts: screen all articles; screen all abstracts, screen all full texts. In all phases articles that don’t have interest for this systematic review will be excluded. Two review authors (HCS and FM) will also assess the risk of bias and the quality of evidence, taking as a reference the Cochrane Collaboration’s Tool.

Background: Medicine and Physical Education can work together to solve many health problems. Bodybuilding is a multidisciplinary area whose goals can range from body development to the correction of postural problems and the resolution of various pathologies related to human movement. In the case in analysis, the patient presented (at rest) localized pain (twinges) in the anterior face of the left knee, with an intensity of five (0-10 scale), without phlogistic signs, which worsens when performing the squat, hindering him from leaving the bed without pain. Symptoms were exacerbated when descending stairs. Through anamnesis and directed physical examination, it were considered the possible differential diagnosis of pain in the anterior portion of the knee: Diseases in menisci, anterior and posterior cruciate ligament injuries, diseases of knee collateral ligaments, diseases of knee cartilage, diseases of patellar tendon tendinitis and patellar chondromalacia. After a correct diagnosis of patellofemoral pain syndrome, a conservative treatment was performed using bodybuilding. The results were positive after four months of treatment. From this case, it can be concluded that bodybuilding can be an alternative solution for the conservative treatment of Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

Research on the use of surface electromyography (sEMG) for analyzing the effects of Manual Therapy (MT) seems to have very dispersed intentions. The development of data collection protocols using sEMG might not be stable for conducting clinical studies. This study aimed to evaluate the current literature using surface sEMG in the context of MT and verify if it is a useful tool to verify its effectiveness. Also, to assess the methodologic quality and reporting standards and make a reflective analysis of how this technique has been used for this treatment modality. A computerized search was performed in May 2017 and repeated in June 2018, the search was performed in 8 electronic databases following PRISMA protocol. Thirty-one papers were included. More and better-designed studies are needed to create improved protocols. Further exploration and validation of these protocols may help to conduct more reliable clinically driven trials and it may inform policymakers of the role of MT in health care. The detection of clinically meaningful electrical alterations in muscles seems to be the main objective of most authors. Several sEMG items were not reported, and overall methodology quality was low.

Occupational safety and health (OSH) have constantly changed and evolved throughout the industrial revolutions and in recent years. The aim of this systematic literature review was to give an overview of future OSH challenges in industrialized countries. A search within the Scopus database returned 31 peer-reviewed journal articles published since 2014 on new and emerging OSH risks and challenges in the future. A review of articles identified future overall OSH challenges, OSH challenges caused by climate change, and OSH challenges related to sustainable development and responsibility. In addition, branch-specific challenges in industries and health care were determined. Individual employees can experience a wide range of OSH challenges from heat stress to poison absorption, musculoskeletal disorders, increased psychosocial load, ergonomic issues, and unexpected accidents and injuries. OSH management is discussed and future studies proposed.

Psychological stress can be viewed as occurring when demands exceed an individual's adaptive capacity. Burnout is an occupational syndrome defined by three dimensions, emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and feelings of low personal accomplishment. Factors related to the nature of the physiotherapy practice, in which health care is provided to patients under painful experiences and chronical conditions, to aspects related to emotional fatigue brought by interpersonal exchanges or physical exhaustion due to staff shortage, within an increasingly demanding health care system, expose physiotherapists to a higher risk of burnout and few studies have examined burnout in this specific setting. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence of burnout in Portuguese physiotherapists and to explore possible associations between burnout and demographic and work-related variables. Significant but weak association was found between age and emotional exhaustion, and between clinical experience and emotional exhaustion and global burnout score. Weak association was also found between the number of treated patients daily and daily working hours and physical fatigue and global burnout. Workload was associated with significantly higher scores of physical fatigue, cognitive weariness and global burnout. The prevalence of burnout was not high but significant differences were found in the prevalence of physical fatigue between the group with low workload and high workload. Emotional exhaustion was the most relevant predictor of the global burnout score. In conclusion, the results suggest that the prevalence of burnout in Portuguese physiotherapists is not very high, however, workload seems to place these professionals at a higher risk of developing burnout.

The activity of waste collection is fundamental for preserving human health and the environment. As the world population increases, so does the waste production, consequently leading to a higher number of professionals involved in the collection activity. The objective of this study was to identify the main causes of accidents in urban waste collection and to verify if the implementation of containers would reduce the number of accidents in the sector. The causes were identified by analyzing accidents in two waste-collection companies for 4 years. Company A had 3,859 employees with 756 registered accident cases, while company B had 2020 workers with 189 cases. In total, it was analyzed 945 accident cases from urban waste collection. One municipality from company A which implemented the highest number of containers was studied thoroughly to verify if the implementation of containers reduces the number of accidents. The analysis shows that the household collection had the highest accident rate, with 65.61%. Sharp materials and falls were the leading causes of accidents, representing 53% in the company A and 62% in the company B. After containers implementation, the number of accidents caused by sharp materials and falls decreased from 37 without the container in 2014, to 18 with the container in 2015, and 11 with the container in 2016. It was concluded that the implementation of containers improves occupational safety and health during the urban cleaning process. Further studies should be conducted in order to improve the working conditions in the urban cleaning sector.

Safety and health training is an essential tool to reduce occupational accidents and diseases. However, the method applied is critical for the effect of a training programme in Occupational Safety & Health (OSH) related outcomes. Additionally, studies about the appropriateness of OSH training methods involving small-sized enterprises are scarce. This study aims to compare the effect of two training methods when applied in metalworking small-sized enterprises: an active method, with group discussion, and an expository method, with formal exposure. The effect of these two methods was assessed at the level of risk perception (perceptions of susceptibility, severity, barriers and benefits), safety behaviour (safety compliance and safety participation) and OSH knowledge. A sample of 212 workers was divided in three groups: one experimental group and two control groups (passive and active). In order to evaluate the effect of safety and health training in the different dependent variables, a questionnaire was applied before and one month after the training sessions. The results showed that safety and health training had a positive, but limited, effect on the variables under study. Significant differences were found between both moments for perception of susceptibility and OSH knowledge. However, no significant differences between both training methods after the intervention were observed in this study.

As one of the three leading causes of death in people between the ages of 15 and 44 years old, suicide is, according to data from WHO, responsible annually for a million deaths. These numbers do not include suicide attempts, that are usually 10 to 20 times more frequent than suicide itself. This systematic review proposes to gather relevant information on the topic of self-harm and suicide in the Army, following the PRISMA-P statement for systematic review and meta-analysis protocols. This systematic review protocol was developed to present suitable guidelines for the development of research that can provide results to fulfil the sought objective. The search will cover the dates between 2014 and May 2019. Five databases will be accessed (SCOPUS, PubMed, Science Direct, EBSCOhost and Web of Science) with a total of six keyword combinations. The Cochrane Collaboration Tool will assess study selection and quality for determining the risk of bias.

This paper aims to update and report the diffusion and forecasting models of Portuguese integrated management systems (IMSs) encompassing the ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 standards (QES). A research method similar to that described by a previous relevant research on diffusion of QES in Portugal was adopted. Data concerning the evolution of the amount of multiple MSs in Portugal (ranging from 1999 to 2016) was retrieved from a periodical Portuguese publication (Barómetro da Certificação). The evolutionary behavior of the number of MSs over the years was studied adopting both the Gompertz and the simple logistic models. The results obtained by fitting the data to these models were dissected enabling a forecast for the forthcoming years. In opposition to the results of the original study (based on a higher percentage of extrapolated data) the data seem to be properly fitted by the simple logistic model. Similarly to the conclusions of the original study the diffusion throughout the years of the number of MSs presents an S- shaped behavior and the Gompertz model predicts a higher amount of IMSs at the saturation level (which is in line with the original conclusions).

Workplace risk assessment is a valuable tool to identify hazards, reduce risk and improve working conditions. During the last few years, scientific research has identified the so-called emerging risks that include issues like psychosocial risks, gender, ageing etc. However, previous studies have identified that risk assessment, when conducted, rarely takes into consideration those emerging risks, even though they can significantly affect occupational safety and health. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the importance of including all those factors in the actual workplace risk assessment that is conducted and reviewed by enterprises of any size. The need of including “human characteristics” when conducting a risk assessment is highlighted. Workers’ participation and job crafting could adjust physical, psychological and cognitive requirements to perform the job duties, as well as boundaries. Physical differences (as body build, gender, health, capability) as well as mental differences (attitude, motivation, perception) will need to be consider carefully when establish controls for work activities. Moreover age, organizational factors and culture can strongly influence human behavior. The need for a dynamic risk assessment, continually improved while considering human characteristics is highlighted. Finally, a framework for conducting a holistic Risk Assessment is proposed identifying key issues that should be considered.

Occupational safety and health is traditionally a challenging area in the labor-intensive construction industry as accidents at work and non-ergonomic work conditions lead to absences and premature retirement of construction workers. Recently, the rise of the Internet of Things (IoT) and its accompanying technologies (e.g. wearable technologies) has enhanced interest in the occupational safety and health of construction work. The level of technology acceptance among construction workers is a crucial element in the adoption of these technologies. The main objectives of this study are to enhance understanding about construction workers’ attitudes towards IoT-based data-intensive work safety and wellbeing solutions and to identify factors that can promote technology adoption. Data for the study was collected through an online survey of 4385 construction workers. Based on the survey data it seems that construction workers would accept the sharing and utilizing data collected from them in the worksite environment if it could help identify employee personal health risks or promote personal and colleagues' occupational safety. Respondents were most concerned about privacy and security regarding wearables in the workplace. It can be concluded that user acceptance and trust building are key components in the adoption of IoT-based occupational safety and health solutions. Future studies should investigate methods for actively involving construction workers in the design and development process of IoT-based work safety solutions and examine technological solutions that promote trust building among construction workers.

Developments of countries are interpreted through many parameters. One of the most important parameters according to the order of importance is perhaps the occupational accidents. Especially in recent years, work related (or occupational) accidents occurred at different sectors did not decrease; they even increased despite the developments in the technology and emphasis made on the regulations. This situation can be interpreted as an open debate in which the employees still do not internalize the work they do. Often, enterprises do not choose the right personnel for the job or the personnel chosen are not oriented to the work with the through proper methods. When the mining sector is taken into account, this problem becomes even clearer. Among the many reasons for this problem, it can firstly be mentioned about the difficulty of employing qualified and well-educated personnel. Since the enterprises do not have many options in the solution of this problem, their approach to work accidents should be institutionally a highest priority. During this process they must also use proactive approaches. For example, all accidents and occupational diseases should be recorded, possible causes of them should be put forth, and statistical analysis should be conducted to guide the future of the institution. In this study, the work accidents took place in both underground and surface facilities at Western Lignite Corporation (WLC) which is one of the most important lignite producers in Turkey between the years 2014 and 2018 were analyzed by Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). The types of accidents were also examined and interpreted using the information obtained from the calculation of accident frequency, accident weight and accident probability rates. With the sensitivity analysis realized, it was tried to draw attention to the occupational safety measures to be made in the future.

Children are amongst the most vulnerable affected groups by natural and human-made disasters. Disaster preparedness education programs have been developed to help reduce risk and increase resilience for hazardous events. A better understanding is needed about children evacuation behaviour in schools and the time of evacuation. Therefore, a systematic review is proposed to search for relevant information about emergency evacuation response in schools. This systematic review protocol was developed to present adequate guidelines that can provide relevant research results to fulfil the sought objective. Sixteen databases will be accessed (Scopus, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect, are some examples) and a total of three keyword expressions will be used. The selection process will be thoroughly described, including detailed data treatment and used eligibility criteria, to contribute to the general research on this field.

Several researchers have developed a thematic approach on the need to improve safety management in the maintenance works on motorways in operation. The use of instruments linked to efficiency and effectiveness can be one possible solution to this challenge. The main objective of the present investigation is to prove that it is possible to identify the main risky activities and safety measures contained in the A area curve and linked to the Pareto´s concepts and show that these safety measures can reduce the risk level of the most dangerous activities. The methodology used was a DELPHI panel formed by safety experts from different areas on motorways. The statistic treatment was made through the computer programme IBM SPSS Statistics 24. The results show that it is possible to identify the 38 most dangerous risks linked to the most dangerous activities and the 44 most efficient and effective safety measures to prevent/avoid those risks. The research conclusions show that the risk level decrease with the adopted safety measures and that the identified risk activities and the associated safety measures represent the A area from an ABC graphic linked to the Pareto´s concept. These conclusions have obvious relevance to the decisions about maintenance works on motorways

Organizational factors are considered part of the broader human factors domain and have long been suspected to have a significant influence on individual and group behavior in the workplace, although there is little research on their influence in mining workplaces. This paper provides an update of a systematic literature review (SLR), reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis: The PRISMA Statement 2009. The SLR examined the relationship between organizational factors and residual risk management in the context of accident causation in mining. Six electronic databases were searched for peer-reviewed studies published between 1980 and 2018. Following eligibility criteria, 28 studies were selected for quality assessment and reviewed. The results of the SLR included the identification of several organizational factors that are common in the mining industry, as well as the existence of a conceptual relationship between organizational factors, residual risk management and accident causation. In particular, the review found that about two-thirds of the eligible articles acknowledged a linkage between organizational factors and accident causation. The SLR also identified several research gaps associated with the lack of empirical research around the relationship between organizational factors, residual risk and accident causation. More importantly, the review found no empirical studies that utilized the term residual risk thus implying a gap and inconsistency in risk taxonomy in the mining industry. In light of these gaps, further research is recommended to examine the nature and extent of the influence of organizational factors on residual risk management, with particular focus on examining the influence of organizational factors on the functioning and effectiveness of risk controls. It is envisaged that by improving the efficacy of risk controls, mining companies can ultimately improve their safety performance and make it more sustainable.

This study aimed to investigate the 12-month and 7-day prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms in different body regions and its association with individual (age, gender and BMI) and lifestyle-related (physical activity level and sitting time) factors among blue-collar workers of a Portuguese manufacturing company. One hundred and thirty-six blue-collar workers participated in the study. Musculoskeletal symptoms were assessed with the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire, and physical activity level and sitting time were assessed with IPAQ-Short Version. The 12-month prevalence was higher in the low back (56.6%), followed by the wrist/hand (50%), the shoulder (45.6%) and the neck (44.9%). In the last 7 days, the four most affected body regions were: the low back region (25%), the shoulders (20.6%) and the neck and wrist/hands (19.9%). Regarding individual factors, significant associations were found between age and the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms in the shoulder (p=0.034), elbow (p=0.033), wrist/hand (p=0.030), thigh/hip (p=0.008), neck (p=0.010) and the low back region (p=0.045), with the older workers reporting higher prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms. Also, women reported a significant higher prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms in the neck than men (p=0.025). Overweight and obese workers had a significantly higher prevalence of symptoms in the shoulder (p=0.003), wrist/hands (p=0.030) and neck (p=0.033). Regarding lifestyle-related factors, no significant associations were found between physical activity level or sitting time (p>0.05) and the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms in any of the body regions. To conclude, blue-collar workers have a high prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms. Individual factors like age, gender and BMI seem to influence the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms in different body regions, but lifestyle-related factors such as the physical activity level and sitting time seem not to be associated with the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms in studied sample. The results emphasize the need of workplace interventions to prevent musculoskeletal symptoms in this population.

The Agrifood Industry is the largest Portuguese Industry, constituted mainly by micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It is noted that more than any other type of organization SMEs have their own speci?cities that make it particularly appropriate to develop tools to facilitate communication and knowledge sharing for employers and workers. To this extent, identifying critical success factors is the key to increase SMEs productivity. Likewise, Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) in SMEs have their own characteristics, which dif?cult the prevention strategies implementation and aggravate the problematic of work accidents. This study analyses a ?eldwork in 60 food processing companies in Portugal, related to the dairy, meat processing, bakery and horticultural subsectors. The analysis of the results allowed to identify that, at the national and regional level, the main failures are concerned with (1) lack of risk assessments regarding occupational noise, lighting, thermal environment and vibrations; (2) safety signaling, the circulation ways are not identi?ed with appropriate safety colors; (3) general lighting, with too many shade areas and finally (4) complementary presence of associated risks to falls at the same level, falling of objects, thermal burns, the use of machines and equipment, ?re, mechanical, ergonomic hazards and incorrect body postures. This study assesses the most relevant occupational health and safety risks in the Portuguese food processing industry to contribute to the improvement of OSH management and prevention of work accidents.

The objective of this work was to investigate on safety and health risks to which tropical agricultural workers are exposed, mainly in relation to heat stress and ergonomic evaluation. In total, five workers from the sugarcane industry were assessed through the Life Quality Questionnaire (SF-36), and four through measuring their body composition, heart rate, hydration status, and ergonomic evaluation. Meteorological data on air temperature, relative humidity and air movement were gathered through a nearby metrological station. The analyzed sugarcane activities were found to be of moderate physical activity, and therefore less consuming than the activity of sugarcane cutters. The work-rest periods were found to be appropriated, without repetitive movements. The workers involved in agricultural activities should always evaluate the thermal environment conditions and appropriate their working activities and stay well hydrated in order to minimize heat stress risk.

Toxoplasma gondii is a parasite capable of infecting humans and other warm-blooded animals, that it is estimated to have chronically infected a third of the world population. While mostly asymptomatic in immunocompetent patients, it is considered a serious disease in immunocompromised patients, with potentially fatal consequences. The current treatment method used can trigger numerous negative side effects. The aim of this review is to evaluate current studies available regarding potential new candidates to be used against Toxoplasma gondii.

Building Information Modelling (BIM) has been adopted in construction projects to increase efficiency. In general, improving project management and monitoring, reducing time and cost, strengthen the collaboration between stakeholders, in addition to Risk and injury reduction. To assist the BIM tools, Augmented Reality (AR) is being implemented, as a promising technology that clarifies the construction process. To evaluate the usability and effectiveness of AR tools in the Architectural, Engineering, Construction and Operations (AECO) sector, a protocol for a systematic review is proposed, adapting the PRISMA Statement Protocol (PRISMA-P). The search will be carried out in the reference databases for the field. One of the main outcomes of this study is to assess the effectiveness and usability of AR tools implemented in construction projects. Furthermore, this study identifies the BIM dimensions covered and the related tools and techniques. In addition, to the assessment and evaluation methods adopted by the authors to evaluate their studies, the reliability of the tools and their impact were also analysed. The secondary outcomes are objective oriented, the study points out why the AR technology was implemented and at which construction stage. Moreover, it assesses the technology’s capability of replacing traditional approaches in the construction projects, by mentioning the time and cost consumption and the role of the stakeholders.