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Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is especially prevalent among US truck drivers. However, there has been limited research exploring associations between MetS conditions with roadway crashes among truck drivers. The objective of this paper is to assess relationships between specific combinations of individual MetS components and crashes and near‐misses. Methods: Survey, biometric, and anthropometric data were collected from 817 truck drivers across 6 diverse US states. Survey data focused on demographics and roadway safety outcomes, and anthropometric/biometric data corresponded to five MetS conditions (waist circumference blood pressure, hemoglobin A1c, triglycerides, and high‐density lipoprotein [HDL] cholesterol). Logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios of lifetime crashes and near‐miss 1‐month period prevalence associated with: 1) specific MetS conditions regardless of presence or absence of other MetS conditions, and 2) specific MetS conditions and counts of other accompanying MetS conditions. Results: Hypertension was the MetS characteristic most strongly associated with lifetime crash and 1‐month near‐miss outcomes, while high triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol, and large waist circumference were most commonly present among groups of conditions associated with crashes and near‐misses. Overall, an increasing number of specific co‐occurring MetS conditions were associated with higher reporting of roadway crashes. Conclusions: Specific combinations and higher prevalence of MetS conditions were associated with increased frequency of reported crashes. Moreover, when the co‐occurrence of MetS conditions is aggregated, a dose–response relationship with crashes appears. These results suggest that policy changes and interventions addressing MetS may increase driver health and reduce crash risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maintenance-of-way (MOW) jobs have been evaluated and reported by Weames et al.8,9 for section maintainers (14 full-shift data collection days in 10 states, spanning 2003-2011), and for track welders (7 full-shift data collection days in four states, spanning 2004-2013). For these MOW jobs, which are common for railroad companies and MOW contractors, employee exposures were measured over full shifts of normally assigned duties.10 On average section maintainers and track welders spent approximately 80% of work shifts in planning the work, safety briefings, travel, waiting for track occupancy permission, and other duties not directly performing maintenance work. We reviewed with interest the report of Landsbergis et al. (2020)1 titled I Occupational Risk Factors for Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Railroad Maintenance-of-Way Workers i . [Extracted from the article]

Background: Truck drivers face many health challenges, including lifestyle, diet, inactivity, stressors, and social support. Methods: A repeated cross‐sectional analysis compared 88,246 truck drivers with data from (n = 11 918) the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Trends over time for body mass index (BMI), high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, heart disease, and sleep disorders were analyzed, adjusting for potential confounders. Results: Truck drivers had significantly worsening health metrics between 2005 and 2012 compared to NHANES participants. Truck drivers were significantly more likely to be obese and morbidly obese with prevalence odds ratios (POR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) of 1.99 (1.87, 2.13) and 2.34 (2.16, 2.54), respectively. Measured blood pressure, self‐reported high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, and heart disease all significantly increased. Also, sleep disorders increased among truck drivers from 2005 to 2012 (POR = 6.55, 95%CI 5.68, 7.55). Conclusion: These data suggest disproportionate increases in poor health among truck drivers from 2005 to 2012. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Previous studies have reported higher wrist ratios (WR) related to carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) but have not assessed effect modification by obesity and may have inadequately controlled for confounders.Methods: Baseline data of a multicenter prospective cohort study were analyzed. CTS was defined by nerve conduction study (NCS) criteria and symptoms.Results: Among the 1,206 participants, a square-shaped wrist was associated with CTS after controlling for confounders (prevalence ratio = 2.27; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.33-3.86). Body mass index (BMI) was a strong effect modifier on the relationship between WR and both CTS and abnormal NCS results, with normal weight strata of rectangular versus square wrists = 8.18 (95% CI, 1.63-49.96) and 7.12 (95% CI, 2.19-23.16), respectively.Discussion: A square wrist is significantly associated with CTS after controlling for confounders. Effect modification by high BMI masked the eightfold magnitude adjusted relationship seen between WR and CTS among normal weight participants. Muscle Nerve 56: 1047-1053, 2017. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Few large epidemiologic studies have used rigorous case criteria, individual-level exposure measurements, and appropriate control for confounders to examine associations between workplace psychosocial and biomechanical factors and carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Methods Pooling data from five independent research studies, we assessed associations between prevalent CTS and personal, work psychosocial, and biomechanical factors while adjusting for confounders using multivariable logistic regression. Results Prevalent CTS was associated with personal factors of older age, obesity, female sex, medical conditions, previous distal upper extremity disorders, workplace measures of peak forceful hand activity, a composite measure of force and repetition (ACGIH Threshold Limit Value for Hand Activity Level), and hand vibration. Conclusions In this cross-sectional analysis of production and service workers, CTS prevalence was associated with workplace and biomechanical factors. The findings were similar to those from a prospective analysis of the same cohort with differences that may be due to recall bias and other factors. Am. J. Ind. Med. 58:509-518, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background This study's objective was to quantify exposure-response relationships between job physical exposure (JPE) and incidence of lateral epicondylitis (LE). Methods A cohort of 536 workers was enrolled from 10 manufacturing facilities and followed monthly for 6 years to ascertain changes in JPE and health status. JPE was individually measured and quantified using the Strain Index (SI) and TLV for HAL. Worker demographics, medical history, psychosocial factors, and current musculoskeletal disorders were obtained. Results Fifty-six workers developed LE. In multivariate models JPE, age, family problems, and swimming were associated with increased risk of LE. SI showed an exposure-response relationship with maximum hazard ratio (HR) of 4.5( P = 0.04). TLV for HAL showed a non-statistically significant trend for increased risk of LE ( P = 0.19). Conclusion JPE is associated with increased risk of LE. The SI and TLV for HAL are useful metrics for estimating JPE. Am. J. Ind. Med. 57:286-302, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]