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This article focuses on the formation of the working class in Argentina, specifically within the Jewish East-European sector of the furniture industry during the early twentieth century. It examines Jewish immigration, their integration into the timber sector of Buenos Aires, and diverse labour relationships. Through an analysis of social and labour conflicts, the paper aims to study how Yiddish-speaking workers integrated into a highly cosmopolitan working class, put, at the same time, into a broader perspective of Jewish immigration into the Global South. By doing so, we hope to enhance our understanding of the significant role played by Jewish workers in the trajectory of the Argentine working class. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article was published open access under a CC BY licence: https://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the demand for Danish furniture designed during the golden age between the 1940s and 1960s has increased, driven by growing awareness through exhibitions. Instances of furniture designed over half a century ago being reproduced have become more prominent. For well-known designers such as Hans J. Wegner (1914-2007) and Børge Mogensen (1914-1972), several furniture makers often reproduced their works, making it challenging to grasp the overall situation of reproductions in the Danish furniture industry. This paper quantitatively analyzes the product line-up composition of five major Danish furniture manufacturers - Fritz Hansen, Carl Hansen & Søn, Fredericia Furniture, One Collection, and PP Møbler - in 2014, 2021, and 2023. It also elucidates each manufacturer’s policy towards the reproduction business and new product development. The study’s most significant achievement lies in providing an overall picture of the trends in the Danish furniture industry regarding the reproduction business. Based on the results of this analysis, we aim to gain an accurate understanding of the state of Danish furniture design, which flourished in the mid-20th century and continues to be embraced to this day. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IntroductionIn “Do-It-Yourself” (DIY) stores, workers from the wood department are considered woodworkers. Given the health risks associated with woodworking, particularly from fungi and their metabolites, this study aims to assess microbial contamination and health risks for both workers and customers.MethodsThe study was developed in 13 DIY stores in Lisbon Metropolitan Area, Portugal. It employed a comprehensive sampling approach combining active (MAS-100, Andersen six-stage, Coriolis μ, and SKC Button Aerosol Sampler) and passive (electrostatic dust collectors, surface swabs, e-cloths, settled dust, filters from vacuumed dust, filtering respiratory protection devices, and mechanical protection gloves) methods to assess microbial contamination. A Lighthouse Handheld Particle Counter HH3016- IAQ was used to monitor the particulate matter size, temperature, and humidity.ResultsThe wood exhibition area presented the highest fungal load, while the payment area exhibited the highest bacterial load. MAS-100 detected the highest fungal load, and surface swabs had the highest bacterial load. Penicillium sp. was the most frequently observed fungal species, followed by Aspergillus sp. Mycotoxins, namely mycophenolic acid, griseofulvin, and aflatoxin G1, were detected in settled dust samples and one filter from the vacuum cleaner from the wood exhibition area. Cytotoxicity evaluation indicates the wood-cutting area has the highest cytotoxic potential. Correlation analysis highlights relationships between fungal contamination and particle size and biodiversity differences among sampling methods.DiscussionThe comprehensive approach applied, integrating numerous sampling methods and laboratory assays, facilitated a thorough holistic analysis of this specific environment, enabling Occupational and Public Health Services to prioritize interventions for accurate exposure assessment and detailed risk management.

Over the past several decades, ergonomics design has been demanded and considered as a main factor of efficiency and effectiveness in optimising production. Recently, a lot of research has paid attention to the risk factors on WMSDs and its prevention strategies. However, little attention has been paid to physical ergonomic intervention and its validation. This study was conducted among ten woodworkers in a medium-sized woodworking workshop in Selangor, Malaysia. Through this study, demographic surveys, QEC, and REBA were examined before and after the ergonomic intervention of the industrial ergonomic trolley-lifter. The results of QEC and REBA as well as the survey indicated that comfort perception improved when postural measurement in task performance was at an acceptable range. In addition, work time with external load was reduced by 75% due to the proposed trolley. The trolley-lifter offers an alternative solution to lifting activity by providing a lifting product to assist the handling of wood board in efficiency and occupational safety and health conditions.. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Upsurge in cardiopulmonary dysfunctions in Enugu, Nigeria, involved mainly cement workers, automobile spray painters, woodworkers, and Cleaners and was worsened in the dry season, suggesting the need for an occupation-specific characterization of the disease features and seasonal evaluation of air quality for prevention and management. Methods We conducted a randomized cross-sectional study of eighty consenting participants (in Achara Layout, Enugu), comprising 20 cement workers (39.50 ± 14.95 years), 20 automobile spray painters (40.75 ± 9.85 years), 20 woodworkers (52.20 ± 9.77 years), and 20 cleaners (42.30 ± 9.06 years). The air quality, some haematological (fibrinogen-Fc, and C-reactive protein-CRP), and cardiopulmonary parameters were measured and analyzed using ANCOVA, at p

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In the housing industry in Ghana, wood treatment is often done using water-borne preservatives. Common examples of preservatives include Acid Copper Chromate (ACC), Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA), and Chlorpyrifos (Dursban). It is important to know that good wood preservatives must be available on the market to ensure the quality of wood products in the Ghanaian housing industry. It is not enough that the preservative is efficient; it ought to be popular on the market. However, the popularity of a preservative may not necessarily portray its popularity. The main purpose of this study was to identify the most and least popular water-borne wood preservatives (Dursban, CCA, and ACC) in use and also determine any possible associations between woodworkers' views concerning the most and least popular water-borne wood preservatives used in the housing industries and demographic status. An analytic sample of 199 participants was included in our study using a cross-sectional descriptive survey design. The results suggest that woodworkers rated Dursban as the most popular (65 %), CCA least popular (52 %), and ACC unsure (37 %). More specifically, young adults (74 %), secondary educated (84 %), carpentry speciality (86 %), and over two years experienced (88 %) woodworkers rated Dursban the most popular water-borne wood preservative used in the housing industry. However, young adults (56 %), secondary educated (59 %), carpentry specialists (59 %), and over two years experienced woodworkers (60 %) rated CCA the least popular water-borne wood preservative use in the housing industry. Further, we observed significant associations between participants' education, profession, and experience with their perceptions of widespread water-borne wood preservatives used in the Ghanaian housing industry. Our study has implications for research, practice, and policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Wood furniture production is one of the most hazardous industries. The workers are subjected to several hazards involving exposure to wood dust, solvents, isocyanates, finishes and noise. Objective: To determine ventilatory and auditory findings among workers in Asal's furniture factory at New Damietta City, Damietta Governorate, Egypt. Patients and Methods: A descriptive comparative cross-sectional study was carried out on 183 wood furniture workers in Asal's furniture factory at New Damietta city, Damietta governorate and a matched comparison group, during the period from February 1, 2018 to November 24, 2018. Results: The averages of the measured wood dust concentrations and noise levels were within the Egyptian maximum permissible limits, except for the noise levels in the woodworking building which were higher than the maximum permissible limits [90.8±7.1dB(A)]. As regards the ventilatory lung functions measurements among both woodworkers and finishing group, the means± SD of both measured and percent predicted values of FEV1/FVC, peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) and FEF 25-75% were lower than those of the comparison group with a statistically significant difference (p≤0.05). Finishing workers had a statistically significant (p≤0.001) higher prevalence of obstructive ventilatory pattern. Sensorineural hearing loss was significantly (p≤0.005) prevalent among both woodworkers (26.2%) and the finishing workers (18%) compared to the comparison group (2.4%). Criteria of NIHL were met in 81.3% of woodworkers with sensorineural hearing loss, who accounted for 21.3% of all woodworkers. Conclusion: The workplace environment in Asal's furniture factory adversely affects the ventilatory and auditory functions of their workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Upsurge in cardiopulmonary dysfunctions in Enugu, Nigeria, involved mainly cement workers, automobile spray painters, woodworkers, and Cleaners and was worsened in the dry season, suggesting the need for an occupation-specific characterization of the disease features and seasonal evaluation of air quality for prevention and management.Methods: We conducted a randomized cross-sectional study of eighty consenting participants (in Achara Layout, Enugu), comprising 20 cement workers (39.50 ± 14.95 years), 20 automobile spray painters (40.75 ± 9.85 years), 20 woodworkers (52.20 ± 9.77 years), and 20 cleaners (42.30 ± 9.06 years). The air quality, some haematological (fibrinogen-Fc, and C-reactive protein-CRP), and cardiopulmonary parameters were measured and analyzed using ANCOVA, at p < 0.05.Results: The dry season particulate matter (PM) in ambient air exceeded the WHO standards in the New layout [PM10 = 541.17 ± 258.72 µg/m3; PM2.5 = 72.92 ± 25.81 µg/m3] and the University campus [PM10 = 244 ± 74.79 µg/m3; PM2.5 = 30.33 ± 16.10 µg/m3], but the former was twice higher. The PM differed significantly (p < 0.05) across the sites. Forced expiratory volume at the first second (FEV1) (F = 6.128; p = 0.001), and Peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) (F = 5.523; p = 0.002), differed significantly across the groups. FEV1/FVC% was < 70% in cement workers (55.33%) and woodworkers (61.79%), unlike, automobile spray painters (72.22%) and cleaners (70.66%). FEV1 and work duration were significantly and negatively related in cement workers (r = -0.46; r2 = 0.2116; p = 0.041 one-tailed). CRP (normal range ≤ 3.0 mg/L) and Fc (normal range-1.5-3.0 g/L) varied in cement workers (3.32 ± 0.93 mg/L versus 3.01 ± 0.85 g/L), automobile spray painters (2.90 ± 1.19 mg/L versus 2.54 ± 0.99 mg/L), woodworkers (2.79 ± 1.10 mg/L versus 2.37 ± 0.92 g/L) and cleaners (3.06 ± 0.82 mg/L versus 2.54 ± 0.70 g/L).Conclusion(s): Poor air quality was evident at the study sites, especially in the dry season. Cement workers and automobile spray painters showed significant risks of obstructive pulmonary diseases while woodworkers had restrictive lung diseases. Cement workers and cleaners recorded the highest risk of coronary heart disease (CRP ≥ 3.0 mg/L). The similarity in Fc and CRP trends suggests a role for the inflammation-sensitive proteins in the determination of cardiovascular risk in cement workers and cleaners. Therefore, there are occupation-specific disease endpoints of public health concern that likewise warrant specific preventive and management approaches among the workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the awareness of occupational hazards, and attitudes and practices towards the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) among informal woodworkers of the Sokoban Wood Village in Ghana. Structured questionnaires were used to collect primary data from 355 woodworkers and analysed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression. The results showed that the workers are aware of PPE and knew about injuries they are exposed to. Most woodworkers had a positive attitude in terms of their perception on the necessity to use PPE but had a low frequency of PPE usage. Educational level, job type, length of service and marital status are the socio-demographic characteristics that significantly influence woodworkers' compliance with health and safety regulations. We recommend that institutions charged with enforcement of occupational health and safety regulations should extend their monitoring roles to informal workers and liaise with local companies to supply PPE to informal woodworkers at subsidized costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Journal of Vascular Research mourns the loss of Eva Aralikatti, who served as the Editorial Administrator for over 20 years. Eva was known for her dedication, sense of humor, and commitment to ensuring the quality of submitted manuscripts. Apart from her work, she was a skilled woodworker, creating custom flute components. The journal and its community are grateful for Eva's contributions, and she will be deeply missed. Our condolences are extended to Eva's loved ones and colleagues. [Extracted from the article]

Abstract Background Wood dust in a form of inhalable particulates can penetrate the lung tissues and affect respiratory health. Woodwork factory workers are at a greater risk of developing respiratory health problems because of exposure in their working environment, but existing data were few. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms, associated factors, and concentration of personal total wood dust level among medium-scale woodwork factory workers. Methods An institutional based cross-sectional study was conducted among 506 woodwork factory workers. We selected study participants using a simple random sampling technique. We assessed chronic respiratory symptoms using the British Medical Research Council respiratory symptoms questionnaire with a few modifications. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to identify the factors. Forty dust measurements were collected from 20 randomly selected workers using a closed-face cassette (CFC) personal sampler. We analyzed the dust samples gravimetrically using a standard microbalance scale. Results We recruited a random sample of 506 workers in the study with a response rate of 98%. The prevalence of chronic respiratory health symptoms among woodworkers was 69.8% with a prevalence of cough (54.6%), phlegm (52.2%), wheezing (44.6%), breathlessness (42.1%), and chest pain (42.9%). Past occupational dust exposure history (AOR = 2.09, 95% CI; 1.09–4.01), work experience > 5 years (AOR = 9.18, 95% CI; 5.27–16.00), using bio-fuel as energy for cooking (AOR = 2.42, 95% CI; 1.44–4.07), and having no occupational safety and health training (AOR = 3.38, 95% CI; 1.20–9.49) were factors that significantly associated with chronic respiratory symptoms among woodwork workers. The geometric mean (GM) of dust exposure level among woodworkers was 10.27 mg/m3, which exceeded the limit of 10 mg/m3 set by the ACGIH. Conclusions High prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms was reported from woodwork factory workers. Increased work- experience, using bio-fuel as an energy source for cooking, past occupational dust exposure history, and having no occupational safety and health training were identified risk factors. The measured average personal wood dust exposure level was above the recommended occupational threshold limit value. Therefore, workers’ wood dust exposure reduction and control methods and respiratory health awareness programs should be implemented.

Julia Bertram worked as a journalist for the Timber Worker, the newspaper of the International Woodworkers of America, from 1936–1940. For three of those years, she also served as the president of the women's auxiliary of her local union. This study examines Bertram's work in both of these roles as crucial to the union's success, and argues that Bertram's combination of union activism and journalism embedded working-class feminism within the developing progressive labor agenda represented by the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) in the 1930s. Bertram's work offers an example of how working-class White and immigrant women shaped the labor movement prior to World War II by expanding the scope of appropriate political activities in which women participated. As a journalist for the Timber Worker, Bertram frequently reminded her readers that women were unionists and equal members of the working-class struggle. This combination of activism and journalism has been overlooked in discussions about the rise of labor feminism, which tend to focus on female-dominated industries and unions rather than on the press. Female journalists in the labor press and in union auxiliaries deserve more attention if historians hope to understand the rise of labor feminism in the 1930s, as women carved out space in the fledgling CIO and its unions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]