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Background: Undergraduate dental curricula and courses containing ergonomic principles are introduced to students from the very beginning of dental education. Still, dentists present a high prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders, which are a direct burden on quality of life, leading to early retirement from the profession. This study aimed to assess the state of students' knowledge and awareness regarding the role of ergonomics in dentistry and its practical implementation. Methods: a cross-sectional study using a predesigned self-administered questionnaire was conducted among fourth- and fifth-year dental students of the Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland (response rate of 69.2%). Results: A total of 94.6% of students declared a good, fair, or moderate level of knowledge of the subject, with a significant difference in favor of the fifth-year students (p = 0.008). Moreover, 76.1% of respondents showed a good or very good attitude toward ergonomics as a university curriculum subject. A total of 72.3% of respondents declared that the practical application of ergonomic rules in clinical dentistry is very important (five in a five-point scale). Women found dental ergonomics more important than men (p < 0.001). However, 79.3% of participants admitted not following basic ergonomic principles during clinical procedures. Conclusion: The research revealed a discrepancy between theoretical knowledge and awareness and the practical application of ergonomics in a clinical environment. Only by inculcating correct occupational standards and abiding by them from the commencement of dental education can consistency between theory and practice be achieved. This will hopefully ensure the health and well-being of dental team members throughout their professional lives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of work-related diseases (WRDs) and work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WR-MSDs), as well as investigate WR-MSD-associated risk factors, among metal industry workers in Turkey. Methods. The cross-sectional study was conducted with 1374 members of the Birleşik Metal İş Union from 121 companies. Data were collected using a self-administered 30-item questionnaire. Results. The survey response rate was 81.4% (1374/1686). Almost one out of every six workers (14.8%) stated that they had been diagnosed with a WRD, 3.6% reported that they had been diagnosed with an occupational disease and 38.6% of them indicated that they had suffered an occupational accident (OA) at least once. The prevalence of WR-MSDs was 10.7%, of work-related lung diseases was 1.8% and of occupational hearing loss was 0.6%. Quitting smoking, smoking, OA, heavy lifting, time pressure and working in the automotive industry were all associated with WR-MSDs. Conclusions. Interventions aimed at reducing musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) should focus on smoking cessation, training workers in proper techniques and equipment for lifting and pushing/pulling heavy loads, preventing OAs and injuries, and reducing the time pressure in the workplace in the metal industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relevance of the study is determined by the strategic interests of the Russian Federation dictating the need to achieve a national priority, which is the development of human potential. Given the ongoing reduction in labor force against a background of depopulation processes, finding a solution to the problem seems especially relevant. The purpose of this study is to develop a scientific conceptual framework for an intelligent risk-based innovative system for analysis, prediction and prevention of occupational and work-related health disorders of workers. This will help substantiate keynote sanitary-hygienic and medical-preventive measures aimed at reducing losses in healthy life expectancy and increasing occupational longevity. The main theoretical idea is based on a unique information-intellectual innovative system for analyzing and predicting cause-and-effect relationships between the effects of harmful and hazardous occupational factors and the resulting health problems of workers, occupational diseases included. The developed predictive digital neural network models, trained on retrospective or actual data on working conditions, health status, socioeconomic conditions and lifestyle factors, are the information and analytical basis for carrying out calculations and assessing the evolution of personal and group (occupation, age, and work records) health risks caused by occupational or work-related diseases in workers. This provides solid grounds for making a forecast of a prevented period of reduction in occupational working capacity associated with working conditions, specifically for each examined occupation, age, and work records. Such forecasts are an eligible information basis for developing and making well-grounded managerial decisions including those concerning sanitary, hygienic and medical preventive measures aimed at preserving occupational longevity. This will significantly increase effectiveness of corporate health-preserving policies.

Background The unexpected outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has led huge impact on health and safety of employees. Although now the epidemiological situation has improved, but it remains a challenge, especially in light of the emergence of new threats. The aim of the work is to present an epidemiological analysis of data on COVID-19 as an occupational disease in Poland. Material and Methods The analysis covered all cases of occupational diseases sent by state sanitary inspectors to the Central Register of Occupational Diseases. The years 2020–2022 and such available data as: age, gender, activities and territorial differentiation were analyzed. The data were presented as absolute numbers and incidence rates per 100 000 employed persons and for healthcare workers also per 100 000 persons authorized to practice. Results In the period 2020–2022 in Poland 7030 diseases recognized as occupational diseases were recorded, of which almost half were infectious diseases (47%). Among infectious diseases, dominated COVID-19 in number of 2059 cases. In this period 98.6% of all cases of COVID-19 were concentrated in the health care and social activities. According to workplaces, most diseases were caused by working in hospitals – 1825 cases (88.6% of all COVID-19 cases in the healthcare workers). Most cases concerned nurses – 1355 cases (65,8%) and doctors – 212 cases (10,3%). The incidence of COVID-19 in the group of physicians per 10 000 persons entitled to practice ranged from 2.6 in 2020 to 68.3 in 2022, while among nurses and midwives the rates were 7.9 and 194.9, respectively. Conclusions The COVID-19 pandemic changed the picture of occupational diseases in Poland. Therefore, it is very important to understand the key contributions of people working in environments where workers are at increased risk of contracting COVID-19 due to the nature of their work, and to promote the recognition of COVID-19 as an occupational disease. Med Pr Work Health Saf. 2023;74(6):479–86.

Background: Undergraduate dental curricula and courses containing ergonomic principles are introduced to students from the very beginning of dental education. Still, dentists present a high prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders, which are a direct burden on quality of life, leading to early retirement from the profession. This study aimed to assess the state of students’ knowledge and awareness regarding the role of ergonomics in dentistry and its practical implementation. Methods: a cross-sectional study using a predesigned self-administered questionnaire was conducted among fourth- and fifth-year dental students of the Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland (response rate of 69.2%). Results: A total of 94.6% of students declared a good, fair, or moderate level of knowledge of the subject, with a significant difference in favor of the fifth-year students (p = 0.008). Moreover, 76.1% of respondents showed a good or very good attitude toward ergonomics as a university curriculum subject. A total of 72.3% of respondents declared that the practical application of ergonomic rules in clinical dentistry is very important (five in a five-point scale). Women found dental ergonomics more important than men (p < 0.001). However, 79.3% of participants admitted not following basic ergonomic principles during clinical procedures. Conclusion: The research revealed a discrepancy between theoretical knowledge and awareness and the practical application of ergonomics in a clinical environment. Only by inculcating correct occupational standards and abiding by them from the commencement of dental education can consistency between theory and practice be achieved. This will hopefully ensure the health and well-being of dental team members throughout their professional lives.

Background: This register-based study provides a profile of work-related Covid-19 cases reported by physicians to the Norwegian Labor Inspection Authority (NLIA). Methods: All the reports of work-related Covid-19 cases reported by a physician to the NLIAs Registry for Work-Related Diseases (RAS) between February 2020 and February 2022 were included. Descriptive statistics and the incidence rate of reported cases were computed for age, gender, and occupation. Results: Two hundred and seventeen work-related Covid-19 cases were reported to RAS during the study period. Sixty-five percent of the cases were females (n = 141), and 35 percent (n = 76) were males. Doctors, nurses, and ambulance personnel yielded higher incidence rates than other healthcare and nonhealthcare occupations. Conclusions: This study indicates that women aged 25–39 and employed in the healthcare sector had the highest reported incidence and number of work-related Covid-19 cases. Physician underreporting of work-related Covid-19 cases is an important finding. Plausibly, underreporting is more substantial for at-risk non-healthcare occupations such as waiters, bartenders, food couriers, and taxi drivers than occupations in healthcare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Identification of potential hazards, their adverse health effects, and predisposing factors in the workplace are critical to improving safety. The objective of the study was to assess the knowledge of occupational hazards, the prevalence of perceived health problems and their predictors among textile dye workers in Abeokuta Nigeria who work in unsupervised settings. Materials and Methods. In this cross-sectional study, data were collected from 199 participants using a validated semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to determine the predictors of knowledge while Pearson Chi-square was employed to test the association between perceived health problems, sociodemographics and work environment characteristics. Results. The mean age of the respondents was 40 (SD=12) years with an average work experience of 19 years. The majority of respondents 139 (69.8%) had lower than average scores on knowledge of 25 questions on chemical hazards. There was no correlation between knowledge score and work experience (P=0.492) or age (P=0.462) but the knowledge was significantly associated with exposure score (P=0.004), gender (P=0.002) and adherence to instructions on chemicals usage (P=0.041) after adjusting for safe practice. The most frequent health problems among the dye workers were respiratory disorders (53.8%), allergies (51.8%), and skin disorders (24.1%). Airborne gaseous pollutants from the mixing of chemicals were associated with allergies (P=0.045), circulatory (P=0.02) and skin disorders (P=0.049) while air-borne textile fiber/dye particles could predict allergies (P=0.028). Conclusions. Findings revealed that exposure, gender and adherence to instruction labels on dye/chemical containers could determine knowledge of chemical hazards while physical work environment characteristics could determine health problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. To analyze the morbidity with temporary disability (MTD) of the employees of the workshop for tableting and packaging medicines and to assess their occupational risk. Material and methods. Based on the data of temporary disability certificates, a detailed analysis of the MTD of employees of the workshop for tableting and packaging medicines (main group, n=640 year-round person-years) was carried out in comparison with the morbidity of employees of management departments (comparison group, n=1458 year-round person-years). The calculation of the indicator of the actual level of occupational risk was made on the basis of the total coefficient of working conditions, the indicator of relative risk, the indicator of non-compliance with sanitary and hygienic requirements according to the checklist of questions and the indicator of occupational morbidity. Results. The overall morbidity rate by cases and by days per 100 workers employed during tableting and packaging medicines was assessed as “below average” for the analyzed period. However, at the same time, the comparison with the republican average annual morbidity rates with temporary disability reflected statistically significantly higher levels of morbidity in cases of temporary disability and the integral indicator among production shop workers. Most often, the causes of incapacity for work of shop workers were diseases of the respiratory system, musculoskeletal system, neoplasms, injuries and poisoning, as well as diseases of the circulatory system. The indicator of the actual level of occupational risk in the workshop made up 2.6, which testifies to a high degree of occupational conditionality of health disorders among workers. Conclusions. Investigations, the main purpose of which is to study the factors of the working environment, the nature of work, and their contribution to the development of both occupational, professionally caused, and somatic diseases, are the basis for developing a preventive strategy to minimize the occupational risk to the health of pharmaceutical enterprises workers.

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders are among the most common disorders of the musculoskeletal system. The aim of this paper is to determine the prevalence of the musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) for the teachers in higher education. Examinees and methods: 100 teachers (66% men and 34% women with average age of 38.8 ± 13.1) were included in the prospective study. The information about the state of the teachers' musculoskeletal system was gathered using a questionnaire for the MSD analysis. Potential risk factors for MSD were analyzed. MSD was observed in 74 (74%) teachers and associates (68.9% male and 31.1% female, p˂0.05). 32% Teachers had pain within the first five years of teaching work, while the rest of MSD occurred after that period. 73% of teachers were diagnosed with rigor in the lower back, 62% were diagnosed with neck pain, 45.9% were diagnosed with upper back pain, while 27% had pain in their ankles/feet. Lower pain prevalence was noticed in wrist, hands, hips and elbows. The prevalence of the musculoskeletal disorders for teachers is 74% and it is higher for men than for women. MSD, whose samples are multifactorial, are the most common in the lower back, neck, upper back and shoulders. Ergonomics and ergonomic education are the primary factors in the prevalence and treatment of MSD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Identification of potential hazards, their adverse health effects, and predisposing factors in the workplace are critical to improving safety. The objective of the study was to assess the knowledge of occupational hazards, the prevalence of perceived health problems and their predictors among textile dye workers in Abeokuta Nigeria who work in unsupervised settings. Materials and Methods. In this cross-sectional study, data were collected from 199 participants using a validated semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to determine the predictors of knowledge while Pearson Chi-square was employed to test the association between perceived health problems, sociodemographics and work environment characteristics. Results. The mean age of the respondents was 40 (SD=12) years with an average work experience of 19 years. The majority of respondents 139 (69.8%) had lower than average scores on knowledge of 25 questions on chemical hazards. There was no correlation between knowledge score and work experience (P=0.492) or age (P=0.462) but the knowledge was significantly associated with exposure score (P=0.004), gender (P=0.002) and adherence to instructions on chemicals usage (P=0.041) after adjusting for safe practice. The most frequent health problems among the dye workers were respiratory disorders (53.8%), allergies (51.8%), and skin disorders (24.1%). Airborne gaseous pollutants from the mixing of chemicals were associated with allergies (P=0.045), circulatory (P=0.02) and skin disorders (P=0.049) while air-borne textile fiber/dye particles could predict allergies (P=0.028). Conclusions. Findings revealed that exposure, gender and adherence to instruction labels on dye/chemical containers could determine knowledge of chemical hazards while physical work environment characteristics could determine health problems.

Abstract Background Textile and garment factories are growing in low and middle-income countries as worldwide demand for inexpensive clothing increases each year. These integrated textile and garment production factories are often built-in areas with few workplaces and environmental regulations, and employees can be regularly exposed to workplace hazards with little regulatory oversight. Consequently, workers’ health may be significantly affected due to long term exposure to hazards. This study describes registered health problems and their association to work-related and personal factors among workers in integrated textile factories in Ethiopia. Methods Institution-based cross-sectional study design was employed for this analysis. A one-year recording of worker’s clinical diagnoses (between March 2016 and February 2017) was gathered from the factory clinics of three integrated textile factories. Clinical diagnosis data was obtained as factory workers visited the clinics if feeling unwell. Sociodemographic characteristics and work-related information were obtained from the factory’s human resource departments. The sociodemographic and clinical diagnosis statuses of 7992 workers were analyzed. The association between the registered diagnoses and workplace factors (work in textile production, garment production and support process) and personal factors (age, sex and educational status) were studied using logistic regression analysis. Results The average employee age and years of service were 40 years and 11 years respectively. 60% of workers were females, comprising of 4778 women. 66% of all workers (5276) had 27,320 clinical diagnoses. In total, this caused 16,993 absent working days due to sick leave. Respiratory diseases (34%) and musculoskeletal disorders (29%) were the most prevalent diagnoses, while bodily injuries were the cause of most work absences. Work department, sex and educational status are variables that were most significantly associated with higher prevalence of disease groups. Conclusions About two-thirds of the integrated textile factory workers were diagnosed with different types of disease. The textile and garment production department workers were affected at a greater rate than the support process workers, indicating that some diseases may be related to workplace exposure. Further study should investigate rare chronic diseases such as cancer, heart diseases, renal diseases and diabetes.

Objectives. This study aimed to investigate whether Swedish ambulance personnel differ in the extent of suffering from health problems compared to other occupational groups. Methods. Two cohorts of ambulance personnel from 2001 and 2008, with 1778 and 2753 individuals, respectively, were followed regarding assignment of diagnostic coding (International Classification of Diseases codes) until 2016. These two cohorts represent all who were employed as ambulance personnel by public employers during these years. Two comparison groups were added: other healthcare workers and other professions. All data were retrieved from national registers. The χ2 test was were used for statistical calculation. Results. Swedish ambulance personnel are at a significantly higher risk of being affected by 'Paroxysmal tachycardia, atrial fibrillation and flutter, other cardiac arrhythmias', by 'Other intervertebral disc disorders' and by 'Arthropathies', when compared to both comparison groups in both cohorts. Almost similar results were seen for 'Gonarthrosis' and for 'Dorsopathies'. Conclusions. Swedish ambulance personnel run the risk of being affected by certain diseases and injuries to a greater extent compared to other professions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Bernardino Ramazzini, an academic at the School of Medicine of Modena, lived in the second half of the 17th century. Although his work is remembered mainly for being the first systematic contribution to the knowledge of occupational diseases, it deserves more detailed and complete consideration. This essay aims to illustrate his visionary commitment to visiting workplaces, identifying health threats, suggesting measures to prevent risks, and protecting workers' health. Development: Many aspects of his thinking can be recognized: understanding the association between environment and health; suspect the environmental origin of each disease; propose interventions aimed at risk protection; provide appropriate recommendations for a healthy lifestyle; and suggest a relevant strategy to combat a devastating bovine plague epidemic that was taking place at the time. Conclusion: Ramazzini had a broad vision covering multiple aspects from: observations of health disorders to studies on air and climate impact; from workplace inspection to recommendations for effective health protection; from proposals for personal protective devices to advices on lifestyle behavior. His scientific stature is evident in the modernity of his thinking in light of the current trend of occupational and public health that requires a strong alliance and a better integration with other medical and non-medical fields.

An increase in retirement age means that employment period is prolonged; it calls for preserving people’s working capacities for a longer period of time including those with long-term working experience. It is especially vital when it comes to adverse working conditions that might cause high health risks for workers due to work-related diseases. We suggested methodical approaches to determining individual occupational health risks; these approaches took into account occupationally induced negative responses to impacts exerted by work-related factors; pathogenetic mechanisms of health disorders occurrence; gravity of health disorders; workers’ age and working experience. To implement these approaches, we applied a set of procedures that included hygienic and epidemiologic analysis, clinical and laboratory examination of workers, mathematic modeling and prediction. We tested these approaches via assessing occupational health risks for workers employed at oil-extracting enterprises and it allowed us to determine parameters of dependence between changes in arterial hypertension predictors under exposure to occupational noise and changes in age and working experience (b0=0.1427; b1=0.007; b2=-0.372). The obtained parameters can be used in assessing risks of arterial hypertension occurrence due to exposure to occupational noise for workers employed in oil extraction. Individual occupational risk caused by arterial hypertension in people exposed to occupational noise was higher than its permissible level (1∙10-3) for 13% workers (33 people) aged from 41 to 52 and working experience from 19.8 to 33 years; the risk detected in our research amounted up to 2.4∙10-2. Maximum individual risks of work-related arterial hypertension that are predicted to occur at an age close to 59 years amount up to 4.3∙10-2 and they will be higher than permissible levels for 56.6% работников; at an age close to 65 years, up to 4.7∙10-2, and they will be higher than permissible levels for 64.8% workers.

Abstract Background Musculoskeletal Diseases (MSDs) are among the most prevalent health problems encountered in the workforce in Europe. Multiple risk factors contribute to their onset. In the present study, different individual risk factors for chronic tendinous pathology affecting the shoulder were analysed in a sample of workers from the automotive manufacturing sector. Methods An observational retrospective study was conducted with 73 cases of officially recognised and compensated occupational diseases and 94 aleatory cases of healthy workers from the same car assembly company. The experimental group comprised individuals with tendinous chronic pathology of the rotator cuff. Multiple variables that identified the risks present in the job were assessed along with participants clinical evaluation. Furthermore, two standardised guidelines for risk factors assessment were also used: the Spanish National Institute of Social Security (INSS) and the American Occupational Information Network (O*Net). Both descriptive statistical analysis and Odds ratios calculations considering the occupational disease as a dependent variable were performed. Results The use of hand tools, exposure to mechanical pressure in the upper limbs and awkward postures were the most prevalent risk factors. Pressure on the palm of the hand and the hand tool impacting the hand were also important risk factors. Some psychosocial factors such as lack of autonomy and mental workload were also associated shoulder tendinous diseases. The association of age, load handling, and awkward postures were the core risk factors responsible for most of the tendinous chronic injuries of the shoulder in this sample of car assembly workers. Conclusions Both ergonomic and psychosocial factors were present and increased the risk of developing occupational chronic tendinopathies at the shoulder in this sample of workers. Aging, load handling, and awkward postures showed the strongest predictive values. Greater knowledge of how risk factors interact would facilitate the design of better preventive workplace strategies.

Background: Textile and garment factories are growing in low and middle-income countries as worldwide demand for inexpensive clothing increases each year. These integrated textile and garment production factories are often built-in areas with few workplaces and environmental regulations, and employees can be regularly exposed to workplace hazards with little regulatory oversight. Consequently, workers' health may be significantly affected due to long term exposure to hazards. This study describes registered health problems and their association to work-related and personal factors among workers in integrated textile factories in Ethiopia.Methods: Institution-based cross-sectional study design was employed for this analysis. A one-year recording of worker's clinical diagnoses (between March 2016 and February 2017) was gathered from the factory clinics of three integrated textile factories. Clinical diagnosis data was obtained as factory workers visited the clinics if feeling unwell. Sociodemographic characteristics and work-related information were obtained from the factory's human resource departments. The sociodemographic and clinical diagnosis statuses of 7992 workers were analyzed. The association between the registered diagnoses and workplace factors (work in textile production, garment production and support process) and personal factors (age, sex and educational status) were studied using logistic regression analysis.Results: The average employee age and years of service were 40 years and 11 years respectively. 60% of workers were females, comprising of 4778 women. 66% of all workers (5276) had 27,320 clinical diagnoses. In total, this caused 16,993 absent working days due to sick leave. Respiratory diseases (34%) and musculoskeletal disorders (29%) were the most prevalent diagnoses, while bodily injuries were the cause of most work absences. Work department, sex and educational status are variables that were most significantly associated with higher prevalence of disease groups.Conclusions: About two-thirds of the integrated textile factory workers were diagnosed with different types of disease. The textile and garment production department workers were affected at a greater rate than the support process workers, indicating that some diseases may be related to workplace exposure. Further study should investigate rare chronic diseases such as cancer, heart diseases, renal diseases and diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Occupational skin diseases are the most common work-related diseases in many countries. Shoe industry workers are potential to be affected by work-related skin diseases (WRSDs). This study aimed to analyze the risk factors associated with WRSDs among workers in the sewing section at a shoe company in West Java. A total of 477 workers were examined and interviewed using the modified Nordic Occupational Skin Questionnaire-2002/LONG from May 2016 to July 2016. Chi-square test and logistic regression were used to analyze the risk factors related to WRSDs. The results showed that 57.7% of the workers suffered from WRSDs. Most of the workers (71.7%) did not wear gloves while working; however, they washed their hands adequately at work (67.1%). Multivariate analysis indicated that a term of work, allergy records, organic dust exposure and duration of exposure per day, handwashing habits, and use of gloves while working were significant to WRSDs. Having allergy records and not wearing gloves were the two dominant factors associated with WRSDs (odds ratio: 6.743 and 6.224, respectively). Understanding the importance of using chemical protective gloves while working and washing hands with running water are essential for the proper implementation of protective measures to ensure worker's safety and health.

Background Non-occupational work-related diseases refer to health problems of multifactorial etiology, the occurrence, development and prognosis of which may be affected by work environment or by the way the work is performed but are not treated as occupational diseases under the applicable law. When analyzing their impact on labor market, it is necessary to also consider the employees’ right to put in a claim for compensation due to the consequences of the occurrence of such diseases. Material and Methods Legal regulations as well as judicial decisions on the possibilities and methods of pursuing claims for compensation from an employer due to the occurrence of non-occupational work-related disease were analyzed. Results The analyzed legal regulations and judicial decisions referred to the regulations of the Labour Code, Civil Code and Resolution of the Supreme Court of 4 December 1987. The paper presents examples of non-occupational diseases considered to be work-related and conditions necessary to assert a claim by the employee at the court. Conclusions Despite the lack of precise legal regulations in Poland, non-occupational work-related diseases may impact the legal situation of employees as well as employers. Employees are granted the right to claim for compensation from their employers in accordance with the Civil Code. Depending on the employer’s legal responsibility, it is necessary to prove the meeting of the appropriate essential conditions to put in a claim for damage. Raising the employers’ awareness of the legal and financial consequences shall support the occupational medicine services in intensifying their activity aimed at preventing all work-related diseases. Med Pr 2018;69(5):539–546

BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is composed of a collection of risk factors for heart diseases and diabetes. In recent decades, metabolic syndrome has been identified as one of the important risk factors leading to the development of work-related diseases. OBJECTIVE: Since few studies have been conducted on evaluating the prevalence of MetS among Iranian workers, this cross-sectional study aimed at assessing the prevalence of MetS and the factors affecting it among Iranian steel workers. METHODS: This study was carried out on 510 employees working in a large steel producing company. The data pertaining to blood pressure, triglycerides, cholesterol, glucose, and demographic information were collected and the Adult Treatment Panel (ATP III) criteria were implemented to diagnose MetS. RESULTS: The prevalence of Mets was obtained equal to 13% and a significant positive relationship was observed between age and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome. From among MetS elements, low HDL cholesterol and increased waist circumference were recognized as the most and the least frequently involved elements with 39.3% and 6.5% prevalence, respectively. Chi-square test was run and the results showed that the prevalence of MetS and some of its components rose at higher BMI values. It was also indicated that MetS and its components had no significant relationship with shift work. CONCLUSION: The current findings revealed that the prevalence of MetS increased with aging. Low HDL and high triglycerides levels were among the main risk factors for MetS. Therefore, considering these risk factors, it should be attempted to develop relevant strategies at workplace to encourage workers to go for a healthier lifestyle so that they can prevent the incidence of MetS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Musculoskeletal Diseases (MSDs) are among the most prevalent health problems encountered in the workforce in Europe. Multiple risk factors contribute to their onset. In the present study, different individual risk factors for chronic tendinous pathology affecting the shoulder were analysed in a sample of workers from the automotive manufacturing sector.Methods: An observational retrospective study was conducted with 73 cases of officially recognised and compensated occupational diseases and 94 aleatory cases of healthy workers from the same car assembly company. The experimental group comprised individuals with tendinous chronic pathology of the rotator cuff. Multiple variables that identified the risks present in the job were assessed along with participants clinical evaluation. Furthermore, two standardised guidelines for risk factors assessment were also used: the Spanish National Institute of Social Security (INSS) and the American Occupational Information Network (O*Net). Both descriptive statistical analysis and Odds ratios calculations considering the occupational disease as a dependent variable were performed.Results: The use of hand tools, exposure to mechanical pressure in the upper limbs and awkward postures were the most prevalent risk factors. Pressure on the palm of the hand and the hand tool impacting the hand were also important risk factors. Some psychosocial factors such as lack of autonomy and mental workload were also associated shoulder tendinous diseases. The association of age, load handling, and awkward postures were the core risk factors responsible for most of the tendinous chronic injuries of the shoulder in this sample of car assembly workers.Conclusions: Both ergonomic and psychosocial factors were present and increased the risk of developing occupational chronic tendinopathies at the shoulder in this sample of workers. Aging, load handling, and awkward postures showed the strongest predictive values. Greater knowledge of how risk factors interact would facilitate the design of better preventive workplace strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Green Tobacco Sickness (GTS) is a disease in the working population that is still not widely disclosed. GTS characterized by the main symptoms of nausea, vomiting, dizziness, excessive sweating, and occurs when in contact with wet tobacco. This research purpose is to assess the factors associated with the incidence of GTS in tobacco farmers in Jember, Indonesia. Methods. The research design is case control. Research variables are occupational factors and individual factors. Data analysis using binner logistic regression. Result and Discussion. The results stated that the variable influencing the case of GTS in tobacco farmers was the work period OR = 2,944, (CI 1,127-7,693) smoking status OR = 18,083 (CI 6.815-47,984) dermatosis complaints OR = 3,876 (CI = 1,238-12,138) and nutritional status was assessed with a BMI, OR = 2.643 (CI = 1.038-6.733). Farmers with a working period of working 18 years have a risk of 2,944 times GTS compared to farmers with a work period of <18 years. Farmers with smoking status have a risk of 18,083 times GTS compared to non-smoking farmers. Farmers who have dermatoses have a risk of 1,355 times GTS compared to farmers who do not have complaints of dermatosis. Farmers with an abnormal (overweight) BMI have a risk of 2,643 times GTS compared to farmers with a normal BMI. Conclusion. Factors that influence the GTS are age, sex, smoking status, complaints of dermatosis, nutritional status, and years of service. The findings of this study suggest that integrated promotive and preventive measures from both agricultural owners and first-rate health care providers need in the form of providing self-help to reduce direct contact with wet tobacco, healthy living behavior without smoking and maintaining nutritional status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study provided a profile of work-related diseases in the farming sector notified by physicians to the Norwegian Labor Inspection Authority's (NLIA) Registry for Work-Related Diseases (RAS) over a 10-year period. Methods: Data for the occupational code "farmers" were extracted from RAS for the period 2007–2016. We performed a descriptive analysis to obtain frequency, percentage, and incidence distribution of the data. We also explored the relationship of the notified diagnosis with gender, age, occupational exposures and the type of reporting physicians. Results: Four hundred and sixty-nine cases of work-related diseases among farmers were notified in the period 2007–2016. Eighty-seven percent of the reported cases were males. The incidence of work-related diseases for the entire study period was computed to be 114/100 000 workers. The incidence and number of cases notified were highest among males and for the age group 55–74 years. Noise was the most frequently reported occupational exposure accounted for 291 cases. Hearing loss constituted for 62% of the notified cases, followed by respiratory diseases that accounted for 20% of the cases. Forty-eight cases of skin diseases, while only a few cases of musculoskeletal (n = 7) and mental disorders (n = 1) were notified. There was a strong association (λ = 0.51) between occupational exposure and notified diagnosis, and a moderate association (λ = 0.32) between type of reporting physician and the notified diagnosis. Conclusion: This profile of the physician notified work-related diseases among farmers in Norway yielded a suppressed estimate of the actual incidence of cases. The biased distribution of nature and number of work-related diseases amongst farmers is primarily attributed to the significant undercount of cases. Physician underreporting of cases to the NLIA coupled with lack of Occupational Health Services coverage of workers in the farming sector contributes to this undercount of cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Occupational illness is a disease caused by a person's work or work environment. This disease is caused by the actions of someone who is unsafe (unsafe act) and unsafe condition (unsafe condition) in carrying out his work activities. The unsafe act is an act of someone who deviates from the rules of security standards that have been set in doing work. While unsafe conditions are conditions that can endanger workers. Acute respiratory infection is an acute inflammation of the upper and lower respiratory tract caused by infection with microorganisms, bacteria, viruses, and rickets, without or accompanied by pulmonary parenchyma. Factors that affect a person affected by ARI are environmental factors, individual characteristics, and worker behavior. Environmental factors include air pollution (air pollution due to industrial output and smoke from burning fuel). Dust particles that can cause acute respiratory problems from industrial products that pollute the air such as coal dust, cement, cotton, asbestos, chemicals, toxic gases, dust in rice mills (organic dust). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article the authors attempted to analyze the arguments for considering diabetes as a work-related disease. An overview of literature has been done out of articles published in the years 1980–2016, with the use of combination of key words referring to employment, workplace, and diabetes. The PubMed database was the source of data. The authors indicate that the following arguments are in favor of diabetes being recognized as a work-related disease: diabetes is not an occupational disease, it is not directly related to the work environment or the way the work is performed, but there are observed adverse effects of occupational work-related nuisances, such as night shift work, long work hours, job strain or workplace standing time, which influence its development and course. The number of publications on diabetes, including the problem of occupational work is comparable to the number of analogous publications concerning work-related diseases such as hypertension or ischemic heart disease. Moreover, some aspects of professional activity and diabetes were also included in clinical recommendations for the workplace, which is uncommon in the case of other diseases, even those generally recognized as work-related. Data from medical references, indicating the effectiveness of workplace interventions aimed at preventing diabetes development and/or worsening of its course should be considered as an argument for the inclusion of diabetes into the group of work-related diseases. This should also support the need for further research and practical actions aimed at preventing diabetes at the workplace. Med Pr 2017;68(5):667–675

This article reports data concerning silicosis-related web-activities using Google Trends (GT) capturing the Internet behavior in the USA for the period 2004–2010. GT-generated data were then compared with the most recent available epidemiological data of silicosis mortality obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the same study period. Statistically significant correlations with epidemiological data of silicosis (r=0.805, p-value

This manuscript presents the author’s attempt to review current knowledge on the prevention of work-related injuries in physiotherapists. The author analyzed the literature data concerning the results of studies published until first half of 2015. The aim of the paper is to present and analyze strategies for prevention of work-related injuries in physiotherapists, based on the literature review. The majority of components of discussed strategies still require to be confirmed by future studies. Med Pr 2016;67(5):673–679

The system of occupational health care in Poland, based on occupational medicine service, takes care of almost 12.5 million employees subjected to over 4.5 million obligatory periodic medical check ups. This form of providing prophylactic care comes down to examinations dictated by legal regulations, whose scope is not oriented towards a comprehensive workers’ health assessment, but to the examination of the systems and organs critical to work-related dangers. Simultaneously, epidemiological data indicate a large number of chronic diseases, which may influence the professional activity, like hypertension or diabetes and a high percentage of patients not aware of their illness. Since patients participating in obligatory examinations usually feel healthy and do not use health care services on a daily basis, an occupational medicine physician has a unique opportunity to detect health disorders at an early stage, which can prevent the development of health complications affecting the condition of the patient, limiting their professional activity, but also causing additional costs of the health care system. The authors have proven the need to involve occupational medicine services in the prevention of chronic diseases and the need to introduce additional sources of financing for procedures enabling early detection of diseases the patient may not be aware of or control of the effectiveness of already diagnosed illnesses. They addressed the need to change the current legal form of establishing and announcing the range of examinations and directives for certifying the lack or presence of health contraindications to work to the specified and updated standards prepared by scientific research institutes and occupational medicine societies. Med Pr 2016;67(5):691–700

Background: The unexpected outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has led huge impact on health and safety of employees. Although now the epidemiological situation has improved, but it remains a challenge, especially in light of the emergence of new threats. The aim of the work is to present an epidemiological analysis of data on COVID-19 as an occupational disease in Poland., Material and Methods: The analysis covered all cases of occupational diseases sent by state sanitary inspectors to the Central Register of Occupational Diseases. The years 2020-2022 and such available data as: age, gender, activities and territorial differentiation were analyzed. The data were presented as absolute numbers and incidence rates per 100 000 employed persons and for healthcare workers also per 100 000 persons authorized to practice., Results: In the period 2020-2022 in Poland 7030 diseases recognized as occupational diseases were recorded, of which almost half were infectious diseases (47%). Among infectious diseases, dominated COVID-19 in number of 2059 cases. In this period 98.6% of all cases of COVID-19 were concentrated in the health care and social activities. According to workplaces, most diseases were caused by working in hospitals - 1825 cases (88.6% of all COVID-19 cases in the healthcare workers). Most cases concerned nurses - 1355 cases (65,8%) and doctors - 212 cases (10,3%). The incidence of COVID-19 in the group of physicians per 10 000 persons entitled to practice ranged from 2.6 in 2020 to 68.3 in 2022, while among nurses and midwives the rates were 7.9 and 194.9, respectively., Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic changed the picture of occupational diseases in Poland. Therefore, it is very important to understand the key contributions of people working in environments where workers are at increased risk of contracting COVID-19 due to the nature of their work, and to promote the recognition of COVID-19 as an occupational disease. Med Pr Work Health Saf. 2023;74(6):479-86., (This work is available in Open Access model and licensed under a CC BY-NC 3.0 PL license.)

Background: This register-based study provides a profile of work-related Covid-19 cases reported by physicians to the Norwegian Labor Inspection Authority (NLIA). Methods: All the reports of work-related Covid-19 cases reported by a physician to the NLIAs Registry for Work-Related Diseases (RAS) between February 2020 and February 2022 were included. Descriptive statistics and the incidence rate of reported cases were computed for age, gender, and occupation. Results: Two hundred and seventeen work-related Covid-19 cases were reported to RAS during the study period. Sixty-five percent of the cases were females ( n  = 141), and 35 percent ( n  = 76) were males. Doctors, nurses, and ambulance personnel yielded higher incidence rates than other healthcare and nonhealthcare occupations. Conclusions: This study indicates that women aged 25-39 and employed in the healthcare sector had the highest reported incidence and number of work-related Covid-19 cases. Physician underreporting of work-related Covid-19 cases is an important finding. Plausibly, underreporting is more substantial for at-risk non-healthcare occupations such as waiters, bartenders, food couriers, and taxi drivers than occupations in healthcare.

Copyright of La Medicina del Lavoro is the property of Mattioli 1885 SpA and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The aim of this paper is to present an overview of current knowledge on the work-related musculoskeletal injuries in physiotherapists. The author analyzed the literature data concerning the results of studies published until the first half of 2013. Based on the reviewed literature various causal factors, sources of exposure, and effects of aforementioned injuries are also analyzed and presented. Further strategies to increase health professionals' awareness of the importance of prevention aimed at decreasing the prevalence of aforementioned injuries are required. Med Pr 2013;64(5):681–687

Copyright of Giornale Italiano di Medicina del Lavoro ed Ergonomia is the property of Giornale Italiano di Medicina del Lavoro ed Ergonomia Editorial Board and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The system of occupational health care in Poland, based on occupational medicine service, takes care of almost 12.5 million employees subjected to over 4.5 million obligatory periodic medical check ups. This form of providing prophylactic care comes down to examinations dictated by legal regulations, whose scope is not oriented towards a comprehensive workers' health assessment, but to the examination of the systems and organs critical to work-related dangers. Simultaneously, epidemiological data indicate a large number of chronic diseases, which may influence the professional activity, like hypertension or diabetes and a high percentage of patients not aware of their illness. Since patients participating in obligatory examinations usually feel healthy and do not use health care services on a daily basis, an occupational medicine physician has a unique opportunity to detect health disorders at an early stage, which can prevent the development of health complications affecting the condition of the patient, limiting their professional activity, but also causing additional costs of the health care system. The authors have proven the need to involve occupational medicine services in the prevention of chronic diseases and the need to introduce additional sources of financing for procedures enabling early detection of diseases the patient may not be aware of or control of the effectiveness of already diagnosed illnesses. They addressed the need to change the current legal form of establishing and announcing the range of examinations and directives for certifying the lack or presence of health contraindications to work to the specified and updated standards prepared by scientific research institutes and occupational medicine societies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This manuscript presents the author's attempt to review current knowledge on the prevention of work-related injuries in physiotherapists. The author analyzed the literature data concerning the results of studies published until first half of 2015. The aim of the paper is to present and analyze strategies for prevention of work-related injuries in physiotherapists, based on the literature review. The majority of components of discussed strategies still require to be confirmed by future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]