International Journal of Occupational Safety and Health (nepjol.info)
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Uncovering Research Trends in Safety Culture in the Global Construction Industry: A Bibliometric Analysis (1995-2020)
Get PDFIntroduction: Safety culture has mainly been used across several safety management literatures to describe the level of safety within workplaces. This paper presents the research landscape and scientific developments on safety culture in the global construction industry.
Methods: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) approach was employed to identify, screen, and analyze the published documents indexed in the Elsevier Scopus database. Next, the research landscape and scientific developments on the topic were examined by bibliometric analysis (BA) through co-authorship, keywords co-occurrence, and citations.
Results: Results showed that 738 documents were published and indexed on the topic between 1995 and 2020. The findings showed that articles are the preferred medium, whereas Engineering is the preferred subject theme for published documents on the topic. The journal of Safety Science (published by Elsevier) is the most influential source of publications on the topic. In contrast, Dongping Fang, based at Tsinghua University (China), is the most influential researcher due to the substantial research grants and financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation. Further analysis showed that the most prolific authors on the topic are based in China, Australia, and Indonesia, although the United States has published the most documents. BA also revealed large networks of researchers and co-occurring keywords and the organizations and countries that currently exist, collaborate, and cite each other works on the topic.
Conclusion: The findings indicate that safety culture in the global construction industry has undergone significant scientific developments resulting in high research impact mainly due to its role in preserving the health and safety of workers
Risk Factors for Occupational Injuries among Solid Mineral Miners in OSE Local Government of Ondo State, Nigeria
Get PDFIntroduction: The mining industry is known to have a high incidence rate of fatal injuries hence, the knowledge of the risk factors of injury is important. The risk factors of occupational injury are important in the interplay between work and health, and the knowledge of the risk factors can be used in planning preventive measures. The study was done to determine the risk factors for occupational injuries among solid mineral miners.
Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. Consenting staff completed the pretested self-administered questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics and p ≤ 0.05 was considered significant.
Results: A total of 120 workers were recruited with 109 (90.8%) males and 11 (9.2%) females leading the male to female ratio of 9.9:1. The age range was 18-48 years with a mean of 28.9 (5.8) years. More than one-third (35.0%) had a tertiary level of education. Seventy-two (60.0%) had good knowledge of the occupational injury, and it was associated with the level of education (p<0.001) and occupational injury (p<0.001). About 60.8% have had an occupational injury while inhalational injury (30.0%) was the highest type of injury. Hands (34.5%) were the most affected part of the body even though hand gloves (85.8%) were the most common personal protective equipment used. The factors associated with an occupational injury were age, length of services and job tasks. The predictor of occupational injury was the length of service.
Conclusion: The respondents had good knowledge of the occupational injury and the major risk factors of occupational injury were the length of services, job tasks and age of respondents of this study
Effects of Mercury Concentration on the Health and Safety of Oil and Gas Workers
Get PDFIntroduction: The processing of crude oil is characterized by numerous hazards, which have significant health, safety, and environmental impacts on neighboring communities. The occurrence of mercury and its toxic derivatives is considered one of the many negative impacts of oil and gas operations. However, there is limited research on mercury and its negative effects on workers in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. This study examines the occurrence, exposure, and symptoms of mercury on the health and safety of oil and gas workers in Oman. It also explores the acute/chronic effects of mercury poisoning on the maintenance and inspection workers, who are more prone to the adverse effects of mercury poisoning during oil and gas operations.
Methods: The two-pronged approach of literature review and survey questionnaire was used to deduce the effects of mercury exposure and poisoning using 68 respondents with 1 – 6 years of working experience in the sector.
Results: Based on the questionnaire response rate of 72%, the results showed that over 90% of participants had experienced symptoms of elemental, organic, and methyl mercury poisoning. The common symptoms experienced are headaches, insomnia, weakness, hearing impairment, visual and sensory abilities. However, the respondents who experienced methyl mercury (MeHg) symptoms are due to consuming seafood and cigarettes, whereas elemental and organic mercury symptoms are due to oil and gas operations.
Conclusion: The findings highlight the need for robust health and safety measures to effectively detect, monitor and eliminate mercury compounds responsible for poisoning maintenance and inspection workers
Analysis of differences in variables related to health and safety according to the employment type of Korean workers
Get PDFIntroduction: The purpose of this study was to understand the differences in variables related to health and safety according to the employment type of Korean workers, specifically to identify the differences by employment type on in health status, the likelihood of wearing protective gear when working, access to manuals on emotional expression, and access to information on risk factors related to health and safety.
Methods: The secondary data of four items on employment type, health type of workers and safety among the 5th Korean Working Condition Survey conducted in 2017 in Korea was used in this study. The data of workers were processed by using SPSS/WIN 23.0 Program and R 3.1.2, and demographic characteristics were quantified as frequency and percentage.
Results: A total of 30,300 employed people were surveyed. The result shows that part-time workers have poorer health than full-time workers (c2 = 540.7155, p < 0.05), insufficiently wore protective gear (c2 = 24.8702, p < 0.05), had insufficient access to manuals on emotional expression (c2 = 27.7612, p < 0.05) and lacked information about risk factors (c2 = 185.0082, p < 0.05).
Conclusion: Health and safety manager will need to have education and consultation, development of manual and perform an early intervention to improve safety environment as primary health care providers by understanding factors related to health and safety of part-time workers
Work-related musculoskeletal disorders among pesticide sprayers of tea plantations in South India
Get PDFIntroduction: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD) are conditions in which the work environment and performance of work contribute significantly to the musculoskeletal condition. The objective of this study was to assess the work-related musculoskeletal disorders among the pesticide sprayers in tea plantations.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 290 chemical sprayers in selected tea plantations in South India from September to October 2018. Simple random sampling was done to select the sprayers for the study, written informed consent was taken and face–to–face interview was done with the sprayers. Socio-demographic factors and work profiles were noted. The Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire was used for the evaluation of musculoskeletal complaints.
Results: Among the 290 sprayers in the study, all of them were males and the mean age of the participants was 45.6±8.5 years. More than half of the study participants 152 (52.4%) suffered from at least one musculoskeletal complaint and most of them 104 (35.8%) had pain in more than one body part. Among them, more than one-third 101 (34.8%) suffered from knee joint pain in the past twelve months. Shoulder problems (27.6%), lower back (22.8%) and upper back pains (19.3%) were the other major work-related musculoskeletal disorders that the study participants faced in the past year. Knee pain (31.7%), low backache (20.7%) and shoulder pain (24.1%) were the musculoskeletal problems that were related to their absence from work.
Conclusion: More than half of the sprayers had at least one musculoskeletal complaint. Most common issues included knee joint pain, shoulder pain and back pains
Post-Covid Workplace Scenario – Employer and Employee Health and Safety
Get PDFThe decreasing trend in the spread of the covid-19 infection has relaxed the restrictions imposed on the community, especially the working people. This working community, whether or not infected by the virus is now slowly turning back to work, along with the impacts of the lockdown. Though there is a decrease in the infection rate, there is always the possibility of infection at the workplace, as some percentage of the vaccinated people are also getting infected. It is absolutely necessary to follow the covid precautionary measures. Hence, it cannot be said that the normal situation has returned. The employer is in a state to manage a crowd comprising post-covid patients, caretakers of covid patients and non-affected groups. The literature works reporting on post covid scenario, precautionary measures to be taken and workplace, benefits of workplace social distancing and sanitation, and medical care needed for workers were reviewed. This paper discusses the post-pandemic workplace scenario, health and safety, sanitation among workers, awareness of precautionary measures and their behavioral changes
The 3 C’s of Consideration for COVID-19 Workplace Fever Detection Device Selection: Context, Calibration & Cost
Get PDFCOVID-19 screening protocols have become normal practice for employees entering workplaces around the world. However, workplace screening programs that include temperature detection via infrared thermometers or thermal detection cameras often violate many technical specifications for the correct use of these devices. Therefore, this article aims to provide practical guidance for non-thermal imaging specialists responsible for selecting thermal detection devices for workplace screening protocols. Focusing on three critical points of consideration, including the context of use, calibration of equipment, and cost of purchase and maintenance, readers are presented with a framework to guide their decision-making. This framework not only prioritizes the health and wellbeing of employees by ensuring the context of use is appropriate but balances the cost of calibration, purchasing and additional supporting supplies. Further, the presented framework extends beyond the COVID-19 pandemic and can be easily adapted to implement any new workplace technology
Effect of spinal extension exercises on mechanical low back pain in work from home IT professionals in India
Get PDFIntroduction: Prolonged sitting with awkward posture and long working hours are the predisposing factors for developing Mechanical Low Back Pain (LBP) in IT professionals. Poor dynamic trunk extension performance is associated with back-related permanent work disability and recurrence of LBP. The purpose of this study was to find and analyze the effect of spinal Extension exercises on Mechanical Low Back Pain in work from home IT professionals.
Methods: In this comparative study, 50 work from home IT professionals from various companies were approached through emails. Subjects were randomized into two groups: Group A (n=25) was study group, and Group B (n=25) was control group. Subjects from both groups exercised three times per week for 4 months and followed the ergonomics. Pain intensity, functional disability, and strength of back extensor muscle were assessed at baseline and at the end of week 4.
Results: Group A had lower pain intensity (3.24 ± 1.45 vs 4.76 ± 1.53) and functional disability (4.24 ± 2.14 vs 11.44 ± 1.75) and significantly higher back extensor strength (25.44 ± 4.3 vs 22.24 ± 4.58; P<0.05) than Group B at the end of week 4.
Conclusion: Spinal Extension Exercises should be incorporated in work from home IT professionals with mechanical low back pain to stabilize back muscles and improve physical functioning with minimal discomfort. In line with this, IT professionals should also be made aware of the risk factors associated with mechanical low back pain and should be encouraged for maintenance of physical health and fitness
Burnout among doctors working at a tertiary care hospital during pandemic of COVID-19 in Kashmir Valley, India
Get PDFIntroduction: Burnout syndrome (BO) has negative consequences for the doctors, their family members, co-workers, and also the patients. We conducted this study to estimate the prevalence of BO among doctors working in a tertiary care hospital in Kashmir valley just after the peak of the second COVID-19 wave.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among doctors working at one tertiary care hospital in Kashmir Valley. Participants included interns, residents (junior and senior residents) and faculty members. An online questionnaire containing Oldenburg Burnout Inventory to estimate burnout was used for data collection from 1st to 10th July 2021. In addition, the questionnaire captured demographic information, job profile and work-related information. Mean scores of ≥ 2.25 on exhaustion and ≥ 2.1 in the disengagement domain were used to define burnout. Binary logistic regression was used to evaluate associations.
Results: Of the 322 participants in the study, 119 (36.9%) had completed their post-graduate degree. Of the participants, 150 (46.6%) had to perform 6 or more-night shifts per month and, 61 (18.9%) had previously been diagnosed with COVID-19. Of the participants, 257 (79.8%) had BO, 24 (7.5%) were exhausted and 17 (5.3%) were disengaged. BO was associated with female gender, younger age, number of night duties and emergency room duties per month, being a resident doctor and history of COVID-19 infection on binary logistic regression.
Conclusion: This survey reported a very high prevalence of burnout among doctors. Addressing BO among healthcare workers should be a key priority for improving quality of life among doctors and to improve quality of care.
Insights into Knowledge, Attitude and Perception about Dental Ergonomics and Work-Related Musculo Skeletal Disorders (MSD) among Dental Professionals at Chengalpet District, Tamil Nadu, India: A cross-sectional study
Get PDFIntroduction: Despite all modern technological advances, dentistry is a profession still being affected by various musculoskeletal disorders, because of their prolonged working hours and difficult postures. Hence, this study was undertaken to assess the basic knowledge, attitude and practice of dental ergonomics during routine dental procedures among dental professionals and the second aim of the study focused on knowledge, attitude and practice of dental ergonomics by gender.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 203 dental professionals from January 2021 to February 2021. A structured questionnaire consisting of 15 questions was administered. Descriptive analysis of demographic variables was done and knowledge, attitude and perception scores were performed using the chi-square test.
Results: Among the 203 participants, a considerable majority of the participants which is about 75.9% (male: 71.1% and female: 79.6%) reported that they have awareness of dental ergonomics. There were no statistically significant differences between males and females regarding knowledge score of p=1.280. About 46.4% of participants (male: 54.3 % and female: 43.9%), complained of neck pain followed by 44.3% (male 41.3% and female 45.2%) complained of back pain. About 58.6% reported that the pain was caused strictly because of improper posture and non-ergonomically designed equipment. The difference between the gender variations was statistically significant regarding perception about dental ergonomics (p=0.001*)
Conclusion: Dental professionals have considerable awareness of ergonomics in dental practice. The current study highlights the situation of ergonomics in dental practice in the form of knowledge, attitude, and practices