International Journal of Occupational Safety and Health (nepjol.info)
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Effectiveness of a school-based fire preparedness program on the knowledge and skills for fire response among primary school students
Get PDFIntroduction: In the border region of Thailand, the absence of a standardized school preparedness program exposes schools to the risk of fires, which can result in injuries, fatalities, and property damage. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of a fire preparedness program for primary schools in Chiang Rai province\u27s border area, serving students from various ethnic backgrounds.
Methods: A quasi-experimental research design was utilized to assess the influence of a fire preparedness program on the knowledge and skills of fire response in primary school students. The study was conducted between July and October 2022, involving a total of 420 primary school students.
Results: This program significantly increased students’ knowledge of fire composition (p<0.001), types of fire (p<0.001), fire response (p=0.049 and <0.001), and the basic inspection of a fire extinguisher (p<0.001). The fire preparedness program can enhance the fire prevention knowledge scores of students across all grade levels (p<0.001). Furthermore, the program has enhanced students\u27 fire response and evacuation skills, elevating their scores from 1.22±0.43 to 3.83±0.51 (p<0.001).
Conclusion: These findings emphasize the vital role of fire preparedness programs in enhancing fire safety knowledge and equipping students with essential fire response skills. Such programs are important in preparing students from diverse ethnic backgrounds to effectively respond to fire emergencies
Occupational accidents in a woodcraft village in Vietnam
Get PDFIntroduction: In Vietnam, carpentry is one of fourteen main craft groups, making a significant contribution to socio-economic development. Carpentry villages are facing a fairly common situation of labor accidents. Meanwhile, research on occupational accidents in wood craft villages in Vietnam is still limited. This study focuses on studying the current situation of injuries caused by occupational accidents to workers in wood craft villages. Potential causes of injuries caused by occupational accidents are also researched, analyzed and clarified.
Methods: The article is based on the qualitative research results of 05 in-depth interviews and the quantitative research results of 385 questionnaires. The research subjects are workers directly involved in wooden furniture production in La Xuyen wood craft villages.
Results: The study shows that the situation of occupational accidents among direct workers in wood craft villages is very alarming and quite common, including serious and fatal occupational accidents. Occupational accidents happen to both men and women, in which men often suffer more serious and fatal occupational accidents than women. The main cause of occupational accidents is that production activities are spontaneous in nature, without safe working procedures. There are no labor safety regulations as well as labor safety instructions at the workplace.
Conclusion: The study\u27s findings promote the development of qualitative and quantitative research on issues related to occupational accidents and measures to prevent occupational accidents in wood craft villages. Vietnamese local authorities need to further strengthen their attention on ensuring occupational safety and health in the area, and promote propaganda and education to raise people\u27s awareness in the prevention and control of occupational diseases or accidents. They also need to open training courses on instructions to operate machines and use personal protective equipment safely, and reduce the risks of occupational accidents for workers in the craft villages
Low back pain among nursing assistants at Mansoura University hospitals: prevalence and risk
Get PDFIntroduction: Low back pain (LBP) is one of the most debilitating and prevalent disorders. It is a leading contributor to disability worldwide. Lifting of heavy loads is a key duty of many healthcare workers, but among nursing assistants (NAs) patient handling is the most prevalent duty and has been reported as the main cause of LBP among them. Many studies reported higher prevalence of LBP for NAs compared with nurses and other occupational groups. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of LBP during the past 6 months and identify the potential associated risk factors among NAs.
Methods: A cross-sectional study with analytic component was carried out upon all NAs working at three Mansoura university hospitals. An interviewer-administrated questionnaire was used to collect data regarding socio-demographics, work conditions, ergonomics, having LBP in the past 6 months, LBP characteristics and disability evaluation.
Results: The prevalence of LBP in the past 6 months was 71.1% with 50.7% of them had clinically significant disability and 6.5% had severe disability. The prevalence of LBP with neurological symptoms was more than 50.0%, while 34.8% of them were taking regular medications for the pain. Female gender, obesity and most ergonomic risk factors were significantly higher among NAs with LBP than those without.
Conclusion: It is evident from this study that LBP is prevalent among NAs. Personal and ergonomic risk factors contribute to its occurrence. Health and safety programs to build ergonomically safe working conditions, training of NAs and encouraging regular physical exercise are needed
Psychological morbidity and its risk factors among migrant construction workers in Chengalpattu district – A cross-sectional study
Get PDFIntroduction: Migrant construction workers, who form an essential workforce in the construction industry, face distinctive challenges such as job-related stress, workplace safety issues, financial instability, and difficulties arising from communication and cultural differences. Addressing psychological morbidity in this population is crucial not only to improve their quality of life. Hence, this study was conducted to assess the psychological factors such as anxiety, depression, and stress among migrant construction workers, as well as to evaluate the influence of social factors such as isolation, housing conditions, and cultural adaptation.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out among 350 migrant construction workers in the Chengalpattu district. A total of 4 construction sites were randomly chosen by lottery method and stratified random sampling was done in each construction site to obtain the required sample size. The Data was collected using a pretested semi-structured questionnaire and validated Depression, Anxiety, and Stress (DASS-21) Scale for assessing depression, anxiety, stress, and relevant data. Informed consent was obtained, and data were entered in MS Excel and analyzed by SPSS version 22.
Results: Among the study participants, the prevalence of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress was found to be 44%, 32% and 38.6% respectively. Factors such as male gender, age ≤ 29 years, sleeping less than 6 hours per day, working more than 8 hours per day, lack of adequate housing facilities, and limited access to healthcare services were essential predictors for depression and stress. Working more than 8 hours per day was a necessary predictor of anxiety.
Conclusion: Migrant construction workers are more prone for stress and other psychological health problems. Routine screening of both physical and mental health for workers should be carried out to ensure their well-being. Additionally, policies that address discrimination, improve living conditions, and enhance access to social services can contribute to a more equitable and fulfilling experience for migrant construction workers
Factors associated with shoulder pain and disability among Nepalese farmers
Get PDFIntroduction: Shoulder pain (SP) is a common concern impacting the quality of life (QOL) and productivity among Nepalese farmers. However, the factors contributing to SP are not fully understood. This study aimed to identify the bio-psychosocial factors influencing SP and disability in Nepalese farmers.
Methods: 122 full-time farmers seeking treatment for SP participated in this cross-sectional study. The Nepalese version of the Shoulder Pain and Disability Questionnaire (SPADI-NP), the 11-item Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK-11-NP), and the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS-NP) were used for data collection. Univariate and multivariate linear regressions were used to determine the contributing factors of SP and disability.
Results: TSK-11-NP, PCS-NP, age, gender, and education were significantly associated with the SPADI-NP, with TSK-11-NP (R2=0.42) and PCS-NP (R2=0.40) demonstrating the highest association. The first model with a constant and TSK-11-NP explained 42% of the variance in SPADI-NP. Adding age, gender, and education sequentially, the model improved the ability to explain the variance in SPADI-NP to 46%, 48%, and 50%, respectively. The results indicated that psychological factors were the strongest factor associated with SP and disability in Nepalese farmers.
Conclusions: Heightened kinesiophobia, pain catastrophization, advancing age, female gender, and low level of education significantly contributed to SP and disability in Nepalese farmers. A comprehensive approach addressing these bio-psychosocial factors would be necessary for managing SP and disability and possibly improving the QOL of the local farmers in the region
Exploring Risk of Posture and Musculoskeletal Disorders among Smartphone Addicted Youth: a Protocol Paper
Get PDFIntroduction: Smartphones with rapid advancement in telecommunication technology causing high usage leads to addiction, especially among youth. Concerning health, smartphone addiction influences posture causing neck-shoulder pain. However, the mechanism of how smartphone addiction causes pain related to posture control is still doubtful. Anticipatory feed-forward motor control mechanism has proposed that smartphone usage is a static low-level activity influenced by muscle fatigue and discomfort. Therefore, this study aimed to explore neck-shoulder muscle fatigue, particularly at the upper trapezius about smartphone addiction behaviors and adopted posture while using smartphones among youth. This study aims to investigate the relationship between smartphone addiction, risk of posture and the relationship between trapezius muscle fatigue, and neck-shoulder pain among youth.
Methods: A cross-sectional study design will be conducted through convenient sampling among students at secondary schools in Malaysia. The Smartphone Addiction Scale, Rapid Assessment Upper Limb, Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire and Electromyogram will be used as outcomes tools.
Discussion: This study investigates the risk of smartphones in terms of duration usage among adults. Fatigue over the upper trapezius muscle has not yet been investigated among youth which will provide fundamental findings on how faulty posture during smartphone usage might cause neck pain
Loss of work-life balance, experience of stress and anxiety among professionals working from home - An exploratory study in a western Indian city
Get PDFIntroduction: Work from Home, (WFH) gained prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic because of the emphasized positives of flexibility, productivity, efficiency, and saving on commute time. However, over a period of time, experiences of stress, anxiety, and depression started to daunt the WFH employees. A study of the impact of WFH on the work performance, mental health (stress and anxiety), and lifestyle of Indian employees is necessary for the generation of evidence that would contribute to WFH policy building.
Methods: The study was done online during the COVID-19 pandemic in the months of April-June 2021. A link to the Google form was posted on the author’s social media platforms, Facebook and LinkedIn. The survey researched individual work performance, perceived stress, and anxiety, lifestyle practices, and experiences of WFH.
Results: Participants scored high on the dimensions of task performance and contextual performance. (65.3%) were under moderate stress, and (8.9%) were under high stress, and more than fifty percent (55.4%) were experiencing high-state anxiety. The effect of work distraction on perceived stress and state anxiety was found to be significant (p = 0.004). Also, a significant association was observed between feelings of isolation and high-state anxiety (p = 0.005) and between anxiety and stress (p = 0.000).
Conclusion: Teaching and training mindfulness to WFH employees would help in coping with the stress and anxiety attached to WFH. Industries have the opportunity to conceptualize innovative and context-specific strategies to support WFH arrangements and employees’ well-being
Ergonomic Risk Identification and Postural Analysis in Electrical Transformers Manufacturing Company located in Southern India
Get PDFIntroduction: Musculoskeletal disorders are the major factors resulting in discomfort at work in manufacturing industries to workers and these conditions contribute to the poor health of the workforce, subsequently to lower productivity. Therefore, the design of a workstation based on Ergonomic principles is becoming significant to reduce the effects of MSD. This study aimed to identify and assess the ergonomic risks associated with the work tasks in the company through posture analysis and develop recommendations for reducing those risks.
Methods: About 36 manufacturing workers from five sections were randomly selected for the cross-sectional study. The chosen team members were from Core building, Core winding, Assembly, Tanking and Tank fabrication sections with experience of more than two years. The presence of MSDs was assessed using a Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire. For postural analysis, Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) and Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) were utilized. Few selected postures were analysed using CATIAV5 software and improvements reducing the risks of postures were recommended.
Results: All of the 36 workers selected for the study were male with a mean age of 32 years and, average experience of 10 years, and 75% of workers had normal body mass index. The MSD questionnaire indicated discomfort of 86% mostly in the lower back portion of the body. The combined findings of RULA and REBA showed that about 44% of postures were in the high-risk group.
Conclusion: Well-defined ergonomic interventions such as redesigning the workstation are suggested to reduce awkward postures and manual handling risks, leading to improvement in job performance and productivity
Risk of Prenatal Pesticide Exposure to Anemia and Stunted Birth in Horticultural Areas of West Lampung Regency, Indonesia
Get PDFIntroduction: The massive use of pesticides in horticultural agriculture has raised significant concerns about their effects on human health, including fetal growth. This study aims to evaluate the risk of prenatal pesticide exposure to anemia and stunted birth in a horticulture center in Lampung Province, Indonesia.
Methods: The study followed the pregnancies of 100 participants, grouped into exposed (WF=50) and unexposed (WNF=50). This study observes work methods, working hours, and protection used. Cholinesterase, hemoglobin, energy and protein intake were also measured (three periods). Birth length measurements were made at all births. Chi-square and stratification tests were used to assess differences in proportions between groups. Calculation of Relative Risk (RR) with 95% CI was applied to assess the risk of exposure to the outcome.
Results: The study found that most participants were aged 21-35 years (80.0%), low income (87.0%), and 28.0% of WF had never given birth. There is no difference in the energy and protein intake proportion between WF and WNF (p-value> 0.05). But significantly different in poisoning status (p-value = 0.002) and hemoglobin level (p-value = 0.008). The risk of anemia in WF with poisoning is 4.57 (2.24-9.35) times. Furthermore, the risk of having a stunted baby from WF with anemia is 10.63 (1.16-97.26) times.
Conclusion: This study has proven that pesticide exposure is a risk factor for anemia that impacts stunting. Examination of pesticide poisoning, nutritional monitoring during pregnancy, and social safety nets are recommended
Implementation of National Health Insurance Scheme for Civil/Public Servants in Nigeria
Get PDFIntroduction: Nigeria’s health system is characterized by gross underfunding, poor stakeholder coordination, and inadequate numbers and skills of health care workers. Thus, the study assessed the factors affecting the implementation of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in Minna, Niger State, as well as the willingness of civil/public servants to enroll in the scheme.
Methods: The study employed a descriptive research design that is also comparative. Data were collected using questionnaires and presented and analyzed using IBM-SPSS version 25.0 for Windows with the help of tables and graphs. The respondents were drawn from 10 ministries in Minna using a multi-stage sampling method.
Results: A higher percentage of respondents (85.2%) said the scheme would be able to solve the problem of funding for health care delivery. However, more than half of the respondents, 56.1%, were either unsatisfied or very unsatisfied with their salaries. Nevertheless, 82.4% expressed good health status. All the respondents (100.0%) pay for their families’ healthcare services without receiving any financial support from any other person. Out of 127 that responded to the question asking about the effects of medical bills on their monthly expenditure. Yet, the majority, 265 (81.8%), were willing to part with a percentage of their salaries to contribute to NHIS.
Conclusion: The State Government should see the willingness of the civil servants to participate in the scheme as an opportunity to commence the implementation of the scheme without further delay to enable civil servants to participate and enjoy the benefits that the scheme offers