International Journal of Occupational Safety and Health (nepjol.info)
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Assessment of work-life balance among married female healthcare workers in a tertiary care hospital of Chengalpattu district, Tamil Nadu: A cross-sectional study
Get PDFIntroduction: In the present century, women seem to flood into every industry/department on par with men with their knowledge and skill. The working woman’s job title, demands, and challenges she faces often result in incompatibilities between the necessities felt at the workplace and home leading to conflicts and loss of work-life balance (WLB). Eventually, a work-life balance is said to exist if the workplace and non-work domains have a proper compatibility.
Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study has been conducted among married female healthcare workers in the tertiary care hospital during the period November 2022 to April 2023. The healthcare workers included were Doctors, Nurses, Pharmacy staff, and lab technicians. A sample size 318 was derived and samples were drawn by stratified random sampling method. The chi-square test was employed to find an association in IBM SPSS v21.
Results: Only 28.3% of the healthcare workers had adequate work-life balance and the majority (66 %) cited family factors as the key factor influencing their work-life balance. Statistically significant association (p<0.05) has been established for characteristics like occupation, marital status, type of family, presence of children, type of duty, place of work and travel time.
Conclusion: A series of focus group discussions can be conducted as it serves as a forum for sharing ideas, concerns and information on work-life balance. Institutions can support their staff by developing flexible working schedules and also by ensuring that workplace demands are not penetrating their personal life
Prevalence of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders among Laundry Workers in North Sulawesi Province, Indonesia
Get PDFIntroduction: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are a serious problem that can affect the health and productivity of laundry workers. Workers who experience such disorders may experience pain, muscle stiffness, joint inflammation, and even serious injury. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among laundry workers in North Sulawesi.
Methods: This study is a quantitative descriptive cross-sectional survey conducted in March 2023 – April 2023 in Minahasa District North Sulawesi Province, specifically Tondano-Tomohon City. A total sample of 225 laundry workers was taken using the convenient sampling technique. The questionnaire used to assess WMSDs was the Nordic Body Map. The chi-square test was applied to find the association between age and musculoskeletal disorders among laundry workers.
Results: Complaints felt in all parts of the worker\u27s body 5.38% were very painful, 17.81% were painful, 36.39% were rather painful, and 39.67% were not painful. The body part that experienced the most complaints of severe pain was back at 10.2%, feeling pain was the waist at 37.3%, feeling pain was the right arm at 47.1%, and no pain was the left elbow at 71.6%.
Conclusion: The prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among the study population was significantly associated with age, sex, nutritional status, and work experience with musculoskeletal complaints (p<0.05). While there is no relationship between work duration and education level with musculoskeletal complaints (p>0.05). Therefore, appropriate interventions need to be made to improve working conditions, protect workers\u27 health, and minimize the risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders in the laundry industry
Unlocking the Impact of Chemicals on the Health and Safety of Pharmaceutical Workers: A Concise Review
Get PDFThe paper presents a concise review of the historical development of the pharmaceutical industry and the problems related to chemical exposure on the health and safety of employees. The industry has greatly improved healthcare worldwide, but it is one of the riskiest due to problems like exposure to dangerous chemicals. Herein, we provide evidence of the health repercussions of pharmaceutical exposure. The paper notes that a diversified approach is required to address these issues. Firstly, there is a need to extensively examine and understand the degree of chemical exposure and its long-term health implications. Tighter laws are necessary to implement higher environmental and safety standards, whereas employee education and training will help to raise awareness of possible hazards. Green chemistry and sustainable methods will curb or mitigate the use of hazardous chemicals and waste generation. Moreover, there is a need to promote sustainable and safer work cultures through safer behaviours, increased public awareness, and community interaction. Pharmaceutical companies must commit to continuous enhancement of their operations, decrease the risks associated with chemical exposure, and put worker and environmental health first. This strategy contributes to a safer and more sustainable pharmaceutical future by being in line with the industry’s commitment to innovation and safety
Ergonomic Risk Assessment and Fatigue Analysis During Manual Lifting Tasks in Farming Activities
Get PDFIntroduction: Farming is a physically demanding occupation that puts farmers at risk of musculoskeletal disorders, particularly when frequently performing activities like heavy lifting, which strains the lower back muscles. The present study aimed to assess the ergonomic risk and fatigue during manual lifting tasks pertaining to farming activities.
Methods: A study was performed on 20 farmers to analyze the ergonomic risks associated with load lifting through the estimation of the Recommended Weight Limit and Lifting Index using the revised NIOSH lifting equation. The low back compression forces of the participants were estimated using the 3DSSPP software. Surface electromyography was employed to analyze the onset of muscle fatigue during the lifting activity.
Results: The results of the study showed a 111.12% increase in the recommended weight limit, a 52.77% reduction in lifting index, and a 28.15% reduction in the low back compression forces for the redesigned lifting technique. The average low-back compression force for the redesigned technique was observed to be well below the back compression design limit of 770 lb. A reduction in the slope of the RMS voltage regression line by 60% and a reduction of 50.23% in the peak spectral power of the sEMG signal, accompanied by a shift in the peak spectral power towards higher frequency region indicated delayed onset of fatigue for the redesigned technique.
Conclusion: The outcomes of the study indicated that the ergonomic redesign of the lifting task could significantly reduce the lifting index and alleviate the spinal compression forces well within the back-compression design limit. The redesign was also found to delay the onset of fatigue in the erector spinae muscles
Multicenter investigation of moral distress among physicians and its impact on the intention to leave working position
Get PDFIntroduction: The evidence concerning Moral Distress (MD) among physicians is limited, while such data are absent for physicians working in the Greek National Health System (GNHS). The purpose of this study is the investigation of MD among physicians in Greece and the validation Moral Distress Scale-Revised (MDS-R) as a reliable method for the measurement of MD in the Greek language.
Methods: This is a multicenter study in which 200 physicians of all specialties and degrees participated. A self-reporting questionnaire was used. The MDS-R questionnaire is constituted of 21 items that describe conditions met in clinical practice, aiming to investigate the frequency and intensity of such cases. The questionnaire was translated and validated in the Greek language.
Results: The test-retest procedure was undergone in a sample of 18 physicians and it was found significant and high agreement in all of the MD scale items. Therefore, all 21 items of the MDS-R questionnaire were found suitable for inclusion in the Greek version of MDS-R. A model of four main factors emerged after the analysis of the results with a total variance of 46,8% and all these factors were correlated with each other. MD was detected to a significant degree in more than half participants. The incidence and intensity of MD were higher in physicians who worked in general hospitals compared to those working in cancer hospitals, which is reported for the first time.
Conclusions: The Greek version of MDS-R is a valid and reliable instrument for the investigation of MD among Greek physicians. Moral distress impacts the Greek physicians but the degree depends on the working position. Moral distress is also associated with leaving a working position among Greek physicians
Resumption of dental practice after COVID-19 lockdown: perspectives of dental professionals in Karachi, Pakistan
Get PDFIntroduction: In the COVID-19 pandemic, the implementation of the lockdown led to the closure of dental practices. Restricting treatment to emergency patients, having to use Personal Protective Equipment and the fear of contracting the virus led to modifications in the techniques and methods used to provide efficient dental care to the patients. However, it caused a significant psychological and financial impact on the dental community. The purpose of this research was to evaluate dentists’ perceptions regarding the psychological, financial, and general impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the reopening of their dental practices.
Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted using a validated questionnaire, which was distributed among 257 dental practitioners working in Karachi through the social media app (WhatsApp®) from May 2021 to May 2022. The questionnaire included four sections and 26 items, recording data for demographics, psychological effects on resumption of dental practices, workplace disinfection, and precautionary measures along financial impacts. Data were analyzed using SPSS, version 21.0. p-value ≤ 0.05 was taken as statistically significant
Results: A total of 200 filled questionnaires were received, making the response rate 77%. The majority of respondents were females (67%). More than half of the respondents (55.5%) were working in dental OPDs. Most participants affirmed that they did not have a COVID-19 screening area nor patient triage was being done in dental OPDs. Closure of dental practices caused financial problems for all dental practitioners, more specifically for those that were associated with both public and private types of practices (84.9%). The majority of the dentists in private practice (94.4%) declared that their workplaces were being disinfected, while 47.7% of dental practitioners working in the dental OPD affirmed that they had enough financial stability to keep using Personal Protective Equipment. Approximately 64.9% of professionals practicing in dental OPDs and 33.3% in private practice believed that the reopening of dental practices was responsible for the re-spread of the coronavirus
Conclusion: Significant anxiety and stress related to COVID-19 were seen among dental practitioners. Some CDC-recommended guidelines such as the use of Personal Protective Equipment were being implemented whereas COVID-19 screening and patient triage were found deficient
Impact of High-Heeled Footwear on the health of the young female students of selected colleges of Mangalore, India
Get PDFIntroduction: High-heeled shoes are a leading cause of foot problems and chronic lower limbs, as well as discomfort, fatigue, and an increased risk of injury. The research aimed to analyze the influence of wearing high-heeled shoes on the foot health of young females. The study emphasizes the need to create awareness among females about the detrimental impacts of utilizing heeled footwear over the long term on discomfort, BMI, and functional capacity. A slight change in footwear choices could significantly reduce discomfort and disability experiences.
Methods: Purposive sampling was used to select 50 young female students studying in Mangalore\u27s undergraduate college for the cross-sectional study. A pre-designed and pre-tested structured Google Form questionnaire was used to examine the socio-demographic characteristics and outcome measures, including the location of pain, the intensity of the pain, and functional ability. Data was collected in the second half of 2020. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data.
Results: According to the survey, 46% of young female students exhibited poor functional activities while wearing high heels. It was found that 12% of students had pain in their toes all of the time, 8% had pain in the arch of their foot, and 25% had discomfort in their lower back occasionally. About two-thirds (64%) felt averagely manageable discomfort.
Conclusion: The study found that wearing heeled shoes has a significant influence on women\u27s musculoskeletal systems. Young females will be better able to resist pain from the deforming effects of footwear if they condition their feet properly and choose the appropriate footwear
A mapping review of challenges in existing technology-based occupational safety training in the tourism and hospitality industry: Research potential in commercial kitchens
Get PDFIntroduction: An effective response to a safe and healthy work environment relies on advanced preparedness such as occupational safety training. The main objectives of this study are to describe and classify the most critical challenges and identify knowledge gaps in the literature that could inform future research.
Methods: A systematic mapping review gathers information from six search engines; Francis and Taylor, Scopus, Science Direct, Emerald Insight, and SpringerLink, which yielded journal publications between 1948 and 2022. The data were analyzed using meta-analysis from 135,310 article search results, whereby 20 articles met the inclusion criteria. The studies varied in terms of aim, study design, and reporting detail.
Results: The results showed that Canada and the United States are countries that study safety training in the tourism or hospitality industry, mainly in food management and food safety. The results also show that studies on occupational safety training in commercial kitchens are not common in the existing literature. The findings revealed that the highest number of articles involving safety training focused on food safety and food management in the tourism industry but less on kitchen workers\u27 safety.
Conclusions: This mapping review demonstrates hospitality workers\u27 struggles, especially commercial kitchen workers. This review presents the types of technologies used for occupational safety training and provides an overview of different strategies that address the challenges. Among the most significant obstacles in occupational safety and health training are a lack of knowledge, high financial costs for implementation, and outdated policies from authorities
Laboratory Risk Analysis in a Branch Hospital: The L-type Matrix
Get PDFIntroduction: Laboratory workers are often exposed to various risk factors, which can be classified as biological, physical, chemical, psychosocial, and ergonomic. This study aims to conduct a risk analysis in the workers of microbiology and biochemistry laboratories of a branch hospital in Istanbul, Türkiye to identify occupational health and safety risks and provide recommendations for measures to be taken.
Methods: The investigators conducted the risk analysis with a five-person team including occupational health and safety experts, a laboratory manager, and technicians. Risk assessments were performed using the L-type matrix 5x5 diagram. The level of risk was determined with the product of probability and severity.
Results: Risk analysis in the microbiology laboratory showed ten risk factors. Three of them had moderate level scores as following "working with xylene", “continuous standing work” and "insufficient free space". The remaining risks have low-risk scores, including "working in a noisy environment, "microscope light and ambient light", "working with blood", "working with feces", "non-ergonomic chairs", "insufficient airflow in the environment" and "continuous presence in a closed space". In the biochemistry laboratory, four were classified as moderate risk, including working in constant standing, exposure to bodily fluids, blood tests for bacteria and viruses and non-ergonomic furniture.
Conclusion: The priority should be to minimize the risks associated with contact with blood and body fluids. This could involve the implementation of strict safety measures and protocols, as well as providing appropriate personal protective equipment to all personnel who may encounter these fluids
Micronuclei in the exfoliated oral epithelial cell: a cross-sectional study in Peruvian artisanal miners
Get PDFIntroduction: Artisanal mining in Peru is an activity that generates a risk of exposure to different compounds, among which mercury and particulate matter stand out. The use of laboratory indicators to assess genotoxicity induced by work activity is a priority need. Our objective was to determine the micronucleus count in buccal cells of artisanal miners in Peru during 2020.
Methods: We designed a cross-sectional study where 80 artisanal miners were evaluated who underwent scraping in the inner area of the cheek to obtain epithelial cells that were stained with Feulgen\u27s staining, and micronuclei and nuclear alterations were identified on a count of 2000 cells.
Results: We found that the mean micronucleus count was 27.5±8.0 (CI95: 25.7 – 29.3, min. 15, max. 48). For the other nuclear alterations such as nucleoplasmic bridges, budding, and binucleation, only up to one alteration was evidenced for each total count. The number of years of work (p=0.004) and age (p<0.001) were the only variables associated with the micronucleus count.
Conclusion: The nuclear alterations in buccal cells of artisanal miners exposed to particulate material were micronuclei, nucleoplasmic bridges, budding, and binucleations, the most frequent being the presence of micronuclei, with a mean value of 27.5 micronuclei per 2000 cells counted