Duration Of Work Exposure Research Articles

Differences in workers' compensation claim rates for within-province and out-of-province workers in British Columbia, Canada, 2010-2017.

Little is known about the work-related injury and illness risk of out-of-province workers. This study examines whether there are differences in work-related injury and illness claim rates between within-province and out-of-province workers in British Columbia (BC), Canada. Workers' compensation claim data for injuries and illnesses in BC from 2010 to 2017 were linked with denominator data from Statistics Canada. Multivariable negative binomial regression estimated the claim rate ratio (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for out-of-province workers with all, health care-only (HCO), short-term disability, long-term disability, and fatality (SLF), and serious injury (SI) claims, compared to within-province workers. Compared to within-province workers, out-of-province workers had a lower total claim rate (RR: 0.54, 95% CI: 0.52-0.57), adjusting for sex, age, industry sector, and year. Differences in rates differed by claim type, with the largest differences for HCO claims (RR: 0.49, 95% CI: 0.47-0.52) and smallest differences for SI claims (RR: 0.85, 95% CI: 0.78-0.92). Sex-stratified models showed larger differences for males than females, with older female out-of-province workers having elevated SI claim rates. Industry-specific models showed that, even in sectors with high proportions of out-of-province workers' claims, these workers have lower claim rates than within-province workers. Out-of-province workers generally have lower claim rates than within-province workers. The overall duration of work exposure, and underreporting or underclaiming, are factors that may explain these lower claim rates. Understanding the determinants and differences of these claim rates may improve the administration and adjudication of claims while also identifying where further prevention measures may be merited.

Comparative study of pulmonary impairment among diverse working groups in coal mine

There are different categories of workers depending upon their involvement in mining operation who are exposed to different levels of dust and for different duration. The occurrence and degree pulmonary impairment may differ among different workers in same mining environment. The aim of the study was to evaluate and compare the respiratory functions parameters of actively engaged exposed mine workers to that of supportive workers with respect to their duration of work exposure. 207 workers from coal mine were divided into two groups as per job profile. Group 1 consisting of 115 workers engaged in active mining operations and Group 2 consisting of 92 workers not continuously exposed to mining operations during their working hours. The lung functions of the workers were assessed by using Spirometer. It was observed that pulmonary impairment was more evident in early years among the mine worker actively engaged in mining operations as compared to workers engaged in allied mining operation as the level of exposure to dust varies largely. However, after long term exposure the impairment of allied workers is also in line with that of actively engaged mine workers.

Relationship of duration of work exposure and feeling of subjective fatigue: A case study on jewelry manufacturing workers in India

Aims: Fatigue can be defined in various conditions. In literature it has been defined and explored by various researches through different aspects. This study was conducted to establish the relationship between the duration of work exposure and feeling of subjective fatigue. Materials and Methods: Twenty-one jewelry manufacturing workers as study group and 27 students as control group participated with their signed informed consent. The daily diary method and feeling of subjective fatigue evaluation questionnaire were used as a tool in this study. Three categories of feeling of subjective fatigue were considered in this study. The study was conducted mainly in the middle of the week. The data regarding feeling of subjective fatigue were collected before starting of work and after completion of the work day. Results: The results showed that The time spent on the job by the workers engaged in jewelry manufacturing was 670 min and were in four slots with the longest work period being 240 min. Sleeping time was found to be around 480 min. Conclusion: The study revealed that all three dimensions (general, mental, and physical) were affected by the whole day work exposure. Among three types of fatigues, general fatigue was observed at the beginning and end of the work shift.

Physical workload and risk of low back pain in adolescence

ObjectivesTo evaluate the role of physical workload in low back pain (LBP) among adolescents.MethodsWorking history and physical workload factors at 18 years were assessed for 1984 members of the Northern...

Respiratory Function in Pesticide Workers

Pesticide aerosols are frequently toxic irritants associated with respiratory symptoms and lung function impairment. A cross-sectional study examined the prevalence of acute and chronic respiratory symptoms and lung function abnormalities in 82 workers employed in processing pesticides and in 60 control workers not exposed to irritants and employed in a soft drink bottling plant. The prevalence of almost all chronic respiratory symptoms was greater among pesticide workers than among controls. A logistic regression analysis shows differences between men and women. There was a high prevalence of acute symptoms during the work shift in pesticide workers. The data on ventilatory capacity indicates significant reductions in all tests compared to predicted. Multivariate analysis of lung function showed differences in smoking and work exposure effects in men and women. Our data indicate that duration of work exposure in the pesticide processing industry may be associated with the development of acute and chronic respiratory symptoms and lung function changes. These effects appear to be aggravated by smoking.

Blood eosinophils in workers with aluminum potroom asthma are increased to higher levels in non‐smokers than in smokers

Aluminum potroom asthma (PA) has been described in several reports. This study aimed to investigate the association between blood eosinophils and PA. In a cross-sectional study, 338 workers were examined as follows: spirometry, blood eosinophils, skin prick test, and work exposure measurements. They also completed a questionnaire on respiratory symptoms, smoking, allergy, and duration of work exposure. The odds ratio for PA was 4.2 (95% confidence interval 1.5-9.7) for workers with eosinophils > or =400 x 10(6) cells/L compared with workers with eosinophils <200 x 10(6) cells/L. In non-smokers, the number of eosinophils was 177 x 10(6) cells/L (P < 0.001) higher among workers with PA than asymptomatic workers, whereas the corresponding difference among current smokers was only 63 x 10(6) cells/L (P = 0.03). The prevalence of PA was positively associated with blood eosinophils. An attenuation of the blood eosinophil increase was observed in smoking asthmatics, suggesting an immune-modulating effect of smoking.

A study to assess the respiratory impairments among the male beedi workers in unorganized sectors

<b>Aims:</b> The dust of tobacco enters the respiratory system of <i> beedi</i> workers through inhalation during <i> beedi</i> -making and causes respiratory impairments. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the pulmonary functional status of male <i> beedi</i> workers and to detect the pulmonary function impairments among these workers. <b> Materials and Methods:</b> A standard questionnaire was followed to note the symptoms like cough, breathlessness, morning cough and chest tightness. The <i> tendu</i> leaves contain fungal spores in different phases of its processing, particularly when they were kept in bundles in moist condition before wrapping the <i> beedi.</i> In the present study, pulmonary function status assessment was done by spirometric method using Spirovit-SP-10 and Wright's peak flow meter. Out of the total subjects studied (n=107), 56 were control subjects and 51 were workers exposed to <i> beedi.</i> <b> Statistical Analysis:</b> Paired t-test was done to determine the significant difference between <i> beedi</i> workers and control subjects. <b> Result:</b> A few workers reported symptoms of cough, breathlessness, morning cough and chest tightness. The respiratory symptoms were found higher in exposed <i> beedi</i> workers compared to control subjects. A trend of decrement of lung volumes with the increment of age and duration of work exposure was observed. The pulmonary function abnormalities found among the male <i> beedi</i> workers were obstructive, restrictive and 'combined restrictive and obstructive' type. <b> Conclusion:</b> The respirtory impairments among the <i> beedi</i> workers might be due to their exposure to the work environment.<br>

Respiratory function in active firefighters.

Exposure to environmental pollution during firefighting may results in the development of respiratory disorders in firefighters. The health effects of firefighting on respiratory function was investigated in a group of 128 active firefighters by recording respiratory symptoms and measuring lung function. In addition, 88 control workers, not exposed to known pollutants were studied for the prevalence of acute and chronic respiratory symptoms. Significantly higher prevalences of dyspnea, nasal catarrh, sinusitis, and hoarseness were recorded in firefighters compared to control workers (P < 0.01). One subject developed asthma symptoms following two intense firefighting episodes. A high prevalence of acute symptoms experienced during and after fire extinguishing was also documented among these firefighters. Eye and throat irritation as well as headache were prominent. A logistic regression analysis of chronic respiratory symptoms demonstrated that odds ratios were significant for both duration of work exposure and for smoking. Lung function testing demonstrated a decrease in FEF75 in relation to predicted suggesting obstructive changes in the smaller airways. A regression analysis of ventilatory capacity tests indicated a positive relationship of forced vital capacity with length of employment, 1 s forced expiratory volume as well as FEF50 were related to smoking, and FEF75 was related to both smoking and length of employment. Our data suggest that firefighters are at risk for developing acute and chronic respiratory symptoms as well as obstructive airway changes.