End Of Working Day Research Articles

How Does Environmental Temperature Affect Farmworkers' Work Rates in the California Heat Illness Prevention Study?

Estimate the association between environmental temperature (wet bulb globe temperature [WBGT]) and work rate over the course of a workday. Repeated-measures regression was used to identify characteristics impacting work rate in a cross-sectional study of Latino farmworkers. Minute-by-minute work rate (measured by accelerometer) and WBGT were averaged over 15-minute intervals. Work rate decreased by 4.34 (95% confidence interval [CI], -7.09 to -1.59) counts per minute per degree Celsius WBGT in the previous 15-minute interval. Cumulative quarter hours worked (2.13; 95% CI, 0.82 to 3.45), age (-3.64; 95% CI, -4.50 to -2.79), and dehydration at the end of workday (51.37; 95% CI, 19.24 to 83.50) were associated with counts per minute as were gender, pay type (piece rate vs hourly) and body mass index ≥25 kg/m 2 . The effects of pay type and body mass index were modified by gender. Increased temperature was associated with a decrease in work rate.

Job crafting promotes internal recovery state, especially in jobs that demand self-control: a daily diary design

BackgroundResearch on how employees recover from work has focused primarily on recovery during non-work hours (external recovery) rather than recovery during work hours (internal recovery). Using the conservation of resources theory as a conceptual framework, we tested whether job crafting promotes an internal recovery state, and examined the processes that explain this association.MethodsUsing the daily diary method, 120 full-time employees provided information before and after work for 5 days by rating job crafting, ego depletion, self-control demands at work, fatigue and vigor.ResultsThe results of multilevel modeling showed that after controlling for employees’ fatigue and vigor before work, daily job crafting predicted significantly better internal recovery (greater vigor and lower fatigue at the end of workday), and this association was mediated by lower ego depletion. The links between job crafting and internal recovery were stronger for employees with high self-control demands at work.ConclusionsThis study extends recovery research by examining internal recovery as well as job crafting as its antecedent. Further, the present study suggests that managers may consider encouraging and offering job crafting interventions for employees to achieve internal recovery state.

A Multimodal Interdisciplinary QI Intervention Is Associated With Reduction in After Hours Inpatient Endoscopy Cases

Background and AimsIncreasing demand for inpatient endoscopic services results in performing more non-emergent endoscopic cases after-hours, which poses risks to patient safety and negatively impacts patient and provider satisfaction. This study sought to quantify the existing state using quality improvement methodology, design targeted interventions, and determine their effectiveness. MethodsWe conducted an existing state evaluation through a process map, time-series study, and caseload analysis from 7/2017 to 12/2018. Using end-of-workday (EOW) as a proxy for patient and/or provider dissatisfaction and risk for patient safety events, we performed a prospective evaluation of a staged interdisciplinary multimodal intervention aimed to decrease the proportion of days with EOW after 7 PM, decrease the proportion of cases begun after 5 PM, and decrease EOW variability. The post-intervention period was 6/2019-2/2020.S ResultsBased on existing state analyses, we implemented a series of targeted interventions: (1) provider workflow tips, (2) expedited transport for select patients, (3) pathway to reschedule appropriate cases to outpatient endoscopy, and (4) increased staffing for high caseload days through resource pooling. The proportion of days with EOW after 7 PM decreased from 42.4% to 29.3% (caseload-adjusted odds ratio of 0.39, P < 0.001). Despite increased caseload, cases begun after 5PM decreased from 17.5% to 14.2% (OR 0.75, P = 0.009). EOW SD decreased from 2:20 hours to 1:36 hours. ConclusionThe multimodal intervention reduced days with EOW after 7PM and the proportion of cases begun after 5PM, despite increased caseload. This study shows how applying research methods to implement QI interventions successfully decreases late inpatient endoscopic cases.

A Multimodal Interdisciplinary QI Intervention Is Associated with Reduced Variability in Finishing Inpatient Endoscopic Cases and Reduction in Cases after Hours

Performing non-emergent inpatient endoscopic cases after hours poses risks to patient safety, negatively impacts patient and provider satisfaction, and potentially prolongs length of stay (LOS), due to decreased staffing and transitions in care. At our institution, weekday inpatient procedures are performed in dedicated operating rooms with anesthesia support; resource changes at 5PM and 7PM lengthen flow time. At baseline, the mean daily end of workday (EOW), defined by endoscopy-out of the day’s last non-emergent case, was 17:46, but with a wide standard deviation (SD) of 2:20 hours, with only 57.6% days with EOW < 7PM. Using EOW as a proxy for patient/provider dissatisfaction, risk for patient safety events, and prolonged LOS, we performed a prospective evaluation of a staged interdisciplinary multimodal intervention aimed to decrease the EOW variability and increase the proportion of days with EOW < 7PM. We also evaluated the proportion of cases begun > 5PM. We conducted an IRB-approved QI (quality improvement) prospective evaluation of a staged multimodal intervention from 12/2018 to 9/2019. A robust evaluation of current care processes care and root causes for EOW variability was conducted, utilizing a time series study, swimlane map, stakeholder interviews, and third party workflow assessment. We implemented a series of targeted interventions to address the identified delays from 12/2018-5/2019 (Figure 1), including: (1) provider education with workflow tips, (2) expedited transport for select patients, (3) offloading appropriate cases to outpatient endoscopy, and (4) increased resources for high caseload days through resource pooling. We used a statistical process control chart to assess the impact of post-intervention outcomes, including daily EOW, the number of cases performed after hours, and risk-adjusted LOS. The pre-period (S0) was retrospective baseline data from 7/2017-12/2018 and post (S4) was from 5/2019-9/2019. Risk adjusted LOS was calculated using an observed to expected ratio. EOW SD decreased from 2:20 hours in S0 to 1:36 hours in S4 (Figure 2), with an increase in the proportion of EOW < 7pm from 57.6% to 70.7% (OR 0.63, p = 0.045). The odds ratio was 0.39 when adjusted for the day’s caseload (p< 0.001). Despite an increasing caseload (monthly mean number of cases from 140 in S0 to 168 in S4), the percentage of cases begun > 5PM decreased from 17.5% to 14.2% (OR 0.75, p = 0.009). Risk-adjusted LOS decreased slightly (1.5 to 1.1) from S0 to S4 but was not statistically significant (p=0.12). A multimodal intervention successfully reduced EOW variability and the proportion of cases begun > 5PM despite an increased caseload. This study shows how QI tools and methods may be used to design and implement interventions that successfully decrease late inpatient endoscopic procedures.View Large Image Figure ViewerDownload Hi-res image Download (PPT)

Board work session timed at end of workday

Board work session timed at end of workday

Labor Productivity Assessment Using Activity Analysis on Semi High-Rise Building Projects in Pakistan

Construction organizations strive to increase their competitiveness by reducing the project costs especially labor cost. Optimizing labor productivity will ensure value for money. In the face of no guidelines available for local construction industry, research must be directed to benchmark construction labor productivity in building projects of Pakistan. Based on a thorough review of established productivity assessment methods, Activity Analysis is performed on five local semi high-rise building projects. Statistical analysis is carried out to identify labor productivity trends in seven standard areas. Further, sensitivity analysis is carried out to characterize the positive and negative influencers. It is revealed that labor spends a little more than one-third of working time in direct and support activities each, and one-quarter in delay activities. Furthermore, delay and support activities are correlated with direct work. Direct work is observed at its peak during midday hours, and lowest during the start and end of workday. The study is an original effort in benchmarking the labor productivity in construction projects of Pakistan. Based on the findings, productivity improvement strategies are proposed from which projects can benefit in the form of optimized costs and schedules. Results are of relevance towards understanding the labor productivity in developing countries.

A daily investigation of smartphone use and affective well-being at work

This study examines the effects of employees daily smartphone use for personal purposes (i.e., entertainment, social, and informative usage) on their affective well-being at the end of workday. Spe...

MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION AND STROKE: 16-YEAR RISK AND STRESS AT WORK IN OPEN POPULATION OF 25–64-YEAR-OLD WOMEN IN RUSSIA/SIBERIA (WHO MONICA–PSYCHOSOCIAL PROGRAM)

Aim. To determine the effects of stress at workplace on the risks (HR: hazard ratio) of development of myocardial infarction and stroke in open population of 25-64-yearold women in Russia/Siberia (Novosibirsk). Material and methods. Random representative sample of 25-64-year-old women (n=870) was examined in a framework of WHO MONICA-Psychosocial program in one of Novosibirsk districts. Stress at workplace was studied by using the Karasek scale; attitudes to work and prophylactic exams were studied by using the scale of “Knowledge and attitude towards one’s own health” of WHO MONICA-Psychosocial program. During 16 years (1994-2010), all first-time cases of myocardial infarction and stroke were studied in the cohort based on the WHO program of Register of Acute Myocardial Infarction and all available documentation. Cox regression model was used for determination of myocardial infarction and stroke risk over 16 years of follow-up. Results. Prevalence rate of high level of stress in open population of 25-64-yearold women was 31,6%. High levels of stress at work were associated with high levels of responsibility, inability to get rest at the end of workday, frequent professional dissatisfaction, and decreased working ability. For 16 years, HR was by 3,22 times higher for myocardial infarction (p<0,05) and 1,96 times higher for stroke (p<0,05) in women with stress at work. Rates of myocardial infarction and stroke were higher in married women who experienced stress at work, belonged to categories of managers and physical labor, and had high and low level of education. Conclusion. Prevalence of high level of stress at workplace is significant in open population of 25–64-year-old women in Russia/Siberia (Novosibirsk). In the presence of stress at workplace, HR of myocardial infarction and stroke were 2 to 3 times higher than without it. Social gradient affected HR of infarct and stroke.

Oxidative stress of office workers relevant to tobacco smoking and inner air quality.

Studies have used 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) as a biomarker to detect systemic oxidative DNA damage associated with oxidative stress. However, studies on the association between exposure to tobacco smoking and urinary 8-OHdgG give inconsistent results. Limited studies have estimated the oxidative stress among office workers. This study assessed the association between urinary 8-OHdG and cotinine for office workers. Workers (389) including smokers, ex-smokers and non-smokers from 87 offices at high-rise buildings in Taipei participated in this study with informed consent. Each participant completed a questionnaire and provided a spot urine specimen at the end of work day for measuring urinary 8-OHdG and cotinine. The carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in workers’ offices were also measured. The questionnaire reported socio-demographic characteristics, life styles and allergic history. The urinary 8-OHdG level increased with the cotinine level among participants (Spearmans’ rho = 0.543, p < 0.001). The mean of urinary 8-OHdG and cotinine was 5.81 ± 3.53 μg/g creatinine and 3.76 ± 4.06 μg/g creatinine, respectively. Comparing with non-smokers, the adjusted odds ratio (OR) of having urinary 8-OHdG greater than the median level of 4.99 μg/g creatinine was 5.30 (95% confidence intervals (CI) = 1.30–21.5) for current smokers and 0.91 (95% CI = 0.34–2.43) for former smokers. We also found workers exposed to 1,000 ppm of CO2 at offices had an adjusted OR of 4.28 (95% CI = 1.12–16.4) to have urinary 8-OHdG greater than 4.99 μg/g creatinine, compared to those exposed to indoor CO2 under 600 ppm. In conclusion, urinary 8-OHdG could represent a suitable marker for measuring smoking and CO2 exposure for office workers.

Relação entre a força de preensão manual e a circunferência do antebraço de operários da construção civil: estudo de caso

O objetivo deste estudo foi relacionar a Fmax de preensão manual (Fmax) com a circunferência do antebraço de operários da construção civil e detectar se houve perda significativa de Fmax após a jornada de trabalho. 21 operários da cidade de Ponta Grossa – Paraná participaram do estudo. O teste de preensão consistiu na manutenção da força isométrica máxima em um dinamômetro de preensão manual durante 3 segundos. A circunferência do antebraço foi mensurada seguindo padronização de Pompeu (2004). Para análise dos dados, utilizou-se o programa de estatística MiniTab 15.1.1. Para correlacionar a Fmax com as medidas antropométricas foi utilizada a equação de correlação de Pearson. Para analisar a significância da perda de Fmax entre os três momentos, foi utilizado o teste t pareado. Ambas as circunferências do antebraço dominante (CAD) e oposto (CAO) apresentaram correlação com a porcentagem de perda de Fmax no fim da jornada de trabalho. A maior correlação observada foi com a circunferência do antebraço do lado dominante (r = -0,74). Uma diferença significativa entre as forças produzidas pelo mesmo lado nas três avaliações foi observada (P &lt; 0,05). A Fmax registrada antes do trabalho, em relação aos resultados registrados durante e depois do trabalho, mostrou-se significantemente superior para ambos os lados anatômicos. Pôde-se detectar que aqueles operários que apresentaram menor percentual de perda de força manual eram os que possuíam maior circunferência do antebraço. Os resultados deste estudo indicam que a circunferência do antebraço pode servir como ótimo parâmetro de predição de força de preensão isométrica manual.

Musculoskeletal disorders among dentists in the Greater Athens area, Greece: risk factors and correlations

To quantify the magnitude of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in dentists working in the Greater Athens area in relation with personal characteristics, work and psychological risk factors. Using cross-sectional methodology and by means of a self-administered questionnaire, 80 dentists provided information on personal characteristics, employment history, use of specific dental instruments, working and personal habits, perception of the job’s physical and psycho-social demands, general health status, need for recovery at the end of a regular working day, the affected body region and the MSDs frequency. A total of 83 % dentists reported at least one MSD (past year), 54 and 70 % reported monotonous/repetitive movements and strenuous back postures, respectively, while 38 % sought medical help for MSDs of the cervical/shoulder and back region. Direct vision in the oral cavity was significantly related with a higher frequency of chronic pain in the cervical region (odds ratio, OR = 6.8). Absence of a dental assistant and use of manually handled endodontic instruments were significantly related with a higher prevalence of hand senso-neural disorders (OR = 3 and 3.4 respectively). Passive free-time activities were significantly related with a higher prevalence of MSDs in the shoulder region (OR = 4.16). Smokers had significantly higher need for recovery at the end of a working day compared to non-smokers (OR = 2.6). Dentists could prevent or alleviate MSDs, by adopting appropriate work practices and by modifying personal habits. Education in dental ergonomics and correct working postures is of paramount importance and should preferably be introduced during undergraduate dental practice.

Coping with unreliable transportation when collecting children: Examining parents’ behavior with cumulative prospect theory

This paper explores the usefulness of cumulative prospect theory (CPT), an inductive–descriptive model for how people make choices with a priori unknown consequences, in the context of travelers’ coping with unreliable transport networks through the estimation of coefficients characterizing CPT’s value and weighting functions. Attention is directed toward employed parents’ trips to collect their child(ren) from the nursery at the end of workday because of parents’ strong sensitivity to the possibility of late arrivals there. Analysis of a stated response experiment about parents’ coping with unreliable transport networks en route to the nursery provides further evidence for a series of violations of the axioms underlying expected utility theory (EUT) – a deductive–normative model of decision-making under uncertainty that is widely used in transportation studies. The results also show that linkages exist between respondents’ everyday life and their responses in the stated response experiment and, by implication, the shape of CPT’s value function. It is therefore concluded that analytical frameworks for describing activity-travel behavior in situations of unreliability, variability and uncertainty should be both psychologically and socially realistic.

Musculoskeletal outcomes in multiple body regions and work effects among nurses: the effects of stressful and stimulating working conditions

This study investigated the various stressors encountered by the nursing profession. In particular, the following hypotheses were tested: (1) working conditions of nurses significantly affect perceived risk of injury and illness, work dissatisfaction, work satisfaction, energy state at the end of workday, the effort exerted by the registered nurse (RN), psychosomatic outcomes, and musculoskeletal symptoms (in multiple body regions); (2) both intermediate work effects (i.e., effort, perceived risk of injury/illness, work satisfaction/dissatisfaction, energy state at end of workday) and psychosomatic outcomes significantly affect musculoskeletal outcomes (in multiple body regions); (3) both working conditions and effects significantly affect musculoskeletal outcomes. In a preliminary study conducted on 34 registered nurses, results show that: (1) stressful working conditions affect musculoskeletal outcomes in multiple body regions, and (2) physical maladies such as lower back problems are not only associated with physical factors but also with a complex interaction of working conditions. Further research is warranted to obtain a better understanding of the complex interaction and the synergistic effects of the various nursing working conditions.

Biological monitoring of workers exposed to styrene and acetone.

Twenty-two workers exposed to styrene and acetone in two fiberglass industries were monitored on Monday and Thursday for 8 hours using passive dosimeters. Urine samples were collected at the end of the workshift and before the start of the work on the next morning (Tuesday and Friday). The charcoal disks of the passive dosimeters were analysed by gas-chromatography. Mandelic acid (MA) and phenylglyoxylic acid (PGA) were measured using a HPLC method; values were expressed in mg/g of creatinine. The 8-h TWA exposure values for styrene and acetone ranged respectively from 22 to 522 mg/m3 and 40-1581 mg/m3 on Monday; 25-423 mg/m3 and 55-579 mg/m3 on Thursday. Styrene TWA exposure values significantly correlate with the sum of metabolites at the end of workday (r = 0.70 on Monday and r = 0.95 on Thursday) and also at the next morning (r = 0.86 on Tuesday and r = 0.85 on Friday). A styrene exposure level of 213 mg/m3 (ACGIH-TLV) was associated with an excretion of metabolites (MA+PGA) higher on Thursday (803 mg/g creat) than on Monday (570 mg/g creat). The same result was found on Friday (459 mg/g creat) compared with Tuesday (305 mg/g creat). Moreover our data show that the simultaneous exposure to acetone does not modify the excretion of MA. In conclusion the TLV of styrene is associated with different values of metabolites at the beginning and at the end of the work-week.

Fatigability of the stapedius reflex in industrial noise. A field study.

The depression of the stapedius reflex after a whole workday in industrial noise was studied in 11 normal-hearing employees at a shipbuilding yard. The reflex activity was assessed with simultaneous bilateral recordings of impedance change induced by stimulation with 2 000 and 500 Hz tones. One ear was exposed for approximately 7 hours in the plant, the other one was protected. The dose was measured individually at 89--103 dB(A) equivalent level. Utilization of bilateral recordings together with a unilateral exposure enabled an analysis based on the whole stimulus response curves. The results show that the reflex is depressed on the average 4 dB at 2 000 Hz 10 min after end of workday. By extrapolation the stapedius reflex was estimated to be depressed less than 10 dB at the end of the exposure. Since the stimulus-response curves are shifted in parallel, the contraction during the high-level components of the noise were largely unaffected. No evidence was found for creation of transtympanic pressure differences during noise exposure. It was concluded that the reflex fulfils one necessary condition for influencing the individual pattern of noise damage to the ear, fatigue resistance in the presence of long-term exposure to hazardous noise.