Health Status Of Workers Research Articles

How To Ensure Health And Safe Working Conditions For All

How To Ensure Health And Safe Working Conditions For All

Проблемы состояния здоровья работников вредных производств

Current measures to preserve the health of workers are the study of the early stages of the formation of pathology, the definition of professional and occupational risk groups. Features of the health status of workers is characterized by an increase in the risk of parallel ongoing chronic diseases that reduce the importance of the quality of life of workers of harmful industries. Workers of harmful industries continue to have a high level of morbidity, indicating the influence of harmful production factors on their health, where the etiological structure is dominated by the influence of factors such as physical exertion on the musculoskeletal system and cardiovascular system (overstrain, heavy work), dust and gas pollution of the working environment.The leading detection of diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (38%), diseases of the circulatory system (31%), diseases of the eye and its accessory apparatus (12%), which requires the adoption of therapeutic and recreational measures, including high-quality medical examination of the contingent working in harmful conditions.Keywords: occupational hygiene, health status, risk group, production environment, prevention.

Pengembangan Program Pencegahan dan Pengendalian Infeksi COVID-19 dalam Mempertahankan Status Kesehatan pada Tenaga Kesehatan di Rumah Sakit Kota Medan

The COVID-19 infection prevention and control program in hospitals is an effort to provide guidance for health workers to stay healthy, safe, productive, and the community gets services that meet standards. Health workers who work in hospitals are very vulnerable to being exposed to COVID -19, so it is very important that health workers and policy makers understand the basic concepts of infectious diseases. The purpose of this study was to develop a program to prevent and control covid-19 infection in maintaining the health status of health workers at the Medan City Hospital. The type of research used is action research. The participants in this study were 14 people consisting of 2 parts, namely 1) Participants for qualitative data were taken from managerial such as medical services, nursing, medical records, infection prevention and control units, and the head of the room. 2) Participants for quantitative data are taken from health workers, namely nurses. Data collection in this study used various methods, namely individual interviews, observation, self-report, focus group discussions and several data collection tools, namely interview guides, focus group discussion guides, questionnaires, observation sheets, and supporting tools, namely voice recorders. The results of this study obtained outputs, namely standard operating procedures for the prevention and control of covid-19 infection, and from the results of health status checks on health workers from before and after the implementation of the COVID -19 infection prevention and control program, the results were before (PCR/Antigen: Negative). 71.43%, Positive: 28.57%; Vital sign normal: 85.71%, Abnormal 14.29%), and after (PCR/Antigen: Negative 85.71%, Positive: 14.29%; Vital sign normal: 100%). This proves that there is an influence of the Covid-19 infection prevention and control program in maintaining the health status of health workers in hospitals. Suggestions to hospital leaders to continue to evaluate prevention and control programs for COVID-19 infection in accordance with developments and the situation at hand.

Methodological foundations for substantiating safe levels of exposure to artificial nanomaterials (for example, carbon nanotubes) (literature review)

Introduction. The unique physicochemical properties of carbon nanotubes allow them to be used in many fields. The global nanomaterials market is growing every year. An important step in introducing products to the domestic and world markets is to determine the safe exposure levels of CNTs. Establishing a corporate standard can serve as a preliminary stage before the approval of a state hygiene standard. Material and methods. The material for the analysis was the sources of information on the available standards for the content of CNTs in the air of the working area using information from regulatory agencies, research centers, CNT manufacturers, bibliographic and abstract databases Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, RSCI. Results. A scheme for justifying safe levels of exposure to CNTs (corporate standard) has been developed, consisting of several stages: characterization of CNTs in the air at workplaces, selection of experimental doses of CNTs, preparation of CNT dispersions, and conducting toxicological and hygienic experiments. Justification of the corporate standard is carried out in in vitro and in vivo experiments. The planning of experiments should be carried out taking into account the target organ under the influence of CNT - the respiratory system. The recommended dose / concentration range for experiments should include doses / concentrations derived from calculated and literature data. A necessary step is to obtain homogeneous dispersions in which CNTs become bioavailable for biological systems. In vitro and in vivo experiments determine the level of exposure at which no harmful effect is observed and / or the lowest level of exposure at which there is a harmful effect on the cell culture / respiratory tract of animals. After the stage of substantiating the corporate standard, the enterprise should take measures for several years to adjust the corporate standard based on data from clinical and hygienic studies, during which the working conditions and health status of workers are monitored, and extended toxicological and hygienic studies. Conclusion. The presence of a corporate standard will allow the manufacturer of CNTs to carry out activities for the development and implementation of a production control program with the introduction of monitoring the air condition in the working area. The development of a corporate regulation can be seen as a preparatory stage before the establishment of a government regulation.

The intelligent monitoring and evaluation of the psychophysiological state of the workers employed on offshore oil and gas platforms

Oil and gas companies have an urgent need for technologies that provide complete and reliable information about the actual state of health and safety of personnel. To solve this problem, the article proposes a concept solution for the development of a system monitoring of the psychophysiological health of workers employed on offshore oil platforms. The concept is based on a person-centered approach and allows monitoring of health of employees simultaneously linking them to the context of the environment. The urgency of the problem is confirmed by statistical data, according to which workers in the oil and gas industry are 8 times more likely to get injured. The article analyzes the specific features of the professional activity of the workers employed on offshore oil platforms and shows that the deterioration of their health and psychological condition due to the long-term “sea environment” is unavoidable. It offers to develop an intelligent system for monitoring the psychophysiological condition of workers employed on offshore oil platforms and to assess its suitability for their position with the reference to the Cattell test and fuzzy patterns recognition. The development and systematic operation of such a system may timely detect undesirable consequences for the health status of workers employed on offshore oil platforms and prevent wrong decisions due to the “human factor”

Respiratory health evaluation of construction workers using questionnaire

Relevance . With growing economy and flourishing construction industries the comorbidities among construction workers are also raised. They are exposed to various dust, fumes, noxious gases and vapours making them susceptible to chronic airway diseases like Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease. The aim of the study was to evaluate the respiratory health status of construction workers in an unorganised sector. Materials and Methods . The data collected from National Capital of Delhi region in an unorganised sector of construction workers by using a Saint George Respiratory Questionnaire by the Institute of Occupational Health and Environmental research, Basaidarapur, Delhi, India. All the participant response was noted and the answers were evaluated to see respiratory health status of workers. Total 200 workers were evaluated. Total 182 males and 18 female participated in the study. Results and Discussion . 25% of workers reported poor health at the time of the survey, while only 4% of workers considered their health to be very good. Among the main complaints were indicated: cough, sputum production, shortness of breath, chest infections, attacks of wheezing. The overall mean of Saint George Respiratory Questionnaire core was 33.55. It increases with the working period in the construction field with 21.6% for 10years and 49.1 for 30years experienced workers, while workers with 11 to 20 years of experience, the score was 28.4. The Saint George Respiratory Questionnaire score was 35.1 in 21-30 years of experienced construction workers. Conclusion . As a result of the study, construction workers are found to be at high risk of various respiratory diseases and related disabilities. Participants in this study did not receive any treatment for respiratory problems at any clinic. This means the importance of occupational health education and the use of personal protective equipment and safe working conditions for construction workers.

Waste Anesthetic Gase: A Forgotten Problems

Waste anesthetic gas (WAG) is a small amount of inhaled anesthetic gas that comes out of the patient’s anesthesia breathing circuit into the envorinment air while the patient is under anesthesia. According to American Occupation Safety and HealthAdministration (OSHA) more than 200.000 healthcare workers especially aneaesthesiologist, surgery nurse, obstetrician and surgeons are at risk of developing work-related disease due to chronic exposure to WAG. Exposure to WAG in short time associated with multiple problems such as headaches, irritability, fatigue, nausea, drowsiness, decrease work efficiency and difficulty with judgment and coordination. While chronic exposure of WAG is associated with genotoxicity, mutagenicity, oxidative stress, fatigue, headache, irritability, nausea, nephrotoxic, neurotoxic, hepatotoxic, immunosuppressive and reproductive toxicological effect. Waste anesthetic gases are known as environmental pollutants and will be released from the OR to the outside environment then the substance will reach the atmosphere damaging ozone layer. Exposure to trace WAG in the perioperative environment cannot be eliminated completely,but it can be controlled. Controlling WAG can be achieve by using scavenging system, proper ventilation, airway management, ideal anesthetic choice, maintaining anesthesia machine and equipment, hospital regulation and routine healthcare workers health status examination.

The use of digital technologies in social and hygienic monitoring of the health status of workers in harmful working conditions

Introduction. To increase the effectiveness of social and hygienic monitoring of the health status of workers in harmful and/or dangerous occupation conditions by objectifying the analysis of the health status of workers and timely detection of premorbid forms of pathology, an informational medical advisory and diagnostic system is proposed that ensures the efficiency of using the previously developed methodological recommendations MR 2.2.9.0148-19 “Assessment of the risk of developing states of distress in workers in harmful working conditions”. Materials and methods. The design of the developed computer program is based on the principles of critical assessment of the employee’s health status; multiparametric characteristics of the functional reserves of the body; unity of the information base; the possibility of dynamic monitoring of the health status of employees; automation of data storage and analysis; protection of personal data. Results. The method used by the information system is based on a comprehensive assessment of the functional reserves of the body, correlated by the degree of adaptive stress, including the ranking of the employee health status according to the group of dispensary records, the indicator of adaptive compliance and the level of adaptive immunity. To facilitate the operator’s information support system integrated the List of harmful and (or) hazardous occupation factors, the presence of which is a mandatory preliminary and periodic medical examinations (surveys) and reference weight values, heart rate and blood pressure corresponding to the physiological norm concerning gender and age of the employee. Conclusion. The proposed information system can be used during periodic medical examinations to form risk groups for the development of occupational and production-related morbidity, as well as to assess the effectiveness of hygienic and therapeutic and preventive measures aimed at improving the health of workers in harmful occupation conditions.

Some features of pre-trip medical examination

Pre-trip examinations of drivers are the basis of medical management system road safety. Pre-trip examinations should be optimized so as not to miss significant changes in the health status of workers and/or predict such changes. Authors propose to use a pulsogram to analyze parameters of heart rate variability during pre-trip examination of train crews.

Fatigue on Oil Refinery Workers and Related Factors

Background: Work fatigue plays a large role in all industries in terms of performance, work safety, and work productivity. Oil and gas is an industry with a high level of occupational safety and health risks. Research of work-related fatigue is needed to detect critical risk factors early in order to prevent the adverse effect of work-related fatigue. Objectives: This study aims to analyze the prevalence of work fatigue in oil refinery workers at one of the oil refinery companies in Indonesia, and analyze the factors that influence it. Design and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 224 oil refinery workers. Questionnaire and work-related fatigue scales were used to assess demographic characteristics and work-related fatigue. A medical examination was applied to assess the health status of workers based on blood pressure, body temperature, and respiratory rate. The sound level meter and heat stress meter was used to measure noise and work climate. Cramer’s V correlation was applied to identify correlations between work-related fatigue and other parameters. Results: Work-related fatigue of 100% was found among workers, with categorized as low, medium, high, and very high in 9.38, 53.57, 30.35, and 6.7% of the workers, respectively. Work-related fatigue was significantly correlated with working period (p=0.028), health status (respiratory rate) (p=0.018), noise exposure (p=0.000) and work climate/heat stress (p=0.001). Conclusion: The companies should improve the health status of workers, reduce workload for aging workers, control noise, and control heat exposure in the workplace.

Introduction: Critical Criminology for the 21st Century

Introduction: Critical Criminology for the 21st Century

Obesity and Self-Employment. Health and Social Mechanisms of the Transition to Self-Employment.

In 2016, worldwide 39% of adults aged 18 years and over were overweight and 13% were obese (WHO). Existing evidence paints a gloomy picture for career development and employment opportunities for growth of obese individuals. However, current literature on entrepreneurship suggests that for many, who similarly to overweight and obese people suffer from adverse employment outcomes, self-employment could be a likely alternative career choice. This paper investigates the intention to transition to self-employment and actual self-employment entry of obese individuals. Considering that obesity represents a health condition and a social classification, we propose two different mechanisms that could be at play: a health-based mechanism through poor health and a social mechanism through poor psychosocial conditions at work, experienced by obese individuals. We test the indirect effects of obesity on self-employment intent and entry via health and psychosocial work conditions using the German Socioeconomic Panel (SOEP). Our findings provide support for a dual pathway between obesity and intentions to transition to self-employment as well as actual self-employment transition through health and social mechanisms. This study has important theoretical implication for research on entrepreneurial careers.

Investigation on noise exposure level and health status of workers in transportation equipment manufacturing industry

Objective: To explore the noise exposure level and the health status of workers in transportation equipment manufacturing industry, and provide a scientific basis for guidance and implementation of intervention measures. Methods: From January to December in 2019, a total of 2088 noise workers from a large enterprise were selected by cluster sampling method in railway transportation equipment manufacturing, automobile manufacturing and aerospace aircraft manufacturing enterprises. The worker's noise exposure level was detected. Occupational health checkups were performed on the noise workers including electrical audiometry, blood pressure and electrocardiogram. χ(2) test and trend χ(2) test were used to analyze the data. Results: The noise exposure level of 66.9% (1396/2088) workers exceeded 85 dB (A) , and the median noise level was 87.9 (84.3-90.3) dB (A) . Among them, workers of railway transportation equipment manufacturing enterprises had the highest noise exposure level[89.9 (87.8-91.6) dB (A) ]. The detection rate of high-frequency hearing loss, abnormal blood pressure and abnormal electrocardiogram of noise workers were 15.7% (327/2088) , 18.1% (378/2088) and 6.1% (128/2088) , respectively. The differences in the detection rates of high-frequency hearing loss, abnormal blood pressure, and abnormal electrocardiogram in workers of railway transportation equipment manufacturing enterprises, automobile manufacturing enterprises, and aerospace manufacturing enterprises were statistically significant (P<0.05) . Workers of railway transportation equipment manufacturing enterprises had higher detection rates of high-frequency hearing loss (17.6%, 186/1056) . Workers of aerospace manufacturing enterprises had higher detection rates of abnormal blood pressure and abnormal electrocardiogram (26.3%, 169/642; 10.0%, 64/642) . The differences in the detection rates of high-frequency hearing loss, abnormal blood pressure and abnormal electrocardiogram of noise workers were statistically significant in different age and working age groups, and gradually increased with age and working age (P<0.05) . The difference in the detection rate of high-frequency hearing loss of noise workers was statistically significant in different noise intensity groups, and the overall trend was increasing (P<0.05) . Conclusion: The transportation equipment manufacturing industry has serious noise hazards, especially the railway transportation equipment manufacturing industry. Long-term occupational noise exposure can adversely affect workers' hearing and cardiovascular system. Enterprises should strengthen occupational health inspections, and at the same time, take personal protective measures to protect the health of workers.

Health survey and analysis of workers exposed to noise and dust in a candy manufacturing enterprise

Objective: To investigate the occupational hazards and the health status of workers in a candy manufacturing enterprise, to study the nonspecific effects of noise on cardiovascular and digestive systems, and to further explore the combined effect of noise and dust on workers' health. Methods: In 2019, all 564 employees of a candy manufacturing enterprise in Guangzhou were selected as the research objects. According to the exposure to occupational hazards, the research objects were divided into control group (101 persons) , noise exposure group (272 persons) and noise dust combined exposure group (191 persons) . According to the requirements of GBZ 188-2014 "Technical Specification for Occupational Health Monitoring", the employees were given occupational health examination. Blood pressure, electrocardiogram, liver function, binaural pure tone audiometry and other indicators were analyzed by gender, age and length of service. Results: The abnormal hearing rate of the workers in the control group, noise exposure group, and noise dust combined exposure group were 12.9% (13/101) , 24.6% (67/272) , and 36.1% (69/191) , respectively, showing a significant increasing trend (P<0.05) . Compared with the control group, the abnormal rates of electrocardiogram, abnormal blood pressure and fatty liver detection rate of the workers in the noise exposure group and the noise dust combined exposure group were significantly increased (P<0.017) . The abnormal hearing rate and fatty liver detection rate of male employees showed an increasing trend among the three groups (P<0.05) . The abnormal hearing and blood pressure rates of 40 to 49-year-old employees showed an increasing trend (P<0.05) . The rates of abnormal hearing of employees with≥50 years old and working experience <10 and 10-19 years showed an increasing trend (P<0.05) . The abnormal rate of electrocardiogram and the fatty liver detection rate of employees with more than 20 years of service had an increasing trend (P<0.05) . Conclusion: Noise is the main occupational hazard factor in candy manufacturing enterprises, which may be related to cardiovascular system and digestive system damage. At the same time, dust may strengthen the hearing loss caused by noise.

Effect of a Workplace Vocal Health Promotion Program and Working Conditions on Voice Functioning of College Professors

To determine the effect of a Workplace Vocal Health Promotion Program (WVHPP) and working conditions on voice functioning of college professors. This is a pre-post intervention study. College professors were randomly assigned in a control group or an intervention group. Participants filled out a questionnaire and recorded a voice sample at baseline and at the end of the follow-up. This program contains four sessions (2 face-to-face and 2 virtual sessions; one per week) focused on voice hygiene, vocal training, and strategies to modify teaching-learning process. The Intervention group (n=15) showed increased scores in V-RQOL in comparison with the control group (n=14), but the effect was not statistically significant. After the program, shimmer decreased (P=0.05), whereas MPT and HNR increased (P=0.02 and 0.04 respectively) among professors in the intervention group after the implementation of the WVHPP. Concerning working conditions, number of students per class was statistically associated with SPL. MPT was statistically associated with age and good acoustics inside the classroom. Our results indicate that implementation of a WVHPP, as well as working conditions, influence voice functioning measured by means of instrumental voice measures and voice-related quality of life. Therefore, workplace promotion programs may be good approaches to decrease the high prevalence of voice disorders among professors.

Meta Analysis: The Relationship Of Self-Efficiency, Social Support And Work Stress On The Incident Of Burnout In Nurses In Hospital

Background: Health And safety is a series of safeguards and guarantees of safety and health by improving the health status of workers by preventing accidents and occupational diseases with activities of preventive, promotive, curative, rehabilitation.

COMPUTER VISION SYNDROME: REVIEW AND METHODS FOR ASSESSMENT

Computer vision syndrome (CVS) is a combination of eye and vision problems associated with the use of digital devices. CVS affects the eyesight, visual comfort and occupational productivity of workers due to the different symptoms computer users and staff experience: ocular discomfort, headache, dry eye, blurred vision etc. Aim of the study: To assess the symptoms of CVS in a software company in Varna by subjective and objective tests and prescribe measures for prevention. Materials and methods: 40 participants-31 men and 9 women were distributed with a valid questionnaire regarding common symptoms of CVS. The group was tested with the Schirmer test to measure the tear film quantity. Participants have passed a medical exam by an ophthalmologist before the study. Results: - 11 or 27,5% of the participants in the questionnaire have reached score ≥6 – have CVS - 10 or 25 % of the participants in the Schirmer test have reached results &lt; 5mm. in the tear strip - The gender distribution shows 3 women (33.33%) and 8(25.8%) of men have CVS by questionnaire study and 3(33.33%) of women and 7(22.6%) of men based on Schirmer test have dry eye as asymptom of CVS. Conclusion: The results of the study predispose to further evaluation and tracking of the symptoms of CVS among this occupational group. All of the participants are aware of Ordinance № 7 related to health and safety work conditions with VDT’s and received information regarding the physiological work-rest regime. Occupational risk of CVS can be reduced with early diagnose, assessment and prevention of the symptoms.

Investigating the relationship between noise and occupation on the status of mental disorders and depression of workers using questionnaire (DASS) and (BAKK) in steel industries

Introduction: In most industrial environments, people are exposed to noise daily. Exposure to this physical hazard can lead to cognitive impairment in individuals. Noise, like all pollutants, reduces the quality of life and causes significant mood disorders in people. The present study examines a set of cognitive factors to assess the mental health status of workers in terms of depression and stress in a noisy workplace. Materials and Methods: In a descriptive-analytical study in 1399, 1100 steelworkers were evaluated to determine the degree of depression and mood swings. The data were analyzed through a public call at the Isfahan Steel Plant. ISO 9612 (2009) standard was used to measure the sound pressure level. In addition to conducting clinical interviews, subjects answered the BAKK Depression Inventory and the DASS-42 Inventory Depression Scale. Data were analyzed using SPSS software (v. 22). Results: Based on the findings of the study, annoying noise (above 85 decibels) had a significant effect on age factor on depression, marital status factor on anxiety, and shift factor on stress and self-criticism of employees (p &lt;0.05). The mean of the stress variable in the case group was significantly higher than the control group (p &lt;0.001), which indicates the effect of sound intensity level on increasing stress and depression in a noisy environment. Conclusion: The results of this study: Occupational noise higher than the standard 85 dB can have devastating effects on moods and various dimensions of workers' cognitive status.

State and prospects of hygienic regulation of the production environment with a reduced oxygen content (literature review)

The work is devoted to the physiological and hygienic foundations of the safety of activities in the conditions of the changed gas environment and characteristics of the main medical measures for the employees’ protection in a hypoxic environment, the analysis of domestic and foreign data, the study of working conditions in the environment with the reduced oxygen concentration in the air. Investigations were carried out on premises with various technological processes, a changing environment, and a reduced oxygen concentration when employees perform multiple operations. The health status of workers was assessed depending on the time spent in the changed gas environment and the percentage of oxygen. Having analyzed the regulatory documents currently existing in the Russian Federation on the assessment and control of production factors, working conditions in confined spaces with a low oxygen concentration in the air, air environment to maintain health, high performance, and prevent diseases, experts concluded that it is necessary to develop Sanitary Rules and Norms, SanPiN “Sanitary and Epidemiological Requirements for Habitability (Stay) in Confined Spaces with a Low Oxygen Concentration in the Air” because currently there is no document existing specifically on this issue. The literature was searched in the databases Scopus, Web of Science, MedLine, The Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Global Health, CyberLeninka, RSCI. There were prepared draft sanitary plans and standards “Sanitary and epidemiological requirements for the environment with a reduced concentration of oxygen in the air,” which establish sanitary and epidemiological requirements for the environment with a reduced concentration of oxygen in the air, as well as for the organization of control, methods measurements of air components at workplaces and measures to prevent harmful effects on the health of workers. They apply to work conditions in the living environment for all premises with a reduced oxygen concentration in the air.

МЕТОДОЛОГИЯ ОЦЕНКИ ВЛИЯНИЯ ФАКТОРОВ ПРОИЗВОДСТВЕННОЙ СРЕДЫ НА СОСТОЯНИЕ ЗДОРОВЬЯ РАБОТНИКОВ РАДИАЦИОННО-ОПАСНЫХ ПРОИЗВОДСТВ

Purpose: Development of methodology and criteria for establishing causal relationships between the health status of workers in radiation-hazardous industries with factors of the working environment.&#x0D; Results: A methodology and criteria have been developed for assessing the cause-and-effect relationships of the health of workers in radiation-hazardous industries with the factors of the working environment. The assessment is carried out in three stages. At the 1st stage, according to the data of periodic medical examinations and psychophysiological examinations, the level of the employee’s health loss is assessed, at the 2nd stage (using the risk matrix) – the level of occupational risk. At the 3rd stage, according to the relative risk of a specific disease (or its etiological share) and the level of occupational risk, a decision is made on the causation of the disease by unfavorable factors of the working environment.