Occupational Injuries Research Articles

Occupational percutaneous injuries and exposures at a dental teaching institution from 2017 to 2023

Background: All dental professionals face the risk of occupational percutaneous injuries and exposures. Previous studies have reported high incidents of percutaneous injuries among dentists. This study examined injury data over six years at a large teaching institution for trends to increase awareness and to design appropriate interventions to reduce injury rates. Method: Study injury data was collected for the department of employee and occupational health. The data was entered into an electronic incident reporting system from 2017-2023. Statistical analysis was performed with Openepi to determine injury trend by year and overall association by activity type. Result: There was a total of 168 injuries reported between 2017 and 2023. A majority of the injuries (54%) were caused by a needle or sutures followed by instruments at 41%. Most of the injuries (44%) occurred during treatment and while cleaning the surgical spaces at 15%. Only 13% of the injuries were attributed to handling or recapping needles. Chi-square test 0.2618 (p>.05) indicated there was no significant difference between years and number of injuries. Overall chi-square p ( < 0 .001) by activity type was significant indicating risk was not equal across all activities. Conclusion: Injuries declined during COVID-19 but soared back up in 2023. Needles, sutures, and instruments were the predominant source of injuries. Injuries occurred during treatment (43%), while cleaning the surgical space (15%) and while recapping or handling needles (13%). This study is the first step in understanding the trend and factors attributing to injuries to implement appropriate corrective actions. Further analysis should be conducted to identify specific procedures or clinical activities exposing employees to Occupational percutaneous injuries.

Определение индивидуального риска травматизма горнорабочих в результате динамического проявления

The article analyses the effect of gas-dynamic manifestations on occupational injuries. It has been established that the most hazardous gas-dynamic manifestation for underground deep mines is a rock burst. As the rock burst is identified by the authors as the most hazardous effect by its manifestations, the authors offer their methodology of identification of occupational injury risk caused by a rock burst for a wider discussion. The main characteristics and causes of rock bursts and their signs and forecasting methods have been described. The statistics of accidents caused by rock bursts have been provided. The article contains statistical information on mild, severe, and lethal injuries caused by rock bursts in coal mines of the Kuznetsk coal basin. Multifunctional safety systems able to obtain information on the condition of rock mass have been analyzed. Special attention has been paid to the system of current control and forecast of rock mass conditions based on the «Mikon-GEO» system. In the majority of cases, based on the problems to solve, such a system is a part of multifunctional safety systems. The authors suggest that the forecast methodology is to be based on the data obtained by such systems operating based on the seismoacoustics principles. The mathematical model using the source data obtained from the «Mikon-GEO» system has been considered. The calculation algorithm enabling the assessment of the rock burst probability has been provided. The algorithm and the results of measurements of rock mass basic parameters are used to determine the individual risk value that is advisable to compare with the average value of occupational risk at production. The results obtained by the authors have been tested in one of the Kuznetsk Basin coal mines. The preliminary results of the forecast methodology use have shown the relevance of the studies and identified certain issues requiring specification and further research.

A Retrospective Hospital-Based Study to Evaluate the Results of Extensor Tendon Injuries of the Hand, Wrist, and Forearm Treated Surgically in a Tertiary Care Hospital.

Introduction The important factors determining the treatment of extensor tendon injuries include the anatomical zone, type of injury, mode of injury, chronicity, and pathology of the adjacent tissues (principally the skin, bone, and joints). Very few studies have collectively studied the outcomes of all the wrist, forearm, and hand extensors.Hence, the major aim of this study was to evaluate the resultsof extensor tendon injuries of the hand, wrist, and forearm that were treated surgically. Methodology This was a hospital-based retrospective study done in a tertiary teaching hospital in South India. A total of 30 patients (23 males, seven females) were included in the study.All the cases of extended tendon injuries of the wrist, hand, and forearm were treated surgically, and those willing to participate were included in the study afterobtaining institutional ethics committee approval. Results The study included 30 patients, predominantly males (76.66%). The majority were aged 31-40 years (33.33%). Occupational injuries were the most common cause (36.66%), followed by road traffic accidents (RTAs) and glass cuts (26.66%). Right-sided injuries were more frequent (56.66%), with zone VI being the most affected (43.33%). Extensor digitorum communis was the most injured tendon (40%). Various suture techniques were used, including horizontal mattress and modified Kessler's. Complications occurred in four patients, including hematoma and surgical site infections. Functional outcomes, assessed by Miller's Criteria, indicated extension lag and flexion loss as key recovery measures. Conclusion Hand function is essential for daily life activities, and optimal repair and reconstruction of extensor tendon injuries are crucial to avoid functional disability. While the present study demonstrated positive outcomes, further research with larger sample sizes and more rigorous designs is needed to validate these findings and improve treatment strategies for hand injuries.

Head injury mechanisms of the occupant under high-speed train rear-end collision

To improve the passive safety of high-speed trains, it is very important to understand the mechanism of head injury in high-speed train collisions. In this study, the head injury mechanisms of occupants in high-speed train rear-end collisions were investigated based on the occupant-seat coupling model, which included a dummy representing the Chinese 50th percentile adult male. The typical injury responses in terms of skull fractures, brain contusions, and diffuse axonal injury (DAI) were analyzed. Meanwhile, the influences of collision speed and seat parameters on head injury response were examined. The simulation results indicate that the skull fractures primarily occur at the skull base region due to excessive neck extension, while the brain contusions and DAI result from the relative displacement of different brain regions. The increase in collision speed will promote the probability of skull fracture, brain contusion, and DAI. Seat design modifications, such as reduced seat spacing, increased seat backrest angles, and selecting the appropriate cushion angle (76°) and friction coefficient (0.15), can effectively mitigate probably occupant's head injury.

Laser powder bed fusion of bio-inspired metamaterials for energy absorption applications: A review

A significant amount of research has been done in the last few decades to reduce the risk of injury for occupants and the structures that are subjected to impact loading. Metamaterials have been proven to be useful in energy-absorbing structures to improve a structure's crashworthiness performance by reducing the negative impacts during collision. The metal additive manufacturing industry, especially Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF), has made it easier to produce complex metamaterials with remarkable mechanical characteristics like lightweight, high specific strength, and effective energy absorption. This review paper investigates the transformative potential of bio-inspired metamaterial designs, which are additively manufactured using LPBF machines, for use in protective energy-absorbing structures. First, biomimicry in engineering is briefly discussed. The review focuses on the energy absorption performance of different designs, like thin-walled structures and different bio-inspired metamaterials. It discusses the effects of base metal, process conditions, and manufacturing defects. Optimization methods to enhance the design and crashworthiness of these bio-inspired energy absorbers are investigated. Various characterization methodologies including experimental techniques and numerical simulations, are highlighted, with a particular emphasis on integrating manufacturing defects into simulations. Finally, possible applications and future trends in aerospace, automotive, construction, and medical applications are reviewed. Despite decades of research into energy absorbers, there remains a lack of a comprehensive review on the use of additively manufactured metamaterials as energy absorbers, particularly those inspired by nature. This review paper addresses this gap by examining recent studies in the field, assessing the effectiveness of various bio-inspired metamaterial designs, their crashworthiness, and the associated characterization methods under different loading scenarios.

Повышение надежности человеческого фактора как перспектива развития культуры безопасности в производственной деятельности энергетического комплекса ОАО «РЖД»

The criticality of improving the reliability of the human factor in the production safety culture of the JSC RZhD energy complex remains relevant. In order to resolve the issue, the analysis of various acceptable and applied psychological, managerial, and economic measures has been conducted. Measures to reduce the occupational injury rate and develop the occupational safety culture in JSC RZhD have been considered. Specific attention has been paid to the comprehensive approach that covers psychological, managerial, and economic measures. The rapid development of technologies and changing requirements in the sphere of occupational safety prioritize such aspects as professionalism, discipline, motivation for work, and compliance with instruction requirements. Specific methods, including visual information, organizational measures, improving working conditions, and training formats via improving training programs have been provided. Practical examples of the successful use of such measures in the production environment have been considered by using the example of the Power Supply Directorate of the Southeastern Railway where high-risk jobs remain specific. Various measures of encouragement and motivation for employees facilitate the significant improvement of working conditions and the reduction of injury rate. Additionally, the analysis of methods to raise employees’ awareness regarding the importance of compliance with safety rules through regular training and seminars as well as the implementation of a feedback system to ensure prompt identification and elimination of potential threats has been conducted. These measures demonstrate high efficiency and ensure further successful development of the company not only by facilitating the increase of occupational safety level and the reduction of injury rate indices but also by establishing a safety culture among employees, which ultimately affects the total production performance and reputation of JSC RZhD.

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders in oral health professionals: an umbrella review protocol.

The objective of this review is to synthesize the evidence on the prevalence, incidence, risk factors, and preventive and management interventions for work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) in oral health professionals. Oral health professionals face a considerable risk of developing work-related MSD due to the nature of their work. These disorders can lead to loss of employment, reduced job quality, increased occupational injuries, and early retirement. They can also lead to significant financial burdens for employers and society. This umbrella review will include systematic reviews and meta-analyses that have oral health professionals as a population group and address at least one of the following topics: the prevalence or incidence, risk factors, and the efficiency or effectiveness of interventions for the prevention or management of work-related MSD. A systematic search will be conducted across CINAHL Complete (EBSCOhost), Dentistry and Oral Sciences Source (EBSCOhost), MEDLINE (EBSCOhost), Cochrane Library (Ovid), Scopus, PsycINFO (Ovid), AMED Allied and Complementary Medicine (Ovid), Epistemonikos, Ergonomics Abstracts Online (EBSCOhost), and Google Scholar (first 200 articles). The search will be limited to articles published in English, with no restrictions on geographical location. Two independent reviewers will screen the titles and abstracts against the inclusion criteria. The reviews will be assessed using the JBI critical appraisal instrument for systematic reviews and research syntheses, and data will be extracted from each review using a modified version of the JBI data extraction tool. A narrative summary and tables will be used to describe the review characteristics and findings. Results will be presented in a table using visual indicators (traffic light system) to represent beneficial, neutral, and negative effects with each risk factor and intervention. The GRADE approach will be used to rate the overall quality and strength of the evidence. PROSPERO CRD42023388779.

Trends in severity of work-related traumatic injury and musculoskeletal disorder, Ontario 2004-2017.

Traumatic injury surveillance can be enhanced by describing injury severity trends. This study reports trends in work-related injury severity for males and females over the period 2004-2017 in Ontario, Canada. A weighted measure of workers' compensation benefit expenditures was used to define injury severity, obtained from the linkage of workers' compensation claims to emergency department (ED) records where the main injury or illness was attributed to work. Denominator counts were obtained from Statistics Canada's Labor Force Survey. Trends in the annual incidence of injury, classified as low, moderate, or high severity, were examined using regression modeling, stratified by age and sex. Over a 14-year observation period, there were 1,636,866 ED records included in the analyses. Overall, 57.6% of occupational injury records were classified as low severity, 29.5% as moderate severity, and 12.8% as high severity conditions. There was an increase in the incidence of high severity injuries among females (annual percent change (APC): 1.52%; 95% CI: 0.77, 2.28), while the incidence of low and moderate severity injuries generally declined for males and females. Among females, injuries attributed to animate mechanical forces and assault increased as causes of low, moderate, and high severity injuries. The incidence of concussion increased for both males (APC: 10.51%; 95% CI: 8.18, 12.88) and females (APC: 16.37%; 95% CI: 13.37, 19.45). The incidence of severe work-related injuries increased among females in Ontario between 2004 and 2017. The methods applied in this surveillance study of traumatic injury severity are plausibly generalizable to applications in other jurisdictions.

의료사고에 있어 과실범의 양형판단과 특수성

Many people receive treatment at the hospital to cure the disease. However, medical accidents that have been damaged by doctors' negligence or hospital errors often occur. It is not an exaggeration to say that the victim is suffering damage in various directions as the burden of proof is left to the victim (patient) for the damage caused by such a medical accident. In addition, our criminal law is so-called 'justifiable act (Article 20), so even if the result is not good, it is considered to be a reason for illegal sculpture. However, if it does not fall under the grounds for illegal sculpture, punishment is made according to the law of the negligent offender. Negligence offenders are weaker in illegality than intentional offenders, and the Korean Criminal Law also requires that negligence offenders be punished only when there are separate provisions (Article 14). If a constituent requirement result occurs due to medical negligence, the legal principles of negligence offenders may be applied, and as mentioned, negligence offenders are subject to punishment only when there are separate constituent requirements, so the criteria for punishment are not clear. Accordingly, it seems necessary to set the criteria for determining sentencing. In Japan, many discussions began to take place on the sentencing of medical accidents at medical institutions and academic societies in the wake of the Fukushima Prefectural Ono Hospital case regarding criminal responsibility for medical accidents. In this situation, many precedents related to medical accidents have been accumulated in Japan. Regarding the liability of negligent offenders, it is necessary to review the aspect of negligence, the duty of care, and the contents of negligence, and in relation to sentencing, it is necessary to review what factors are necessary for determining sentencing. However, in the case of medical accidents, they are considered negligent offenders, and the criteria for determining sentencing have not been clearly established, so it seems necessary to review them. Therefore, this paper examined similar accident cases among medical accident cases in both countries so that they can be compared. As a result, common factors to be taken into account were found along with the situation of medical accidents, and this confirmed that there was a tendency to be different from sentencing judgments in other negligence crimes, especially general occupational negligence and injury crimes. Most medical accidents were sentenced to probation except for fines, and imprisonment or higher was extremely rare. In addition, with regard to the imposition of punishment, Korea and Japan seem to have strong preventive and educational aspects as a function of punishment rather than the imposition of retributive sentences. In this paper, we reviewed the criteria for sentencing judgment based on medical accident cases in Korea and Japan, and based on this, we hope that it will be of great help in discussing sentencing in future medical accident related cases.

RISKS OF INJURY AND HEALTH DAMAGE WHEN USING BLACKSMITH EQUIPMENT

The article identifies the need to analyze the risks of injury and health damage when using blacksmith equipment which is due to the implementation of the latest technologies for the successful economic development of the country, the introduction of a risk-oriented approach, as well as the implementation of international standards in all sectors of the economy. It was noted that international standards are based on the use of a risk-oriented approach in solving issues of safety and occupational health of employees. Therefore, this requires the implementation of new approaches and the formation of new relationships in particularly dangerous areas of production. The general state of occupational injuries and deaths of workers in Ukraine for the period starting from 2022 to 2024 (four months of the current year) is given. The given data indicate an increase in the number of accidents at work which is further complicated by the war. These data indicate an increase in injuries at work which is a bad indicator and the need to implement modern risk-oriented technologies in the metallurgical industry. Analyzing the situation in the metallurgical industry where blacksmith equipment is widely used it should be noted that the main causes of injury and death of workers are organizational. This proves that the risk management system at enterprises is imperfect and needs to be improved and brought into line with international standards. Scientific approaches to determining the risks of injury and damage to the health of workers (operators) when using blacksmith equipment are considered. It is shown that modern technologies of metal processing by forging as one of the methods of pressure processing, use more and more robotic complexes which have risks associated with the organization of work in the conditions of the probability of physical impact of their individual elements and substances on workers. The dangerous and harmful factors that accompany the work of operators when using the MKP10 forging manipulator are given. The operation of the MKP10 manipulator is considered as an example. Tables and diagrams of the manipulator are made in accordance with the DSTU ISO 12100:2016 standard. The calculation of the risk indicator of the MKP10 manipulator was also performed which showed that the risk is average in terms of its damage and probability indicators. This leads to the need to apply risk management to control such risk and reduce it to acceptably small values.

Comprehensive crashworthiness simulation analysis of a large aircraft fuselage barrel section in various crash scenarios

To utilize computational techniques in investigate and evaluate the crashworthiness of typical fuselage section of a large transport aircraft in various crash scenarios, the finite element model of fuselage section was modeled and validated based on the vertical drop test of fuselage section at 6.02 m/s. The crash simulation analysis in various crash scenarios (such as concrete ground, soft soil grounds and water) were further conducted based on the validated model of fuselage section, and the crash response characteristics (deformation and failure mode, acceleration response and occupant injury risk, energy-absorbing characteristics) were analyzed and compared. The results show that the finite element model can accurately simulate the unrolling failure mode (three plastic hinges failure mode) of fuselage section and the failure of the connections of cargo floor crossbeams and fuselage frames, and it is in good agreement with the test results in terms of impact velocity and acceleration response. In the case of various soft soil grounds impact scenarios, the partial impact energy is absorbed by the soft soil ground, resulting in slightly different failure modes of fuselage section and a reduction in the peak acceleration. The water-entry impact failure mode of fuselage section is consistent with the rigid ground impact failure mode, the overall deformation degree of fuselage section decreases, but the degree of bending and upturning of fuselage frames increases with the increasing of the water-entry impact velocities The safety of occupants can be effectively protected in the soft soil ground and water-entry impact scenarios. The unrolling failure mode of fuselage section can be changed to the flattening failure mode (multiple plastic hinges failure mode) through the reasonable design to avoid the rupture of cargo floor crossbeams, and the more crash energy can be absorbed due to the production of more plastic hinges for the flattening failure mode, and the crashworthiness of fuselage section can be significantly improved.

The implementation study of nurses’ work related low back pain prevention and care guideline: A quasi-experimental study

AimTo understand the implementation process and outcomes of nurses' work related low back pain (WLBP) prevention and care guideline. BackgroundWLBP is a common occupational injury for clinical nurses. We developed the first evidence-based guideline of nurses' WLBP prevention and care of its kind both at home and abroad, and it is necessary for us to explore its feasibility, appropriateness and effectiveness in practice. MethodsBased on the model of the integrated Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services, we performed a four-phase implementation study in a tertiary hospital. The study was a non-randomized concurrent controlled trial design，and multilevel measures were examined including implementation outcomes and clinical outcomes. ResultsFor the implementation outcomes, the tailored recommendations of the guideline were found to be acceptable, appropriate, feasible, and well adopted both at the unit level and the hospital level. The clinical outcomes indicated that, compared with the control unit, nurses of the treatment unit performed better in awareness, knowledge, practice of WLBP prevention and care. ConclusionsThe implementation study supports the successful application of the guideline, which can serve as a valuable evidence-based document to improve back health of nursing personnel.

Devising measures to reduce multi-frequency noise load on employees in machining area

The object of this study is the process of determining and managing the risks of noise exposure (NE) for employees at the mechanical department when machining metals on a drilling machine (DM). The problem relates to the increase in the risk of an employee receiving an industrial injury because of NE at the workplace of a machine tool. The impact of noise on the human body depends on the duration of exposure, the level of sound pressure, and its intensity. An important characteristic of noise is its frequency composition, as it can affect the perception of sounds and the human body. Prolonged exposure to noise can damage various systems in the human body or cause pain. Therefore, it is important to understand the impact of NE on workers and devise measures to reduce the negative impact on their health and work productivity. The research is based on real-time noise measurements followed by their decomposition into octave frequencies and modeling of noise propagation in the room with and without the use of various types and designs of soundproof barriers (SB). In the course of the study of NE propagation during drilling on the machine, an excess of noise levels at medium and high frequencies near the noise source was found. An employee who works on DM is exposed to high-frequency noise that exceeds the established normative indicators. Therefore, it is necessary to use personal protective equipment for the machine operator and install safety equipment to protect other workplaces. The use of the latter makes it possible to significantly reduce the impact of NE on workers, in particular, at low frequencies by 20.8 %, at medium frequencies by 15.6 %, and at high frequencies by 17.3 %

FEATURES OF BATTLE SCENE STAGING IN THE UKRAINIAN OPERA

The author examines the concept of staging battle scenes in Ukrainian opera with heroicpatriotic themes. Attention is paid to the need to rethink the given topic in the conditions of the dominance of foreign repertoire over national works, the inclination of the young generation to cosmopolitanism against the background of digitalization of society and the wide spread of information technologies. Emphasis is placed on conducting active searches and experiments in the optimization of the spectacular and dramaturgical components with the integration of artistic means of expression and modern art technologies in the battle scenes of domestic opera performances. Historiographical sources from the everyday life of the Ukrainian Cossacks, their military training and military operations are analyzed and differentiated; art studies on the resolution of battle scenes in M. Lysenko's "Taras Bulba" and K. Dankevich's "Bohdan Khmelnytskyi" offer interesting approaches to the topic of the article. It was possible to find out the phenomenon of the appearance and formation of the Zaporizhya Cossacks, its conditioning by socio-economic factors. The essence of the term "Sich" has been established in its historical progress with the acquisition of the status of the center of the Zaporizhya Army and the assignment to it of the functions of a special state entity for the protection of the Orthodox world from Muslim and Catholic oppressors. The division of the Ukrainian Cossacks into two categories is outlined: sichoviks — direct participants in military operations, and zimivchakiv that provided the livelihood and fighting capacity of the former. The peculiarities of the combat training of the Cossacks in Sich, the advantages of their universal military training in the possession of various types of weapons in comparison with the armies of Eastern and Western Europe were studied. The principles of building certain military camp according to the Cossack custom have been revealed. The nature of combat techniques and tactical adjustments in the conditions of a permanent change in the situation on the battlefield is described. The scenes of the trials of the sons of Taras on Sich, the siege and storming of Dubno in the opera "Taras Bulba" by Mykola Lysenko, the battle at Yellow Waters in the opera "Bohdan Khmelnytskyi" by Kostiantyn Dankevich were modeled. Their historically reliable stylization in the context of synthesizing combat techniques, dance and choral performance with video broadcast of individual episodes of the battle is noted. The algorithm for staging battle episodes in Ukrainian opera is formulated with the need for performers to master the techniques of stage combat, coordination of interactions between them, and compliance with safety techniques in order to avoid industrial injuries. The author outlines the prospects of further investigations for the reliable display of battle scenes in opera performances in accordance with the peculiarities of the historical era, military traditions and armaments of a certain country, optimizing their solution with the use of modern art technologies.

The structure of traumatic brain injury in the city of Rostov-on-Don during the new coronavirus infection COVID 19

Objective: to study the frequency and structure of traumatic brain injury in the pre-ovoid, covid and post-ovoid periods in Rostov-on-Don.Materials and methods: to study the frequency and structure of traumatic brain injury in three years from 2019 to 2021 (in the pre-ovoid, covid and post-ovoid periods) according to the neurosurgical department and the department of combined trauma of the Emergency Medical Hospital No. 2 in Rostov-on-Don. Data processing using the IBM SPSS Statictic program version 26.0 using the χ2-Pearson criterion, in pairwise a posteriori comparative analysis, the χ2-Pearson criterion with Yates correction and likelihood correction were used. If the significance level is p<0.05, the differences are statistically significant.Results: in the pre-crisis period (2019), household trauma prevailed, the total number of hospitalized with TBI was 1,322. Of these, concussions accounted for 71%, brain contusions accounted for 28%, diffuse brain injury — 1%, street injury — 6.9%, transport injury — 6.81% and intentional injury — 24.1%. In the covid period (2020), the total number of patients admitted to the department decreased by 24%. The structure of the injury remained unchanged (concussions in 70% of cases, brain contusions in 28%, diffuse brain injury in 2%). In 2021 (completion of covid restrictions), the number of inpatient patients with TBI remained reduced (by 23%), the ratio of concussions, bruises, diffuse brain injuries remained the same.Conclusions: during the period of social isolation, there was a decrease in the number of hospitalized with TBI, which coincides with global indicators. The end of the restrictions associated with the pandemic is also characterized by a decrease in the number of patients admitted to the hospital with TBI. At the same time, a decrease in the ratio of the number of hospitalizations to the total number of deaths from head injury in 2019 and 2020 should be taken into account. from 19.83 to 14.98 in the Rostov region (according to the Federal State Statistics Service on the number of deaths from head injuries in 2019-2020), which reflects the level of accessibility of medical care. There was also a significant decrease in household, street, transport, school, sports and intentional types of TBI (p<0.05), while occupational injuries and trauma, the circumstances of which are unknown, did not significantly differ from the pre-pandemic indicators. Taking into account these results will improve the organization of emergency and emergency medical care for patients with TBI.

Biphasic effects of ethanol consumption on N,N-dimethylformamide-induced liver injury in mice

N,N-Dimethylformamide (DMF) is a well-documented occupational hazardous material, which can induce occupational liver injury. The current study was designed to investigate whether ethanol consumption can affect DMF-induced hepatotoxicity and the potential underlying mechanisms involved. We found that a single dose of ethanol (1.25, 2.5, or 5 g/kg bw by gavage) significantly repressed the increase in serum alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) activities and alleviated the liver histopathological changes in mice challenged with 3 g/kg DMF. In contrast, long-term moderate drinking (2.5 g/kg bw) significantly aggravated the repeated DMF (0.7 g/kg bw) exposure-induced increase in the serum ALT and AST activities. Mechanistically, acute ethanol consumption suppressed DMF-induced activation of the NLR family pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, while long-term moderate ethanol consumption promoted hepatocyte apoptosis in the mouse liver. Notably, cytochrome P4502E1 (CYP2E1) protein level and activity in mouse livers were not significantly affected by ethanol per se in the two models. These results confirm that regular drinking can increase the risk of DMF-induced hepatotoxicity, and suggest that DMF-handling workers should avoid consuming ethanol to reduce the risk of DMF-indued liver injury.

Research on Occupational Risk Assessment for Welder Occupation in Romania

The ever-increasing needs of the working population have led to the development of various branches of industry, an increase in the number of employees, and a rise in the number of work-related accidents. The welder occupation is one of the most sought after occupations in Europe, according to the EURopean Employment Services (EURES) statistics. Taking into account the work system in which welders conduct their activity (uncomfortable working positions, splashes, high temperatures, mechanical factors, gases and fumes, magnetic fields due to electric current), the paper presents the risk factors identified for the welder occupation, based on the occupational injury and illness risk assessments. Following the analysis of 25 risk assessments, carried out by the assessment team that must include qualified evaluators, process specialists, the workers’ representative, occupational health and safety responsible at various industrial economic agents, a total of 70 main risk factors of occupational accidents and diseases were identified for the welder occupation. Risk factors were classified according to four main work components: worker, workload, work environment, and means of production. To reflect the importance of the identified risk factor, the number of organizations that considered that the risk was likely to occur but also the possibility that the risk was above the acceptable limit, calculated using the National Institute for Research and Development for Labor Protection “Alexandru Darabont” (INCDPM) method, a method often used in Romania, was identified from the analyzed assessments. Finally, a prevention and protection plan was drawn up with regard to the risks identified for the welder occupation, the final aim of which was to respectively reduce the probability of occurrence with the severity of the risks identified.

МИНИМИЗАЦИЯ ВРЕДНЫХ И ОПАСНЫХ ФАКТОРОВ ПРОИЗВОДСТВЕННОГО ПРОЦЕССА НА МАШИНОСТРОИТЕЛЬНОМ ПРЕДПРИЯТИИ

An assessment of the state of labor safety at machine-building factories is given. Scientific publications’ analysis on this topic is carried out. The methods of empirical material research are proposed. The main causes of occupational injuries are identified and their classification is given. Recommendations for reduction of hazardous and harmful factors during production porcess are given.

PRODUCTION RISK FACTORS AND SPINE INJURIES IN GARMENT WORKERS

Garment workers are exposed to various factors in the work environment, classified as physical and ergonomic. Occupational injuries of the spine develop as a result of the action of harmful production factors, the most important of which are overstrain, vibrations and an unfavorable production microclimate. The aim of the study is to improve the health and prevention of spine injuries among garment workers. The subject of the study is 75 cases of spine injuries in garment workers. The persons were hospitalized in University Hospital - Pleven during the period 2019-2023. Clinical, laboratory, functional, imaging and statistical research methods were used. Treatment with medication and physical factors was carried out. In 93% of the patients, an improvement in clinical syndromes and the performance of activities of daily living was found. 7% of the examined persons required surgical treatment. Conclusions: Spinal injuries are a current health problem among garment workers. Combined medication and physical therapy is an effective and practically applicable therapeutic approach for the investigated disabilities.

Occupant safety and injuries in coach frontal collision: a literature review

Occupant safety and injuries in coach frontal collision: a literature review