Longer Work Duration Research Articles

AGRICULTURAL WORKERS AND BURDEN OF MORBIDITY: A COMMUNITY-BASED CROSSSECTIONAL STUDY IN A RURAL BLOCK OF WEST BENGAL

Objective: Agriculture is one of the most hazardous occupations in developing and industrialized countries. Most agricultural workers in developing countries have poor housing conditions and an inadequate diet and are exposed to both general and occupational diseases. The study was undertaken to find out the prevalence of occupational morbidity and its associated risk factors among agricultural workers in a rural Block of West Bengal. Methods: The study was conducted among agriculture workers of Habra Block-I of the state of West Bengal. Multistage random sampling method was followed to select a total of 302 individuals who were distributed among the four villages according to the Probability Proportional to Size (PPS) method. Results: The majority of workers (58.6%) were suffering from nutritional pallor/anemia and dental carries/dental stains were 45.4%. Among other morbidities, 42% of workers were suffering from respiratory morbidity, 26.8% of workers were suffering from cardiovascular diseases, and 26.5% were suffering from hypertension. Duration of work (more than 8 h/day) was significantly associated with morbidity also other covariates such as age, sex, type of family, smoking status, and alcohol consumption had significant effects on morbidity among agriculture workers in both bivariate and multivariable linear regression. Conclusion: This research revealed not only the high prevalence of morbidities among the study population but also the occurrence of a large population with modifiable risk factors such as alcohol consumption, smoking, high load and long duration of work, poor personal hygiene, and non-use of personal protection equipment; the latter, if taken care, will reduce the morbidities of the agriculture workers.

The influence of nanocellulose from different plant raw materials on the quality indicators of electrical insulation paper

An urgent scientific and practical task for electrical engineering enterprises is to improve the specific characteristics of component transformers and capacitors that use electrical insulating paper. Electrical insulating paper is characterized by a wide list of special quality indicators, the necessary values ​​of which are achieved due to the use of cellulose with special properties and various chemical auxiliary substances. There are known attempts to use nanocellulose (NC) from wood to reduce the consumption of harmful synthetic chemical auxiliaries, but there are practically no research results on the impact of consumption of NC from non-wood plant materials. Therefore, in the work, a comparative study of the effect of NC from hemp fibers and coniferous wood on the target indicators of the quality of electrical insulating paper was carried out. For this, cellulose, suitable for extracting NC from hemp fibers, was obtained by an environmentally safe organosolv method. NC is obtained as a result of acid hydrolysis of organosolv hemp and sulfate unbleached coniferous cellulose, which is traditionally used in the production of electrical insulating paper. Laboratory samples of electrical insulating paper were made with a weight of 65±3 g/m2 from sulfated unbleached coniferous cellulose with the addition from 1% to 5% NC by weight of paper. The research results confirmed the hypothesis that the addition of NC paper pulp from various plant raw materials leads to an increase in the mechanical and electrical strength of the paper. It has been established that the effect of NC from hemp fibers on the quality indicators of electrical insulation paper is not inferior to the effect on them of NC from coniferous wood, and in some cases even a better result is observed. It was established that the introduction of NC into the composition of paper practically does not reduce its degree of polymerization, which is of great importance for maintaining high reliability and a long duration of work of paper insulation. The obtained results have scientific and practical significance for other types of insulating papers: capacitor, cable, telephone, impregnation, transformer, etc.

Mid-level healthcare workers knowledge on non-communicable diseases in Tanzania: a district-level pre-and post-training assessment

IntroductionOver the past two decades, Tanzania’s burden of non-communicable diseases has grown disproportionately, but limited resources are still prioritized. A trained human resource for health is urgently needed to combat these diseases. However, continuous medical education for NCDs is scarce. This paper reports on the mid-level healthcare workers knowledge on NCDs. We assessed the knowledge to measure the effectiveness of the training conducted during the initiation of a Package for Essential Management of Severe NCDs (PEN Plus) in rural district hospitals in Tanzania.MethodsThe training was given to 48 healthcare employees from Dodoma Region’s Kondoa Town Council District Hospital. For a total of five (5) days, a fundamental course on NCDs featured in-depth interactive lectures and practical workshops. Physicians from Tanzania’s higher education institutions, tertiary university hospitals, research institutes, and medical organizations served as trainers. Before and after the training, a knowledge assessment comprising 28 questions was administered. Descriptive data analysis to describe the characteristics of the specific knowledge on physiology, diagnosis and therapy of diabetes mellitus, rheumatic fever, heart disease, and sickle cell disease was done using Stata version 17 (STATA Corp Inc., TX, USA).ResultsComplete assessment data for 42 out of the 48 participants was available. Six participants did not complete the training and the assessment. The mean age of participants was 36.9 years, and slightly above half (52%) were above 35 years. Two-thirds (61.9%) were female, and about half (45%) were nurses. The majority had the experience of working for more than 5 years, and the average was 9.4 years (+/- 8.4 years). Overall, the trainees’ average scores improved after the training (12.79 vs. 16.05, p < 0.0001) out of 28 possible scores. Specifically, trainees’ average scores were better in treatment than in diagnosis, except for sickle cell disease (1.26 vs. 1.83). Most were not able to diagnose rheumatic heart disease (47.6% able) compared to diabetes mellitus (54.8% able) or sickle cell disease (64.3% able) at baseline. The proportion of trainees with adequate knowledge of the treatment of sickle cell disease and diabetes mellitus was 35% and 38.1%, respectively, and there was a non-statistical difference after training. Those working for less than 5 years had a higher proportion of adequate knowledge (30.8%) compared to their more experienced colleagues (6.9%). After the training, participants’ knowledge of NCDs increased by three times (i.e., aPR 3, 95% CI = 1.1, 1.5, and 6.0).Conclusion and recommendationsPEN Plus training improved the knowledge of healthcare workers at Kondoa Town Council District Hospital. Training is especially needed among nurses and those with a longer duration of work. Continuing education for human resources for health on the management of NCDs is highly recommended in this setting.

Prevalence study of musculoskeletal disorders among bank workers

Background: A formal worker is anyone who works for a business entity that has been registered at a government office. Those who work in the formal sector are identical to office work, with long duration of work, tend to be in a static position, and there are repetitive movements, thereby increasing the potential of musculoskeletal disorders (MSD). This can interfere with work productivity and work outcomes expected of formal sector workers. Methods: This study was a descriptive-analytic study with a cross-sectional approach with purposive sampling technique. Data was collected in June 2022 using a personal data questionnaire and the Nordic body map (NBM) questionnaire. Descriptive analysis was performed on the data using IBM SPSS 26 software. Results: Musculoskeletal complaints were found in the upper neck 8.8%, lower neck 6.8%, left shoulder 6.8%, right shoulder 5.4%, back 7.3% and waist 8.3%. Twelve people experienced moderate pain in the waist, 7 people experienced pain in the upper neck, and 2 people experienced very painful feeling in the waist. There were 35 respondents have a low MSD risk level 87.5% and 5 respondents have a moderate MSD risk level 12.5%. Conclusion: The respondents mostly had complaints around the upper neck, lower neck, left shoulder, right shoulder, back, and waist. There were risks of MSD in formal sector workers of risk of the MSD complaints experienced is predominantly low. The ergonomics approach can be applied to respondents with a higher level of risk. Keywords: Formal worker, musculoskeletal disorder, nordic body map, posture

Prevalence of respiratory morbidities and lung function outcome in Traffic Police in eastern Nepal

Introduction: Outdoor air pollution is a cause for occupational lung disease. A community vulnerable to lung health hazards of outdoor air pollutants from vehicle emissions is traffic police, whose long duration of outdoor work, with no proper protective equipment, predisposes them to respiratory symptoms such as cough, dryness of nose, throat irritation and wheezing due to the air pollutants causing inflammation of the airways. The risks to lung function and development of respiratory disease are not known in traffic police in eastern Nepal. Objectives: To determine respiratory morbidities and lung function values of traffic police working in eastern Nepal. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted for 6 months, from 1st January to 30th June 2022, in traffic police using a structured questionnaire adapted from American Thoracic Society and National Heart &amp; Lung Institute and portable spirometry, at the duty posts or office. Data were represented using descriptive statistics. Results: The study enrolled 129 traffic police in eastern Nepal, 109 (84.50%) were male and 20 (15.50%) females, mean age 34.50 (±8). Mean duration of active duty was 9.76 years (±6.19). Cough was present in 33 (25.58%), 50 (38.76%) phlegm, 37 (28.68%) dyspnea, and 28 (21.71%) noisy breathing. Mean FEV1% in ≤ 5 years exposure was 76.75 (±17.28), and 65.26 (±18.88) in &gt; 15 years. Mean FVC% in ≤ 5 years exposure was 81.81 (±20.56) and 76.18 (±19.77) in those working &gt;15 years. Mean FEF25-75% in ≤ 5 years was 73.69 (±23.73), which was 62.04 (±33.97) in those &gt; 15 years. The spirometry analysis suggested obstructive airways disease in 90 personnel (69.8%), restrictive disease in 80 (62%), mixed airways disease in 72 (55.8%), and small airways disease in 52 (40.3%). Conclusion: There was increased burden of respiratory problems such as cough with sputum production, noisy breathing, and dyspnea and lower lung volumes and flows among traffic police working in different parts of eastern Nepal. Long duration of exposure to traffic environments resulted in spirometry analyses suggestive of obstructive and restrictive airways diseases.

Relationship of Work Position to Low Back Pain (LBP) in Convection Tailors

Introduction: Low Back Pain (LBP) is a health problem in the form of acute and chronic pain that is felt in the lower back which is usually caused by work, inflammation, degeneration, trauma, and metabolic disorders. One of the jobs with a risk of Low Back Pain (LBP) is a convection sewing worker. because of the long duration of work and the attitude of the tailor. This study aims to identify the relationship between work position and complaints of Low Back Pain (LBP) in convection tailors. Method. This study used a correlational descriptive design with a cross-sectional approach. The research sample consisted of 50 respondents with total sampling. The analysis used was bivariate analysis using the chi-square test. Results. characteristics of the majority of respondents were adults aged 26-45 years as many as 25 people (50%), male (64.0%), had a working duration of 8 hours (66.0%), and had worked 5 years (70% ). The majority of respondents, namely 35 respondents (97.2%) worked in moderate risk positions with high LBP complaints. And 13 respondents (92.9%) experienced complaints of moderate Low Back Pain (LBP) in high-risk work positions. The results of the chi-square test between work positions and complaints of Low Back Pain (LBP), obtained a p value = 0.044 α ( 0.05). Conclusion. There is a relationship between work position and LBP complaints from convection tailors in Sail and Payung Sekaki Districts.

FAKTOR - FAKTOR YANG BERHUBUNGAN DENGAN KEBERHASILAN PEMBERIAN ASI EKSKLUSIF OLEH IBU BEKERJA DI KOTA DENPASAR

A working mother is frequently facing barriers in breastfeeding their babies. Several barriers in breastfeeding faced by the working mothers are the long duration of work, the lack of opportunities and support provided by the workplace for mothers to do the breast milk due to the unavailability of breastfeeding facilities such as lactation rooms, and the lack of knowledge of working mothers regarding lactation management. This study aims to determine the factors associated with the success of exclusive breastfeeding by working mothers in Denpasar City. This study was quantitative correlative research by using a cross-sectional design and purposive sampling technique. Data collection was carried out on 97 respondents who visited Puskesmas 1 Denpasar Utara, Puskesmas 1 Denpasar Timur, Puskesmas 2 Denpasar Barat, and Puskesmas 2 Denpasar Selatan. Data collection used knowledge, availability of lactation facilities at work, and husband's support questionnaires. The eta test and contingency coefficient were used for the data analysis. The results showed that there was no correlation between age (p=0,08), parity (p=0,132), baby's gender (p=0,501), socioeconomic status (p=0,111), type of mother's occupation (p=0,70), knowledge (p=0,338), availability of lactation facilities (p=0,3), and husband's support (p=0,180) with exclusive breastfeeding. However, distance (0,019) and duration of work (p=0,044) were associated with exclusive breastfeeding (p&lt;0,05). In conclusion, there is a relationship between distance and duration of work seem as predictors of exclusive breastfeeding by working mothers in Denpasar City. It is expected to increase knowledge of working mothers about the management of expressed breast milk, thus the exclusive breastfeeding can be achieved.

Is a Dry Eye Disorder in Firefighters an Occupational Disease?

To examine firefighters (FFs) exposed to high levels of fire smoke and, as a result, to uncover risk factors for dry eye disorder (DED) compared to age-and gender-matched healthy individuals. In this cross-sectional study, 51 FFs from the Afyonkarahisar Municipality Fire Department were chosen at random (group 1). A control group (group 2) included 51 age- and gender-matched healthy individuals. The Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire was administered after all participants were thoroughly explained the study's objectives and procedures. Then, using a portable hand biomicroscope, an ocular exam was performed on-site. DED was defined as a non-anesthetic Schirmer test result of <10 mm and/or a tear film break-up time (TBUT) of <5 seconds. Groups 1 and 2 had mean ages of 44.82±7.29 and 44.73±7.41 years, respectively (p=0.946). The median work duration in group 1 was 14 years (min-max: 1-27 years). TBUT test revealed a significantly increased DED prevalence in group 1 than group 2 (p=0.046). Despite the non-significant difference (p=0.276), Schirmer test revealed that group 1 had a higher DED prevalence than group 2. The OSDI score revealed that group 1 had more mild, moderate, and severe DED than group 2 (p=0.359). Longer work duration was associated with a higher DED prevalence (p=0.179). Given the high prevalence of fire smoke-induced DED in FFs, preventive measures such as regular ocular exams, encouraging personal protective equipment usage, and health education programs can assist in avoiding complications and reducing the burden of ocular diseases.

Ergonomic Risk Assessment and MSDs Symptoms Among Laboratory Workers Using SNI 9011-2021

Introduction: Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) symptoms are experienced by 1.71 billion of the human population and are characterized by persistent pain that decreases the ability to work in almost all types of occupations, including laboratory workers. The various stages of work in laboratory can cause complaints due to repetitive motions, manual handling, static and awkward posture, as well as long-duration of work. Therefore, this study aimed to determine risk level of work ergonomic and MSDs symptoms among laboratory workers. Methods: This study used a cross-sectional design involving 71 laboratory workers who were observed from 8 to 22 June 2022. The respondents were categorized into three Similar Exposure Group (SEG), namely administrative officers, analysts, and field workers. Risk level of MSDs symptoms and work ergonomic of each SEG was measured using the instrument of SNI 9011-2021, while individual factor was estimated through the questionnaire. Results: Out of the 71 respondents, the majority were males, aged &lt;35 years, and had &lt;5 years of work experience. The survey revealed that half of workers experienced MSDs symptoms with a high-risk level in analysts and field workers, particularly in the lower back. The highest MSDs symptoms in all SEG were neck, lower back, upper back, and right shoulder. Conclusion: Ergonomic risk level in laboratory was dangerous for analysts and field workers, and required further assessment by administrative officers. To reduce risk level of work ergonomic, particularly for analysts and field workers, engineering control and the use of manual handling equipment can be implemented.

Risk factor of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among health workers

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders have become a leading reason for absence from work and account for a high proportion of work-related injuries. It has become clear that both workplace and non-workplace factors, may cause or exacerbate work-related musculoskeletal disorders. The purpose of this study was to investigate the risk factor of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among health providers. This was a systematic review study that used articles from online database of PubMed, Research Gate, Science Direct, Google Scholar, and EBSCO published from 2011 until 2021. There are several risk factors that can lead to musculoskeletal disorders among nurses, namely female gender, old age, low level of education, physical workload, long work experience, high workload, poor work habits, high level of physical activity, stress, anxiety, high demand for physical work, uncomfortable work position, sleep problems, burnout, marital status, BMI, work unit, long duration of work, frequency of working time, long standing time, lifting weights weight, lack of physical exercise, low number of nurses per shift, and night shifts.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and disease in healthcare workers in a tertiary referral hospital in Bandung, Indonesia.

Healthcare workers (HCWs), especially in high tuberculosis (TB) incidence countries, are at risk of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and TB disease, likely due to greater exposure to TB cases and variable implementation of infection control measures. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of tuberculin skin test (TST) positivity, history of TB and to identify associated risk factors in HCWs employed at a tertiary referral hospital in Bandung, Indonesia. A cross-sectional study was conducted from April to August 2018. A stratified sample of the HCWs were recruited, screened by TST, assessed for TB symptoms, history of TB disease and possible risk factors. Prevalence of positive TST included diagnosis with TB after starting work. HCWs with TB disease diagnosed earlier were excluded. Survey weights were used for all analyses. Possible risk factors were examined using logistic regression; adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CI) are presented. Of 455 HCWs recruited, 42 reported a history of TB disease (25 after starting work) and 395 had a TST result. The prevalence of positive TST was 76.9% (95% CI 72.6-80.8%). The odds increased by 7% per year at work (95% CI 3-11%) on average, with a rapid rise in TST positivity up to 10 years of work and then a plateau with around 80% positive. A high proportion of HCWs had a history of TB or were TST positive, increasing with longer duration of work. A package of TB infection control measures is needed to protect HCWs from Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.

Night shift work and osteoporosis - bone turnover markers among female blue-collar workers in Poland

ABSTRACT Osteoporosis is an important public health problem worldwide. Although many factors relating to bone structure have been described so far, the current knowledge on the occupational factors that may affect bone tissue metabolism is strongly limited. Literature data suggest that night shift work, via circadian rhythm disruption, may be considered a potential risk factor. To this date, only five epidemiological studies addressing this problem have been conducted worldwide. The outcomes of three studies confirmed such relationship, namely, a higher fracture risk was found among nurses with a long lifetime duration of night shift work in one study; and a lower bone mineral density was associated with occupational activity during night-time in two studies. In adults, the bone undergoes constant remodelling through bone resorption followed by bone formation. The various molecules released into the circulatory system during these processes are called bone turnover markers. We investigated the possible associations between night shift work and selected bone turnover markers: N-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen (P1NP), C-terminal cross-linked telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX), osteocalcin, osteopontin, fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23) and osteoprotegerin, measured in plasma of 189 female blue-collar workers. A significantly higher bone turnover rate was noted among the women working night shifts than among those working only during the day. This may potentially lead to a future development of osteoporosis in this population even if the macroscopic changes in the bone structure are not detectable. Night shift work is a prevailing occupational characteristics nowadays. It has been estimated that about 15–20% of the working population in Europe and the USA perform work under this system. Thus, the problem of osteoporosis can affect a large part of the working-age population.

Occupational dermatoses: knowledge, attitudes and perceptions among motor vehicle repair workers

Objectives. Motor vehicle repair workers are a vulnerable group for developing occupational dermatoses. They are exposed to a wide range of chemical, physical and mechanical hazards. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of occupational dermatoses among motor vehicle repair workers and their risk factors, and to evaluate the effect of a health educational program. Methods. The study was conducted among 106 motor vehicle repair workers. All participants were personally interviewed at their workshops and were subjected to the Nordic occupational skin questionnaire, dermal exposure knowledge, attitudes and perceptions questionnaire, dermatological examination and health educational program. Then, evaluation of the effects of health the program was done after 2 months. Results. Exclusively occupational dermatoses (18.9%) were followed by work-related dermatoses (17.9%). Chronic contact dermatitis was the most frequent exclusively occupational dermatoses (12.26%), followed by tar/oil acneform rash (3.77%) and mechanical injury (3.77%). Xerosis (6.6%) and hyperpigmentation (4.71%) were the most frequent work-related dermatoses. Lack of use of personal protective equipment, older age, longer duration of work, exposure to chemical hazards and car mechanics were the independent risk factors. Conclusions. A significant improvement occurred in the participants’ knowledge about dermal exposure, behavioral action for prevention and overall belief (pre/post intervention) (p < 0.01).

Occupational heat exposure and the risk of chronic kidney disease of nontraditional origin in the United States.

Occupational heat exposure is linked to the development of kidney injury and disease in individuals who frequently perform physically demanding work in the heat. For instance, in Central America, an epidemic of chronic kidney disease of nontraditional origin (CKDnt) is occurring among manual laborers, whereas potentially related epidemics have emerged in India and Sri Lanka. There is growing concern that workers in the United States suffer with CKDnt, but reports are limited. One of the leading hypotheses is that repetitive kidney injury caused by physical work in the heat can progress to CKDnt. Whether heat stress is the primary causal agent or accelerates existing underlying pathology remains contested. However, the current evidence supports that heat stress induces tubular kidney injury, which is worsened by higher core temperatures, dehydration, longer work durations, muscle damaging exercise, and consumption of beverages containing high levels of fructose. The purpose of this narrative review is to identify occupations that may place US workers at greater risk of kidney injury and CKDnt. Specifically, we reviewed the scientific literature to characterize the demographics, environmental conditions, physiological strain (i.e., core temperature increase, dehydration, heart rate), and work durations in sectors typically experiencing occupational heat exposure, including farming, wildland firefighting, landscaping, and utilities. Overall, the surprisingly limited available evidence characterizing occupational heat exposure in US workers supports the need for future investigations to understand this risk of CKDnt.

Risks of developing diseases of an eye and its adnexa in students in conditions of the violation of hygienic rules for the use of electronic devices

Introduction. The process of involving children, adolescents and youth in the constantly developing information space is an objective reality. At the same time, the lack of monitored indices of the safety of electronic devices (ED) for the health of children and adolescents, the lack of a clearly built system of preventive measures require its development and improvement, which will reduce the risk of the digital information environment impact on the health of the younger generation. Materials and methods. The survey using a questionnaire, developed by specialists from the Research Institute of Hygiene and Health Protection of Children and Adolescents in 2017-2020, was used to collect data on the nature of ED using by schoolchildren and students in educational and leisure activities (1218 questionnaires). In 2017-2020, 805 schoolchildren and students from the Moscow gymnasium №12 and the Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University underwent an ophthalmological examination. Results. All the surveyed schoolchildren and students used ED. Analysis of the questionnaire data allowed us to determine the duration of continuous use of ED (computer, laptop, tablet, smartphone, etc.) by children, adolescents, and young people during school and vacation time. All categories of respondents both during the academic period and during holidays showed a high duration of continuous use of ED. Thus, the presence of a behavioral risk factor for the uncontrolled use of ED (long duration of continuous work with ED) was shown among all categories of respondents, which may cause the development of eye diseases. The analysis of the results obtained revealed significant negative values of the correlation coefficients between students’ visual acuity and the duration of their continuous use of both stationary (computer) and mobile (smartphone, tablet) ED. Discussion. The introduction of these preventive measures into the daily routine and lifestyle of children, adolescents, and young people will help prevent visual acuity disorders. Conclusion. It is necessary to introduce hygienic rationing of the frequency and duration of the possible influence of ED not only during the educational process but also in leisure time to increase the awareness of parents and the degree of their control over the use of ED. To elevate awareness of all ED users’ categories it is necessary to intensify work to promote the rules for the safe use of ED and related foundations of a healthy lifestyle and self-control over ED use. In connection with the development of the digital educational environment, it is advisable to improve the hygienic standardization of text information in electronic publications for children, adolescents, and students. To prevent the symptoms of eye fatigue, it is advisable to limit continuous work with a bright screen (no more than 60 minutes), followed by a break of at least 15-20 minutes, not related to viewing the illuminated screen, in compliance with the recommendations for relieving stress from the visual analyzer.

Prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders and their association with ergonomic physical risk factors among women working in tea gardens of Darjeeling district of West Bengal, India

Introduction: Work related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) is common among tea-plucking folks and may be attributed to the long duration of work in same posture, the load they carry while plucking and transporting the leaves to the nearest depot, improper job rotations and the difficult hilly terrains.&#x0D; Objective: To determine the prevalence and pattern of musculoskeletal disorders among tea garden workers and to ascertain the risk factors for the same.&#x0D; Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 210 female tea garden workers employed in tea gardens of Darjeeling district using 30 cluster sampling design. Data on musculoskeletal morbidities were collected using Standard Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire and ergonomic risk was assessed by Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) worksheet.&#x0D; Results: Proportion of musculoskeletal disorders in past 12 months was 92.4% and in past 7 days was 71.4%. Upper extremities were the most commonly affected body part. Higher altitude, age, BMI, more duration in present job, history of work related injuries and increased REBA risk assessment score were found to be significantly associated with musculoskeletal disorders.&#x0D; Conclusion: Musculoskeletal morbidities among female tea garden workers of Darjeeling were found to be considerably high. Ergonomic mechanised assistance in tea plucking can reduce this proportion of MSD and thus may go a long way in reducing sickness absenteeism and increasing productivity.&#x0D; Financial support and sponsorship - Nil.&#x0D; Conflicts of interest - There are no conflicts of interest.

Seroprevalence and Factors Associated with Scrub Typhus Infection among Forestry Workers in National Park Offices in South Korea.

Scrub typhus is caused by the arthropod-borne bacterium Orientia tsutsugamushi and is an endemic infectious disease in the Asia-Pacific area. This study aimed to investigate the seroprevalence of scrub typhus and identify associated risk and protective factors among forestry workers, a neglected risk group for scrub typhus, in National Park Offices in South Korea. A nationwide cross-sectional serosurvey was carried out on 1945 National Park Office forestry workers (NPOFWs) in South Korea during December 2016. We visited 29 main offices and used a structured questionnaire to collect data regarding general characteristics, work activities, work hygiene-related factors, and other potential risk factors. Serum samples from NPOFWs were tested using indirect immunofluorescence assay to detect O. tsutsugamushi immunoglobulin (Ig) G and M antibodies. Of the 1945 NPOFWs, 718 (36.9%) participated in this cross-sectional study. The seroprevalence, defined as ≥1:256 for IgG and/or ≥1:16 for IgM, was 4.9% (35/718). In multivariate logistic analysis, longer duration of work in national parks (≥15 years; odds ratio (OR), 4.19; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.71–10.28) and dry field farming (OR, 2.47; 95% CI, 1.12–5.46) were significantly associated with a higher risk of scrub typhus infection. Furthermore, the risk of scrub typhus infection was significantly lower among NPOFWs who washed working clothes daily (OR, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.18–0.75). This study indicated that scrub typhus is an important disease among NPOFWs in South Korea. Work hygiene, especially washing working clothes daily, needs to be emphasized among NPOFWs. Additionally, more precautions are required to diminish the rate of scrub typhus infection among NPOFWs who perform dry field farming.

Kajian Pustaka: Hubungan Durasi Kerja dengan Pneumokoniosis pada Pekerja Tambang Batubara

Introduction: The International Labor Organization estimates that nearly 2.34 million workers die as a result of their work each year. About 86.23% were caused by occupational diseases. Pneumoconiosis is a disease that can be found in coal mining. Pneumoconiosis is divided into several types, including silicosis, asbestosis, mixed dust fibrosis, coal worker's pneumoconiosis (CWP), and other types (Zhang). CWP is a chronic and irreversible disease that is a public health problem. Coal with a higher combustion capacity has the greatest risk of causing CWP. Purpose: This research was conducted to review the literature on the duration of work with an increase in the incidence of CWP in coal mine workers. Method: Twenty reference sources were drawn from PubMed, ScienceDirect, ResearchGate, and Google Scholar. The articles reviewed in this report range from 2000 to 2020. Results: Most studies suggest an increase in the prevalence of CWP cases. The incidence of CWP increases with the amount of dust exposure and the long duration of work. Discussion: Subjectively, dust exposure, age, and years of service did not have a significant relationship with respiratory problems, and put more emphasis on the relationship between PPE use and smoking habits. Other effects include COPD, death, and health costs. Conclusion: The conclusion of this study states that a longer work duration increases the incidence of CWP in coal mine workers.

Kajian Pustaka: Hubungan Durasi Kerja dengan Pneumokoniosis pada Pekerja Tambang Batubara

Introduction: The International Labor Organization estimates that nearly 2.34 million workers die as a result of their work each year. About 86.23% were caused by occupational diseases. Pneumoconiosis is a disease that can be found in coal mining. Pneumoconiosis is divided into several types, including silicosis, asbestosis, mixed dust fibrosis, coal worker's pneumoconiosis (CWP), and other types (Zhang). CWP is a chronic and irreversible disease that is a public health problem. Coal with a higher combustion capacity has the greatest risk of causing CWP. Purpose: This research was conducted to review the literature on the duration of work with an increase in the incidence of CWP in coal mine workers. Method: Twenty reference sources were drawn from PubMed, ScienceDirect, ResearchGate, and Google Scholar. The articles reviewed in this report range from 2000 to 2020. Results: Most studies suggest an increase in the prevalence of CWP cases. The incidence of CWP increases with the amount of dust exposure and the long duration of work. Discussion: Subjectively, dust exposure, age, and years of service did not have a significant relationship with respiratory problems, and put more emphasis on the relationship between PPE use and smoking habits. Other effects include COPD, death, and health costs. Conclusion: The conclusion of this study states that a longer work duration increases the incidence of CWP in coal mine workers.

Beban Kerja dan Konflik Kerja Sebagai Penjelas Terjadinya Stress Kerja Pelaut

Pekerjaan sebagai seorang pelaut merupakan pekerjaan yang rentan dengan kebosanan. Durasi kontrak kerja yang relative panjang dengan beban kerja dan konflik pekerjaan yang tinggi, rentan terhadap kelelahan yang dapat memicu terjadinya stress kerja. Dari review yang dilakukan pada penelitian terdahulu menunjukkan bahwa beban kerja dan konflik kerja berpengaruh positif dan signifikan terhadap stress kerja di beberapa objek penelitian yang berbeda. Hal tersebut menjadikan indikasi bahwa diduga beban kerja dan konflik kerja akan berpengaruh terhadap stress kerja jika dilakukan study pada pelaut Indonesia. Pengujian pengujian terhadap model pengujian statistik yang dilakukan pada data penelitian, dilakukan dengan pendekatan uji regresi berganda. Hasil dari pengujian yang dilakukan menunjukkan bahwa stress kerja yang dialami oleh pekerja di atas kapal dipengaruhi oleh beban kerja dan konflik kerja, sehingga dalam temuan ini dapat diketahui bahwa apabila stress kerja yang dialami oleh para pelaut saat bekerja di atas kapal, maka hal tersebut disebabkan oleh munculnya peningkatan beban kerja serta konflik kerja bagi para pelaut Indonesia yang bekerja di atas kapal.