Occupational Health Education Research Articles

Evalution of sleep quality and sleep hygiene information for the employees of one of the company

Abstract Background In this study, it was aimed to determine the sleep quality of the employees at the head office of a company and providing information about sleep health and sleep hygiene to people who had poor sleep quality to evaluate the effect of this intervention on sleep quality. Methods The research was carried out in two stages as descriptive and intervention and data were collected under observation in October 2016 and March-April 2017 and information was given in February 2017 in Ankara. Data were collected from 160 of 408 participants who had bad sleep quality and/or sleepiness formed the intervention group. Results In this study 58.8% of the participants were male and 74.0% were married. 46.3% of the participants stated that they slept for seven hours or more. It was determined that 36.8% had bad sleep quality and 15.3% had sleepiness. Those who had non communicable disease (p:0,025) and those who indicate that they have sleep problems with the light in the room while sleeping significantly had worse sleep quality. It was found that participants who had bad sleep quality also had higher sleepiness rate (p < 0,001). According to the logistic regression analysis, sleep quality of the participants who had problems in the last month was worse than who had not problems (OR = 2.34, 95%CI = [1,11-4,95]) and who have children under the age of five was worse than who did not have child (OR = 2.27, 95%CI = [1,04-4,99]). Before intervantion, Pittsburg Sleep Ouality Index point average of all participants was 7,6±2,4, after intervantion it was 6,1±2,9 (p < 0,001). While significancy continues for whom attended to the information conference and got at least an e-mail, for people who could not attend to any intervantion, the change of point become unsignificant. Conclusions Evaluation of the effects of the intervention revealed that it would be beneficial to incorporate topics on sleep health and sleep hygiene in the mandatory occupational health education in the workplace. Key messages At the beginning of the study 36.8% of participants had bad sleep quality and and 15.3% participants had sleepiness. After intervantion Pittsburg Sleep Quality index point average of whom attended to the information conference and got at least an e-mail positively affected.

Occupational Health and Safety Education at Inclusive Vocational Schools in Turkey

The occupational health and safety education program (OHS) is an important intervention strategy to prevent injuries among young workers. This study aims to emphasize the importance of inclusive and integrated occupational safety education in an Inclusive Vocational School for students at 10th grade. In this study, we investigated the success levels and the awareness of the students before and after the education on occupational safety. The purpose of the study is to investigate the effects of 12-hour basic OHS education on the students’ levels of awareness and knowledge and the retention of these effects. A questionnaire comprising 10 questions and an open-ended exam comprising 20 questions that measure their knowledge level on OHS were applied to the students who had just met with the workshop environment before and after the education. As a result, OHS education delivered to students has improved the students’ awareness of OHS positively. It was observed that the knowledge levels before receiving OHS education increased according to their knowledge level after regular OHS education.

Perbandingan Penyuluhan Keselamatan dan Kesehatan Kerja terhadap Kepatuhan Pemakaian Alat Perlindungan Diri (APD) Pekerja

This study aims to see the effectiveness of occupational safety and health education on using personal protective equipment at PT. Wijaya Karya Tbk Beton Medan. The method used in this study is an experimental quasi-experimental design with a pre-test and post-test design. The sample in this study was 100 workers at PT. Wijaya Karya Beton. The results showed a significant change in the effectiveness of occupational safety and health education with compliance with the use of PPE. The average value of the first observation is 3.97, the second observation is 5.92 and the third observation is 6.00. In conclusion, the counseling carried out proved effective in increasing compliance with PPE at PT. Wijaya Karya Tbk Beton Medan.
 Keywords: Compliance with the Use of PPE, Safety and Health, Occupational Safety Counseling

Occupational Safety and Health Education Experience and Prevention Service Needs among South Korean Farmers: A National Survey

ABSTRACT Objective Objective data on farmers’ awareness of occupational safety and health are needed for the development of national policy measures. Yet, relevant research is lacking in South Korea. Methods This study investigated occupational safety and health education experience, perceived needs for prevention services, and factors affecting these among South Korean farmers. The data are from a personal-visit survey conducted on 9,970 sample farms nationwide. Results While 69.9% of the farmers felt the need for agricultural health and safety education and 60.6% were willing to receive it, only 30.3% had at least one educational experience. A total of 51.9% felt the need for professional on-farm services. By group, education experience and perceived need for prevention services were consistently low among women, people aged 70 or older, low-income individuals, or farmers with a farming career duration of less than five years. Experience of safety and health education increased the desire for other prevention services: people who had received safety and health education were 6.4 times more likely to feel the need for education, 5.5 times more willing to participate in education, 2.0 times more likely to feel the need to improve their work environments, and 1.7 times more likely to feel the need for professional on-farm services. Conclusion Despite the high desire for injury prevention services, farmers have had very limited opportunities to receive safety education; measures are also needed for groups whose safety education has been neglected. Further studies on education methods and on-farm services tailored to South Korean farmers are needed.

Analysis of influencing factors of pneumoconiosis complicated with pulmonary tuberculosis

Objective: To investigate the influencing factors of pneumoconiosis complicated with tuberculosis in order to provide the scientific evidence for formulating the preventive strategies. Methods: From July 2019 to January 2020, all occupational pneumoconiosis patients reported in Guangzhou from 1958 to 2018 were investigated retrospectively (n=1155) . The basic data (including gender, diagnosis time, diagnosis age, dust exposure duration, period, pneumoconiosis disease type, work type and industry) were obtained from pneumoconiosis case card and network report database. The data of pulmonary tuberculosis were collected from the occupational disease diagnosis files of Guangzhou Occupational Disease Prevention and Control Hospital, and were supplemented by telephone follow-up. The distribution of pneumoconiosis and tuberculosis in Guangzhou was analyzed. Binary logistic regression analysis model was used to analyze the influencing factors of pneumoconiosis complicated with pulmonary tuberculosis. Results: Among the 1155 new cases of pneumoconiosis, 357 cases were pneumoconiosis tuberculosis, and the complication rate of tuberculosis was 30.9%. Year of diagnosis, age of diagnosis, dust exposure duration, pneumoconiosis caused by mineral dust and construction industry were influencing factors for pneumoconiosis complicated with pulmonary tuberculosis (OR=0.948, 1.048, 0.972, 3.112, 2.815, P<0.05) . After the adjustment of gender, diagnosis year, diagnosis age, dust exposure duration and diagnosis period, the risk of pulmonary tuberculosis in rock drilling workers was 1.462 times higher than that in other types of work (P<0.05) . Conclusion: The complication rate of tuberculosis in patients with pneumoconiosis is relatively high. The main influencing factors are the year of diagnosis, age of diagnosis, dust exposure duration, the type of pneumoconiosis and the industry. The importance of occupational health examination and health education on prevention and treatment of tuberculosis should be emphasized among dust-exposed workers and pneumoconiosis patients. People with susceptibility factors are the top priority.

Adolescent empowerment through occupational rights, safety and health education: An online asynchronous course for secondary school students including young immigrant and refugee workers

Adolescent empowerment through occupational rights, safety and health education: An online asynchronous course for secondary school students including young immigrant and refugee workers

Difficulties and Solutions of Laboratory Safety Education in Colleges and Universities

Laboratory safety education is an important element of the lab safety management system and an important means of the risk management and control of labs. Focusing on enhancing the level of lab safety education, we will strengthen the safety and occupational health education of lab personnel by constructing a three-level safety education system, faculty team, and expanded educational channels that consists of ‘school-department-laboratory’, and improve lab safety and environmental protection awareness. In addition, we will promote scientific improvement of the lab safety management and risks control in colleges and universities.

Epidemiology of chronic kidney disease of undetermined aetiology in Taiwanese farmers: a cross-sectional study from Changhua Community-based Integrated Screening programme

ObjectivesChronic kidney disease of undetermined or non-traditional aetiology (CKDu or CKDnT) has been reported in Mesoamerica among farmers under heat stress. Epidemiological evidence was lacking in Asian countries with similar...

Evaluation of intervention effect in the occupational protection of glass fiber workers by occupational health education

Objective: To understand the mastery of occupational hygienic knowledge and the implementing of occupational health protection measures in the group which were exposed to the procedure of manufacture and use in glass fiber company, and to explore the feasibility of the prevention of the skin injury by occupational health education in glass fiber workers. Methods: We selected 257 on-the-job employees as the research object in a ceramic enterprise in Nanjing from June 2018 to August 2019, with the method of cluster random sampling. According to Solomon's design, the intervention group in which we took measures with health education was divided into RG(1) (O(1)XO(2)) and RG(3) (XO(5)) group, and the control group where we didn't take any intervention was divided into RG(2) (O(3)-O(4)) and RG(4) (-O(6)) group. The intervention effect of health education on the occupational protection of glass fiber workers was evaluated by the results of questionnaire. Results: After training, the average score of occupational health knowledge in the intervention group was 27.34 points higher than that before training, the intervention index was 1.42, 23.62-27.73 points higher than the control glass fiber workers and 33.62-35.52 points higher than the control glass non-glass fiber workers; Compared with the control group, the positive attitude rate of fiber glass workers in the intervention group increased by 13.28%, 13.51%, 11.68% and 11.48%, and the intervention indexes were 1.18, 1.17, 1.14 and 1.15, which was corresponding to using protective cream, wearing gloves, wearing working clothes, washing hands and bathing after work, respectively; Compared with the control group, the implementation rate of occupational protection measures which were represented by wearing gloves、washing hands and bathing for glass fiber workers in the intervention group increased by 29.25% and 7.27% respectively, and the intervention indexes were 1.43 and 1.08 respectively; The skin injury rate of fiberglass workers in the intervention group was reduced by 11.43% comparing to the control group, the intervention index was 1.67. Conclusion: According to the occupational health education of fiberglass workers, it improves the mastery of occupational health knowledge, positive atti-tude rate and the implementation rate of occupational protection measures, meanwhile, it reduces the skin injury rate of the intervention objects to a certain extent.

Tingkat Pengetahuan dan Kesadaran Berperilaku K3 Mahasiswa Teknik Sipil Universitas Internasional Batam

Awareness in implementing Occupational Safety and Health (K3) is a factor that affects the number of work accidents. Awareness of K3 behavior as a preventive measure aims to reduce and even eliminate the risk of zero accidents. Such awareness can be started before entering the world of construction work. The purpose of this research is to find out the awareness of K3 behavior in the Civil Engineering study program of Batam International University. The method used in this research is by distributing questionnaires containing statements related to K3 behavior. Respondents to this study numbered 64 students of Civil Engineering UIB. Respondents who filled out questionnaires were divided into two parts, namely students in the first and second years as well as third- and fourth-year students. The results showed the total percentage of all respondents' results reached more than 85% for K3 knowledge and awareness of K3 behavior both students first and second years or as third- and fourth-year students. Universitas Internasional Batam as one of university that nurtures the next labour in construction field has made efforts in reducing the number of occupational accidents by incorporating occupational safety and health education in curriculum and providing training with certification. The demographics of Universitas Internasional Batam students also become one of the factors that most have worked also play a role in understanding students on the importance of Occupational Safety and Health (K3) in the world of work.

Effectiveness of Yijinjing on cognitive functions in post-stroke patients with mild cognitive impairment: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundStatistics show that every year, 5.4 million people in the world suffer a stroke. Post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) is one of the most common complications after stroke with a rate of 75%, which leads to decreased functions for independent living and reduced quality of life (QOL). Exercise training has been reported to be useful to improve the cognitive functions of post-stroke patients. Yijinjing, a traditional Chinese Qigong exercise characterized by an integration of mind and body in moderate exercise intensity, can improve cognitive functions of PSCI patients. This study aims to explore the feasibility and effectiveness of the Yijinjing exercise in this regard.MethodsA single-blind, superiority, randomized controlled trial will be employed with evaluations at 3 and 6 months. Seventy-two PSCI patients will be recruited and randomly assigned to the Yijinjing exercise intervention group or the control group (1:1). Participants in the control group will receive routine rehabilitation therapies, including occupational therapy, physical therapy, acupuncture therapy, and health education 5 times a week for 3 months. The intervention group will receive a 12-week routine rehabilitation therapy combined with the Yijinjing exercise intervention for 40 min each session and 3 sessions a week. The primary outcome of cognition will be measured by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment scale (MoCA). Secondary outcomes include executive function, memory function, visuospatial function, sleep quality, gait and motor function, activity of daily living (ADL), and quality of life (QOL).DiscussionCurrent evidence has reported the effectiveness of traditional Chinese exercise in improving the post-stroke population’s motor functions. This research is a randomized controlled trial that evaluates traditional Chinese exercise’s effectiveness for PSCI patients. It is expected to expand the traditional Chinese exercise scope and provide a new treatment approach for stroke populations with cognitive impairments.Trial registrationChinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR1900026532. Registered on 13 October 2019.

Development and Prospect of Occupational Safety and Health Education

Development and Prospect of Occupational Safety and Health Education

Analysis of the self-conscious health status and influencing factors of greenhouse agricultural workers in Beijing suburb

Objective: To explore the self-conscious health status and related influencing factors of greenhouse agricultural workers in Beijing suburb, so as to provide scientific basis for developing strategies to improve and promote the occupational health conditions of those workers. Methods: According to the production characteristics and scale of the main agricultural districts or counties in the suburb of Beijing, 182 agricultural production personnel were randomly selected to investigate the general situation, occupational situation and self-conscious health status during June 2018 to December 2019. The relevant factors which may affect the self-conscious health conditions were also analyzed by statistical methods. Results: The detection or reported rate of self-conscious health problems was 51.6% (94/182) , among which 29.1% (53/182) workers reported musculoskeletal disorder diseases and 21.4% (39/182) workers reported nervous system diseases. And the self-conscious health status of greenhouse agricultural workers were statistically different in household registration, gender, marital status, working years, mixing or spraying pesticides, smoking or eating in the greenhouse (P<0.05) . Moreover, gender, mixing or spraying pesticide, eating and smoking behavior in the workplace all had an impact on the risk of self-conscious health status of greenhouse agricultural workers (P< 0.05) . Specifically, male is the protective factor to reduce the occurrence of self-conscious symptoms of greenhouse agricultural workers (OR=0.447, 95%CI: 0.234~0.852) , while mixing or spraying pesticides and smoking or eating behaviors in the workplace are the risk factors (OR=1.055, 2.524; 95%CI: 0.503~2.210, 1.107~5.755) . Conclusion: Reducing pesticide use from the source thus minimize related exposure opportunities, strengthening occupational health education thus foster good hygienic habits and improve individual protection consciousness are of great significance for the health protection of greenhouse agricultural workers in Beijing suburb.

Assessment of occupational health and safety practices at government mortuaries in Gauteng Province: a cross-sectional study.

Introductionhospital mortuaries are responsible for the receipt and storage of deceased people. This exposes mortuary workers to a variety of health and safety hazards, which include physical, chemical, ergonomics, biological and psychosocial hazards/stressors. The aim of this study was to assess occupational health and safety practices (OHS) among government mortuary workers in Gauteng province.Methodsa cross-sectional descriptive study design was conducted between the year 2017 and 2018. A convenient sampling technique was used to sample 11 government hospitals in Gauteng Province. A total of 46 employees participated in the study. Data was collected using structured questionnaires and observational checklists. Ethical clearance and permission to conduct the study were obtained prior to the commencement of the study. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) version 25 software.Resultsthirty-one (67%) of the respondents did not know the concept of hazard. Observations indicated that 5 out of 11 (45%) facilities were well maintained with only 2 (18%) of the facilities had the participants wearing the required PPE on duty. There was no association between working experience and having a knowledge of the existing hazards. However, there was a high correlation (P<0.05) between training and adherence to safe practices.Conclusionthe OHS practices were poor amongst operational employees. The study highlights the significance of developing and implementing Occupational Health and Safety programmes. We recommend that these programmes should focus on occupational health and safety education, training, supervision, medical surveillance and monitoring strategies must be developed and implemented.

Epidemiological Survey of First Human Brucellosis Outbreak Caused by the Sika Deer (Cervus nippon) - Guizhou Province, China, 2019.

What is already known on this topic? Brucellosis is a zoonotic infectious disease caused by Brucella spp. The main source of infection in human brucellosis is sick animals, mainly including sheep, goat, and cattle, but sika deer (Cervus nippon) can also cause human brucellosis. The first human brucellosis case in Guizhou Province was reported in 2009, and no brucellosis outbreak was reported caused by sika deer ever before. What is added by this report? This is the first reported outbreak of human brucellosis caused by sika deer in Guizhou Province. Inappropriate regulation of animal movement may be the main driver of introducing and spreading brucellosis in southern areas. The ability to diagnose brucellosis in both humans and animals was weak in the county where the outbreak took place. What are the implications for public health practice? It was suggested to prioritize occupational protection and health education for sika deer breeders. The inspection of the movement of animals and the reimbursement policy need to be improved.

Evaluation of Occupational Health and Safety Education in Terms of Electricity Distribution Sector in Turkey

Evaluation of Occupational Health and Safety Education in Terms of Electricity Distribution Sector in Turkey

Effects of Occupational Radiation Exposure on Job Stress and Job Burnout of Medical Staff in Xinjiang, China: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BackgroundAlthough the potential effects of long-term and low-dose radiation exposure on physical health have attracted considerable attention, few systematic evaluations have been reported regarding the mental health of occupational groups. This study sought to investigate the effects of occupational radiation exposure on job stress and job burnout of medical radiation staff.Material/MethodsUsing cluster random sampling, a total of 1573 medical radiation workers were initially selected from 10 hospitals in Xinjiang, China, and 1396 valid questionnaires were finally collected. Job stress and job burnout were assessed using the Effort-Reward Imbalance (ERI) questionnaire and the Chinese Maslach Burnout Inventory (CMBI), respectively.ResultsThe percentages of medical radiation staff experiencing job stress and job burnout were 53.08% and 63.32%, respectively. A statistically significant difference in job stress was observed in association with age, ethnicity, professional title, marital status, radiation work type, radiation working years, family history, hypertension, obesity, smoking, and drinking (P<0.05). A statistically significant difference in job burnout was observed in association with age, sex, ethnicity, professional title, educational level, marital status, job post, radiation work type, radiation working years, family history, hypertension, diabetes, and obesity (P<0.05). Female (odds ratio [OR]=0.75, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.58–0.98), senior professional title (OR=0.64, 95% CI: 0.43–0.96), and radiation work types of nuclear medicine (OR=0.15, 95% CI: 0.07–0.33) and radiotherapy (OR=0.54, 95% CI: 0.36–0.79) were protective factors, and job stress (OR=4.57, 95% CI: 3.55–5.91) was the risk factor for job burnout of medical radiation staff.ConclusionsMedical radiation staff experience high levels of job stress and job burnout. The interventions of occupational physical examination, personal dose monitoring, occupational health education, and management optimization are recommended to relieve job stress and job burnout and enhance occupational health of medical radiation staff.

Occupational Safety and Health Education in Post-Secondary Career and Technical Education Construction Programs

Construction is one of the most dangerous industries in the US. Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs are important settings in which new construction workers can learn about Occupational Safety and Health (OSH). CTE programs are sometimes the only place where these workers will encounter such training. We set out to examine the quality of OSH education received by students in post-secondary CTE construction programs by conducting a surv ey of instructors teaching in these programs across the country . The goal was to learn the extent to which previously identified" essential elements necessary for providing effective safety and health education" are spread across these programs. Our findings show instructors in these programs prioritize hands-on training, make efforts to stay current in best practices in safety and health, and regularly update their curricula. We also found that instructors need more training on effectively teaching safety and health to more meaningfully integrate such content into their trade skill courses. Finally, we found that instructors need to better model effective safety and health management systems within their classrooms to help keep students safe and set students' expectations for safe work when they enter their chosen trade.

The association of mental symptoms with teenage work in Iceland

Adolescent mental health problems have increased in recent years, and such problems may predispose the adolescent to long-term mental illness in adulthood. In past decades it has become more common for Icelandic teenagers to work while attending school (term-time work). Nevertheless, research is missing on the association between the level of termtime work and mental health. The aim is to examine the association between six types of mental symptoms (tiredness after an adequate night's sleep, difficulty sleeping, depression, stress/anxiety, worries/sadness, and multiple symptoms) and level of term-time work, by gender, age, and family's financial status. A survey applying a Nordic questionnaire based on self-assessed mental symptoms, was conducted among 2800 randomly selected adolscents, aged 13-19. The response rate was 48.6%. Participants were asked how often they felt symptoms of poor mental health. They were divided into three groups consisting of: non term-time workers, moderate term-time workers, and intensive term-time workers. A Chi-square test was used to test statistical significance: 95% confidence interval (CI). Results show gender difference in the association between level of term-time work and the mental symptoms. Intensive female workers are more likely to suffer symptoms of poor mental health than female non-workers, but no relationship was examined amongst boys. Furthermore, some association between term-time work and poor mental health is found amongst 13-15-year-olds, and for those whose parents are financially well-off. It is important that all stakeholders promote moderate term-time work for adolescents, and that the young people themselves receive occupational health and safety education to better understand the connection between work and mental health.

Prevention through Design (PtD) Education for Future Civil Engineers in Malaysia: Current State, Challenges, and Way Forward

The lack of prevention through design (PtD) education in higher education institutions has long been recognised in construction literature. Despite the fact that some of the institutions have embedded PtD education in their curricula, it is often not addressed in engineering curricula in higher education institutions in developing countries, such as Malaysia. Due to the recent introduction of the Occupational Safety and Health in Construction Industry (Management) [OSHCI(M)] guideline, which is based on the PtD concept, the need to incorporate the PtD concept and skills in engineering programs is crucial, as part of early safety education for future engineers. In order to address this gap in the body of knowledge, this study aims to investigate the current state of safety education in general and PtD in specific, in order to understand the extent the subject has been covered within the curricula of civil engineering programs in Malaysian higher educational institutions. A qualitative research methodology via case studies of seven public universities was adopted. The findings indicated that not only is the level of PtD education in civil engineering programs almost nonexistent, but the occupational health and safety (OHS) education itself was only covered to a certain extent. This significant gap has led to recommendations including the need for institutional dynamism in the context of incorporating OHS subjects, interactive OHS teaching and learning, technology-driven education, and the improving the competency of OHS lecturers. This study could act as a reference for the industry, accreditation bodies, and educational institutions to understand the status quo of PtD education for future engineers towards OSHCI(M) implementation. The findings also extend the knowledge of PtD education in construction literature, subsequently providing insights for wider incorporation of PtD in civil engineering programs.