Occupational Health Practitioners Research Articles

Shifting the Safety Culture: Evaluation of a Novel Approach to Understanding and Responding to Workplace Harassment and Violence Experienced by Homecare Workers.

Workplace violence and harassment are commonplace for healthcare workers and most incidents are unreported. Normalization of these experiences, lack of confidence in reporting systems, and fear of the consequences of reporting contribute to the invisibility of these experiences. Challenges are exacerbated in homecare settings and for precarious workforces including Personal Support Workers (PSWs). We created, piloted, and evaluated an intervention to enhance safety culture and encourage reporting of workplace violence and harassment. A multi-stakeholder steering committee designed an intervention combining policy changes, a pre-visit screening tool, education, and brief end-of-visit reporting. This was piloted with a PSW care team which provided >55,000 client visits during the 32-week intervention. Operational metrics characterized screening, education, and reporting uptake. Pre- and post-intervention surveys characterized PSWs' experiences with workplace violence and harassment, reporting experiences, training history and intervention feedback. PSWs reported increased comfort discussing workplace violence and harassment, and increased confidence managing client-to-worker incidents. The screening went smoothly with most clients in private homes. Most PSWs (75%) engaged at least once with end-of-visit reporting and nearly half submitted reports regularly. During the pilot, 21% of PSWs reported incidents and 52% of reports shared client-specific strategies for managing these situations. Changes in comfort and behavior with reporting indicated a shift toward a more open culture surrounding workplace violence and harassment. Tools created for this intervention and lessons for implementation are shared for consideration by occupational health practitioners throughout the homecare sector.

Method for detection of pathogenic bacteria from indoor air microbiome samples using high-throughput amplicon sequencing

The exposure of the air microbiome in indoor air posed a detrimental health effect to the building occupants compared to the outdoor air. Indoor air in hospitals has been identified as a reservoir for various pathogenic microbes. The conventional culture-dependent method has been widely used to access the microbial community in the air. However, it has limited capability in enumerating the complex air microbiome communities, as some of the air microbiomes are uncultivable, slow-growers, and require specific media for cultivation. Here, we utilized a culture-independent method via amplicon sequencing to target the V3 region of 16S rRNA from the pool of total genomic DNA extracted from the dust samples taken from hospital interiors. This method will help occupational health practitioners, researchers, and health authorities to efficiently and comprehensively monitor the presence of harmful air microbiome thus take appropriate action in controlling and minimizing the health risks to the hospital occupants. Key features;•Culture-independent methods offer fast, comprehensive, and unbias profiles of pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteria from the air microbiomes.•Unlike the culture-dependent method, amplicon sequencing allows bacteria identification to the lowest taxonomy levels.

Occupational health and safety activities undertaken by physiotherapy students: A retrospective review of industry placement reports.

The University of South Australia's Bachelor of Physiotherapy course, 'Work Health and Safety (WHS) Practice', provides students with introductory practical WHS experience. Students undertake 80-hour effort WHS projects for industry, culminating in a report for hosts. To establish the types of industry that host WHS undergraduate physiotherapy placements and the nature of activities that students conduct. Reports were retrospectively, systematically classified using a descriptive, document content analysis approach. Demographic data were collected: report and student numbers, placement locations and industry types. Selected reports were used as a subset for further analysis with definitions created to classify the nature of placement activities. Most reports were written by a pair of students (88%, n = 269), with placements based in metropolitan Adelaide (91%, n = 284). Various industries hosted students, including healthcare and social assistance (40%, n = 117) and manufacturing (30%, n = 89). Reports primarily included risk management activities as required by WHS legislation (97%, n = 229). Physiotherapy student WHS activities maintain close links with industry, involving stakeholders (workforce, students, University of South Australia and academics). At an entry-level standard, the student WHS activities align well with some criteria set as key competencies for Australian Occupational Health physiotherapy practitioners.

Artificial intelligence in the service of health and safety at work: Perspectives and challenges from now to 2035 - A prospective study

Artificial intelligence systems are developing very rapidly in all areas. This is particularly true in the case of work, where we are seeing their use in the robotisation of industrial production or the automation of certain functions in services (from chatbots to robotic process automation). In the context of a prospective study devoted to the use of artificial intelligence for occupational risk prevention, a very diverse project group was set up: occupational health practitioners, artificial intelligence specialists, lawyers, futurists, sociologists, and everyday users of artificial intelligence techniques. Using the method of contrasting scenarios, this project group successively documented variables likely to influence the use of artificial intelligence in the service of occupational health and safety, put forward hypotheses on their possible development over the next ten to fifteen years, and constructed scenarios. These relatively general scenarios were then adapted specifically to the subject studied, in particular during seminars devoted to specific uses (possible uses of artificial intelligence tools in epidemiology and accidentology, technologies for securing working environments using artificial intelligence, advanced robotics using artificial intelligence). Based on all the material produced during the study, the study finally resulted in recommendations of the project group on the use of AI in occupational risk prevention proposed for discussion. The subject is indeed of interest to the whole community of practitioners involved in occupational risk prevention whose practices will certainly be affected by these new technological developments.

Motivational drivers of heavy work investment: intercultural comparison between USA and Egypt

Purpose The purpose is to identify the underlying motives of heavy work investment (HWI) types (i.e. workaholism and work engagement) based on self-determination theory, while controlling for job demands and resources. The role of four cultural differences (i.e. individualism, power distance, uncertainty avoidance and masculinity) in moderating the motivational correlated relationships is also explored using data retrieved from two distinct cultures (i.e. the USA and Egypt).Design/methodology/approach Full-time employees (N = 595) in the USA and Egypt were surveyed. Multiple regression analyses were used to test the associations between the two HWI types and four types of motivation (i.e. intrinsic, extrinsic, introjected and identified motivations). Furthermore, moderation analyses were conducted to explore potential effects of four cultural dimensions (i.e. individualism, power distance, uncertainty avoidance and masculinity) on the motivationalcorrelated relationships.Findings Workaholism positively relates to the controlled types of motivation (i.e. extrinsic and introjected regulation), while work engagement positively relates to the autonomous ones (i.e. intrinsic and identified regulation) and negatively associates with extrinsic motivation. Moreover, cultural masculinity moderated the relationship between work engagement and extrinsic motivation, as well as the association between workaholism and extrinsic motivation.Practical implications A clear differentiation of motivation behind both types of HWI is required by occupational health practitioners to design interventions that stimulate employee engagement rather than fuel workaholism. Multinational organizations could also benefit from understanding the interaction between cultural dimensions, motives and HWI, thereby planning more effective work engagement strategies among different cultures.Originality/value This is the first study to investigate the motivational correlates of HWI types across two contrasting cultures.

Clinical Findings Related to Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) in a Group of Orthodontists

Aim: Orthodontists could be exposed to different occupational risks and be affected by different pathologies such as Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs). Prevention strategies are required to identify risk factors at different levels. Through an objective clinical evaluation, this study aimed to identify the factors related to the presence of MSDs in a group of orthodontists from Medellín (Colombia). Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted. A clinical evaluation, focused on orthodontics-related occupational aspects, was carried out by an occupational health practitioner, that was standardized for research purposes. Sociodemographic and clinical variables were collected. Descriptive and bivariate analyses were conducted on the prevalence of MSDs according to the study variables and Chi-square tests was carried out to observe statistically significant differences. Ethical approval was obtained. Results: The prevalence of MSDs was 58.7% (95%CI 44.3- 71.7). The frequency of Upper body MSDs was 45.7% (Females: 51.4%) and in the case of Spine Area MSDs was 23.9% (Males: 45.5%). The prevalence of MSDs was higher in males, those people ≤ 44 years, Single/Separate, from middle socioeconomic status, with other medical previous conditions. Labor conditions were related to the presence of MSDs. The agreement percentage in the case of Upper body MSDs and Clinical Spine Area MSDs considering positive cases was 50% and 29.2% respectively. Conclusions: The orthodontists participating in the study manifested various MSDs and other pathologies related to their professional practice. Sociodemographic and clinical factors were related to the presence of MSDs. Epidemiological surveillance systems in occupational health and strategies in health and safety at work are requested.

Psychological well-being is aligned to the ethical theory of flourishing

Flourishing, an ethical theory founded in Stoic philosophy, centers around emotional control and learning how to live well. It connects strongly with the modern construct of psychological well-being (PWB). PWB programs are increasingly included in workplaces and factors contributing to their success can include individual motivations, accountability and responsibility, organizational support systems and design, and an understanding of mental health conditions. Anxiety, the most commonly experienced mental health condition, is an emotional state that can directly affect PWB, yet it is often neglected in research, as is the concept of who is responsible for PWB. This paper outlines a study to test the hypotheses that: emotional states can affect PWB: emotion can be considered an ethical construct; improving PWB benefits both individuals and organizations and that shared responsibility can optimize organizational PWB program outcomes. Existing information was gathered from a systematic literature review and new information was gathered from a study conducted with the Australian Institute of Health and Safety (AIHS). Mixed method research incorporated quantitative and qualitative data collection, testing occupational health and safety (OHS) practitioners’ views on anxiety, and perceptions of factors affecting success or failure of PWB programs.Findings included strong indications that: anxiety can affect PWB and impact performance and productivity; shared responsibility between employees and organizations may improve the outcomes for PWB programs; information and education around self-care, and motivational principles connected to virtue ethics can all assist individuals and organizations to assume responsibility for their role with PWB initiatives.

Ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry quantitation of o-cresol in hydrolyzed human urine to assess toluene exposure.

Toluene is a volatile organic compound used in domestic and industrial applications. The main routes of workplace exposure to toluene are inhalation and dermal contact. As toluene exposure can cause severe nervous system damage, its quantification is crucial to prevent occupational illness. Toluene is metabolized mainly as hippuric acid, S-benzylmercapturic acid and epoxides. These are rapidly converted to o-/p-cresol, which is then excreted in the urine as conjugated glucuronides and sulfates. o-Cresol and its conjugates can be chemically hydrolyzed to form free o-cresol, which can then serve as a urinary biomarker of toluene exposure. Current analytical methods for quantifying o-cresol in hydrolyzed urine are, however, either weakened by interference, are not sensitive enough or require water-sensitive sample preparation. Development of a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for assessing exposure to toluene is thus required. Urine samples were acidified and heated to form free o-cresol and then derivatized with dansyl chloride and diluted. Extracts were separated by reverse-phase chromatography on a BEH phenyl column and then analyzed using a triple quadrupole instrument in selected reaction monitoring mode. The dansyl chloride derivatization step was optimized to produce the derivative within a reaction time of 3min. Hydrolysis efficiency in forming free o-cresol from conjugated metabolites was evaluated using o-cresol-β-d-glucuronidespiked human urine: complete hydrolysis occurred in 45 min. Dynamic range was 0.4 to 40 μM, and the method was useful for toluene monitoring in non-occupational (0.1μmol/mmol creatinine) as well as occupational (0.3μmol/mmol creatinine) exposure. The calculated limit of detection and limit of quantitation of the method were 0.06 and 0.21 μM, respectively. Intraday and interday precisions were 3.2% and 4.4%, respectively. Method accuracy was established as 99% using ClinChek® urine controls. An ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for analysis of o-cresol was developed for biological monitoring of toluene exposure in human urine. This is the method of choice used by occupational health and safety practitioners in the province of Québec, Canada.

Emerging technology in agriculture: Opportunities and considerations for occupational safety and health researchers

Introduction: A variety of factors are driving the development of robotics and automation in the agriculture industry including the nature of work, workforce shortages, and a variety of economic, climatic, technologic, political, and social factors. While some new robotics and automated machines are available commercially, most are still being developed. This provides occupational safety and health researchers an unprecedented opportunity to mitigate risks and benefit the health and safety of agriculture workers. Method: The NIOSH Office of Agriculture Safety and Health (OASH) is working to better understand how the advancements in automation and robotics is affecting workers. OASH is coordinating with the NIOSH Center of Occupational Robotics Research (CORR) to help to increase the understanding of human/machine interactions; improve the ability to identify injuries and fatalities involving automation/ robotics; and provide guidance on working safely with automation/ robotics. OASH also joined a small team of academics and industry to organize the SAfety For Emerging Robotics and Autonomous aGriculture or (SAFER AG) Workshop to identify gaps in knowledge and research needs that connect to issues related to risks and regulations/standards, occupational safety research, and impacts on workforce and society. This workshop was sponsored by USDA NIFA. Practical Applications: Occupational safety and health experts need to engage and collaborate with developers of technology. It is also increasingly important for occupational safety and health researchers and practitioners to not only become familiar with existing manufacturing safety standards, but also the lengthy standards development process. Joining consensus standards groups to help shape new standards for emerging technologies may help to mitigate adverse worker impacts. NIOSH’s Office of Agriculture Safety and Health will continue to identify research gaps, support new research projects, education, outreach efforts and the development of best practices with our partners.

Introduction to Human Factors in Accident Investigation

This is a book about human factors and accident investigation. The author, Dr R. S. Bridger, is a consultant and educationalist in human factors and ergonomics. Dr Bridger is past president of the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors (UK). He is experienced in accident investigation in the maritime and healthcare sectors. His book is aimed at safety professionals, engineers, accident investigators and psychologists who apply the principles of human factors. Occupational Health Practitioners with both a health and a safety remit, seeking to understand how human behaviour contributes to accidents (unplanned events causing personal injury or property damage), will find this book interesting. Human Factors refer to working conditions that affect people’s behaviour. High-risk industries and some safety professionals prefer ‘Human Factors’ to ‘Ergonomics’, but the two are often used interchangeably. The book has 15 chapters. It contains an abundance of thought-provoking examples of accidents in healthcare and other industries illustrating the contribution of human factors (an example is the Ferry Herald disaster near Zeebrugge in 1987). The first chapter explains how people in organizations and systems operate where cognitive, physical and organizational factors intersect. Accidents happen when the body, the mind, the senses and skills do not fit with the workspace. Another chapter on human–machine interaction and accidents is most relevant to the current Digital Revolution of how we work.

Musculoskeletal pain among teleworkers: Frequency and associated factors

AbstractTeleworking, also known as remote working, has become the new norm for many workers since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic. Studies show that during this time, the incidence of musculoskeletal pain is increasing among these workers. Despite this, few studies have addressed the possible correlates of musculoskeletal paśin in teleworkers, with several potential predictors receiving little or no attention in published studies. With this in mind, an online survey was conducted among organizations in the IT and communications sectors in Malta. Information was collected from 459 teleworkers on the frequency of telework, frequency of work during nonworking hours, exercise frequency, burnout, and ergonomic arrangements. Demographic data were also collected. Results revealed that 55.8% reported one or more musculoskeletal pain. Back pain was the most common, followed by neck and shoulder pain. The presence of pain, the number of painful body areas, and the presence of back, neck, and shoulder pain were each individually associated with work during nonworking hours, lower levels of exercise, and higher levels of burnout. It is argued that musculoskeletal pain appears to be common among teleworkers and may negatively impact the quality of life and organizational performance. Companies and occupational health practitioners should strive to identify the prevalence of these problems among their teleworkers, develop appropriate preventive measures, and support workers to obtain multidisciplinary care when needed.

Oxford Handbook of Occupational Health

Since its first publication in 2007, this pocket-sized handbook has firmly established its place as an essential resource for occupational health (OH) practice. With a wealth of updated information packed in its 920 pages, the much-awaited third edition follows the ever-changing landscape of health as well as the nature of work. The three editors (two of whom are new to this edition) are eminent leaders in the discipline of occupational medicine. The contributors are mainly consultants in occupational medicine, but also professionals in other disciplines related to OH, which reflects the multidisciplinary nature of OH practice. The primary target audience is OH practitioners, including support OH professionals, but the book is also of interest to a much wider readership which includes anyone with involvement in ­workplace health. The structure of the book mirrors previous editions and covers the following areas: occupational hazards; occupational diseases; OH practice; fitness for work; OH law; occupational hygiene; toxicology; epidemiology in OH; environmental medicine; safety science; practical procedures; emergencies in OH. This edition includes new and updated information on many chapters such as fitness for work, work health and disability, ethics, and unsurprisingly respiratory disorders and infection control. The section on chemical hazards now includes the chemical structures of the different substances. The new edition also includes legal, guidance and publication updates with website links, and an informative appendix on informatics in OH. In addition to the succinct text, the book contains tables, diagrams and figures to enhance understanding.

Wearable Motion Capture Devices for the Prevention of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders in Ergonomics-An Overview of Current Applications, Challenges, and Future Opportunities.

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are a major contributor to disability worldwide and substantial societal costs. The use of wearable motion capture instruments has a role in preventing WMSDs by contributing to improvements in exposure and risk assessment and potentially improved effectiveness in work technique training. Given the versatile potential for wearables, this article aims to provide an overview of their application related to the prevention of WMSDs of the trunk and upper limbs and discusses challenges for the technology to support prevention measures and future opportunities, including future research needs. The relevant literature was identified from a screening of recent systematic literature reviews and overviews, and more recent studies were identified by a literature search using the Web of Science platform. Wearable technology enables continuous measurements of multiple body segments of superior accuracy and precision compared to observational tools. The technology also enables real-time visualization of exposures, automatic analyses, and real-time feedback to the user. While miniaturization and improved usability and wearability can expand the use also to more occupational settings and increase use among occupational safety and health practitioners, several fundamental challenges remain to be resolved. The future opportunities of increased usage of wearable motion capture devices for the prevention of work-related musculoskeletal disorders may require more international collaborations for creating common standards for measurements, analyses, and exposure metrics, which can be related to epidemiologically based risk categories for work-related musculoskeletal disorders.

What is work?

As occupational health practitioners, our focus undoubtedly veers towards work: what it involves, its benefits and impacts. But how often have we paused to consider, what actually is work? The Cambridge dictionary describes it as: An activity, such as a job, that a person uses physical or mental effort to do, usually for money [1]. The Oxford English dictionary describes work as: To act for a specified purpose, or so as to achieve a specified end [2]. While the preceding provide widely accepted definitions for work, do we ask ourselves, ‘What does my client understand work to be?’ Socially, the definition of work has changed over the centuries much of which we have cause to be thankful for. In the 21st century, going to work for most of us no longer conjures the image of impending doom or death as might have been the case in the 17th and 18th centuries when there was much less emphasis on health and safety in workplaces. Due to the influence of legislation and trade unions, workers today also tend to have more of a say in working practices and how they are treated. Have these changes led to an imperceptible but greater shift in the paradigm of what workers themselves actually consider to be work? Gone are the days when most workers were grateful to have any job and were largely beholden to their employers as they depended heavily on them for sustenance and livelihood. An almost undetectable shift has taken place where workers now view work as an entitlement, and where the locus of control has radically shifted from the employer to the employed.

Accuracy of professional judgments for dermal exposure assessment using deterministic models

ABSTRACT The accuracy of exposure judgments, particularly for scenarios where only qualitative information is available or a systematic approach is not used, have been evaluated and shown to have a relatively low level of accuracy. This is particularly true for dermal exposures, where less information is generally available compared to inhalation exposures. Relatively few quantitative validation efforts have been performed for scenarios where dermal exposures are of interest. In this study, a series of dermal exposure judgments were collected from 90 volunteer U.S. occupational health practitioners in a workshop format to assess the accuracy of their judgments for three specific scenarios. Accuracy was defined as the ability of the participants to identify the correct reference exposure category, as defined by the quantitative exposure banding categories utilized by the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA). The participants received progressively additional information and training regarding dermal exposure assessments and scenario-specific information during the workshop, and the relative accuracy of their category judgments over time was compared. The results of the study indicated that despite substantial education and training in exposure assessment generally, the practitioners had very little experience in performing dermal exposure assessments and a low level of comfort in performing these assessments. Further, contrary to studies of practitioners performing inhalation exposure assessments demonstrating a trend towards underestimating exposures, participants in this study consistently overestimated the potential for dermal exposure without quantitative data specific to the scenario of interest. Finally, it was found that participants were able to identify the reference or “true” category of dermal exposure acceptability when provided with relevant, scenario-specific dermal and/or surface loading data for use in the assessment process. These results support the need for additional training and education of practitioners in performing dermal exposure assessments. A closer analysis of default loading values used in dermal exposure assessments to evaluate their accuracy relative to real-world or measured dermal loading values, along with consistent improvements in current dermal models, is also needed.

Job stress and mental health at work

In Japan, a study on mental health in workplace has expanded from tertiary to secondary and primary preventions of mental health disorders among employees. Recent movements suggest a trend of bringing numerous topics outside the industrial health, including those with perspectives from categories generally known as primordial prevention, such as enhancement of working life quality or improvement of work environment.First, according to the aforementioned trends, the present paper made an effort to organize the terms and concepts related to mental health disorders, which included the foundation for research and practice in this area as well as the outcomes of discussions on the tertiary and secondary preventions.Second, the primary models of work-related stress, along its impact on mental health, and the scales for assessing workers' mental health issues were discussed, which have been used in numerous studies since the 1990s. The introduction of those models and scales contributed immensely to the expansion of this field's research areas. However, a number of significant factors, most of which have social or cultural implications, can influence the connection between stress at workplace and health problems. Therefore, conducting large-scale study or systematic reviews targeting domestic cases exclusively is necessary to obtain evidence for establishing highly versatile measures against mental health problems in Japan.Third, in this regard, several noteworthy large-scale research projects in Japan are highlighted as a hope for encouraging such studies in this field. However, the occupational health practitioners' effort to understand the actual workplace situations where they attend to and to put the understanding into practice has been and will remain an indispensable attribute for them in the future.

A survey of research activity challenges among occupational health practitioners

A survey of research activity challenges among occupational health practitioners

Coping with Psychosocial Hazards: A Systematic Review of Young Construction Workers’ Practices and Their Determinants

Young construction workers employ different practices to cope with psychosocial risks, most of which prevent them from achieving mental well-being. Managing this problem has been a challenge because research on the topic is fragmented. To contribute to addressing this problem, we systematically reviewed the literature on young construction workers’ coping practices using meta-aggregation guided by the PICo and PRISMA frameworks. We sought to identify young construction workers’ coping mechanisms and the factors that influence their choice of coping practices. A total of 345 studies were retrieved, and 24 studies published between 1993 and 2022 met the inclusion criteria. Using deductive thematic analysis, we identified 28 coping practices and categorized them into eight mechanisms and three domains. Eleven determinants of young construction workers’ coping choices emerged and were classified as personal and environmental factors. This review provides knowledge for building theory on young construction workers’ coping and stresses the need for further studies on the role of influencing factors such as age, individual resilience, coping experience, religion, and spirituality. Findings from this review can serve as an evidence base for researchers, occupational health practitioners, and policy-makers for developing interventions that can promote the uptake of beneficial coping practices by young construction workers.

Verbal and Physical Abuse Against Nurses Working in Hospitals and Health Centers in Buraidah, Saudi Arabia.

Background Hospital staff, especially nurses, face violence of various forms in the workplace. This study aimed to assess the burden of verbal/physical abuse against nurses and their attitude towards such events in Buraidah, Saudi Arabia. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among nurses working in three public sectors and two private sector hospitals, and five primary healthcare facilities in Buraidah. Data was collected using a structured online questionnaire, disseminated among nurses through nursing departments of participating facilities. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 21.0. Results A total of 369 nurses participated in the survey, with a mean age of 34 (±6.9) years. About two-thirds, 68% (250) of respondents, had experienced at least one verbal/physical abuse incident during one year. The most common perpetrators were patients (44.4%). Sixteen percent of participants reported taking no action against the incident. Those working in private facilities were 80% less likely to experience abuse than those in public facilities, adjusted OR 0.20 (95% CI: 0.08-0.47). Conclusions There was a high burden of verbal/physical abuse against nurses, and they, therefore, suffer from disturbing memories. However, a little more than half do not officially report it to the managers, with only a small fraction seeing some action taken. Occupational health practitioners should take action to improve the policy and procedures related to workplace violence (WPV) in healthcare facilities. Further research is needed to characterize incidents to understand the patterns and develop interventions for the prevention of such events.

Shoulder work-related musculoskeletal disorders and related factors of workers in 15 industries of China: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundChanges in modern industrial production practices can easily lead to shoulder work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD). The current reports on shoulder WMSD are limited to some industries are less well studied, and the sample size is usually small. This study aimed to describe the prevalence and severity of shoulder WMSD in a large sample of Chinese workers from 15 industries, analyze the possible correlations with sociodemographic and work-related variables, and compare the differences between industries.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among a sample of 55,749 participants from 252 enterprises in 15 industries throughout China. A Chinese version of the musculoskeletal disease questionnaire was used to collect the demographic factors, shoulder symptoms in past 12 months, and work-related factors including posture-related factors, repetition, vibration, work organization, job control, and environmental factors as independent variables. Descriptive statistics were used, and the binary logistic regression analysis was performed to explore the association between shoulder WMSD and potential demographic and work-related factors.ResultsNearly 35.5% of participants reported shoulder pain and discomfort in the previous 12 months. Biopharmaceutical manufacturing (56.2%), medical services (54.4%), and aviation services (50.1%) were the three industries with the highest prevalence of shoulder WMSD. The pain score of aviation services workers was the highest. The related factors for shoulder WMSD varied among the different industries.ConclusionOur study found a relatively high prevalence of shoulder WMSD in China. There were large differences in the prevalence of shoulder WMSD among industries, and the related factors were particular to each industry. Such information is useful to help occupational health practitioners and policymakers conduct preventive programs to reduce shoulder disorders in these working populations.