Occupational Health Professionals Research Articles

Multiple sclerosis, work and job retention

Becoming unfit for work or losing one's job because of multiple sclerosis is not inevitable. Many tools are available and occupational health professionals are now specifically mandated to support workers, whether or not they are employees, in maintaining their jobs, thanks in particular to the prevention of professional displacement unit, the recommendations of the French National Authority for Health and better coordination.

Occupational Exposure to Incidental Nanomaterials in Metal Additive Manufacturing: An Innovative Approach for Risk Management.

The benefits of metal 3D printing seem unquestionable. However, this additive manufacturing technology brings concerns to occupational safety and health professionals, since recent studies show the existence of airborne nanomaterials in these workplaces. This article explores different approaches to manage the risk of exposure to these incidental nanomaterials, on a case study conducted in a Portuguese organization using Selective Laser Melting (SLM) technology. A monitoring campaign was performed using a condensation particle counter, a canning mobility particle sizer and air sampling for later scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray analysis, proving the emission of nano-scale particles and providing insights on number particle concentration, size, shape and chemical composition of airborne matter. Additionally, Control Banding Nanotool v2.0 and Stoffenmanager Nano v1.0 were applied in this case study as qualitative tools, although designed for engineered nanomaterials. This article highlights the limitations of using these quantitative and qualitative approaches when studying metal 3D Printing workstations. As a result, this article proposes the IN Nanotool, a risk management method for incidental nanomaterials designed to overcome the limitations of other existing approaches and to allow non-experts to manage this risk and act preventively to guarantee the safety and health conditions of exposed workers.

Autonomous Motivation for Exercise Is Key to an Active Lifestyle in Firefighters.

Physical inactivity is an important risk factor for chronic mental and physical health conditions in firefighters. It remains unclear why a substantial portion of firefighters do not meet the World Health Organization's physical activity (PA) recommendations. In this cross-sectional study, we explored associations between motivational reasons for being physically active and time spent exercising, walking, and in incidental PA in firefighters. A secondary aim was to investigate differences in motivational reasons between physically active versus physically inactive firefighters. Eighty-seven participants (43.1 ± 10.3 years; 87.6% male) who were recruited via a nonprofit peer support network of fire rescue personnel in Flanders, Belgium, completed the Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire 2 (BREQ-2), Simple Physical Activity Questionnaire (SIMPAQ), and the Physical Activity Vital Sign (PAVS) via an online survey. Firefighters who identified the benefits of exercising and/or those who found pleasure or a personal challenge in it exercised more. Those who did not meet the guideline of 150 min of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per week had much less intrinsic motivation. This study demonstrates that autonomous motives for PA (i.e., because it is perceived to be consistent with intrinsic goals or outcomes and emanates from the self) are important for an active lifestyle in firefighters. Occupational health professionals can foster autonomous motivation in firefighters by focusing on the benefits of exercise, making sure there are a wide range of exercise options available, and supporting initiatives of firefighters within the fire station.

Inequality in workplace support for various types of precarious workers compared with permanent workers in Japan: A cross-sectional study.

The purpose of this study was to examine, by sex, whether precarious workers in Japan receive less support in the workplace than permanent workers. We conducted a cross-sectional study using an online questionnaire in 2022. We stratified participants by sex and performed modified Poisson regression analysis. The outcomes were support from supervisors, co-workers, occupational health professionals, and no one. Adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) were calculated for contract workers, part-time workers, and dispatched workers, using permanent workers as reference. This study had 21 047 participants. For men, 87.9% were permanent workers; for women, 50.7% were permanent workers and 37.3% were part-time workers. For workplace support, 47.5% of men and 45.2% of women selected superiors; 41.8% of men and 50.5% of women selected colleagues; 16.8% of men and 6.2% of women selected occupational health professionals. Female contract workers were less likely to receive support from their supervisors (aPR 0.88) or co-workers (aPR 0.89). Male part-time workers were less likely to be supported by their co-workers (aPR 0.86). Dispatched workers were less likely to be supported by their supervisors (men aPR 0.71, women aPR 0.84) and co-workers (men aPR 0.73, women aPR 0.77). Part-time and dispatched workers were less likely to receive support from occupational health professionals. Precarious workers could get less workplace support than permanent workers. This may contribute to occupational health problems with precarious workers.

The use of ChatGPT in occupational medicine: opportunities and threats.

ChatGPT has the potential to revolutionize occupational medicine by providing a powerful tool for analyzing data, improving communication, and increasing efficiency. It can help identify patterns and trends in workplace health and safety, act as a virtual assistant for workers, employers, and occupational health professionals, and automate certain tasks. However, caution is required due to ethical concerns, the need to maintain confidentiality, and the risk of inconsistent or inaccurate results. ChatGPT cannot replace the crucial role of the occupational health professional in the medical surveillance of workers and the analysis of data on workers' health.

Evaluation of self-administered questionnaire items used in regular health check-ups at the workplace by occupational health professionals

Currently, there is no standardized questionnaire for regular workplace health check-ups in Japan. We considered that there are several issues associated with this, including the possibility that the questionnaire items are not useful for occupational health staff. Therefore, our study aimed to examine the questionnaire items required in regular health check-ups from the occupational health practice perspective and prepare a draft of a standardized medical questionnaire. The ultimate goal is to promote integrated management and utilization of the health-related information obtained from the questionnaire in the future. This non-interventional study, conducted from February 2018 to November 2020, examined the questionnaire items for the regular health check-up using the Delphi method. Twenty-two occupational health professionals, including occupational physicians and nurses with qualifications in occupational health, participated in the study. The self-administered questionnaires used by contracted industrial health associations across Japan were obtained, and items from all questionnaires were extracted. A survey questionnaire was then developed, consisting of eight primary headings: "personal attributes," "work-related information and work history," "life history and subjective symptoms," "current and past medical history," "family history," and "pregnancy status," with a total of 589 items. Participants were asked to rate the degree of necessity for each item, excluding the items in "personal attributes" and "pregnancy status." The items with low ratings were excluded, and the remaining items were redesigned and distributed to the participants with the tabulated results. This process was repeated three times to allow the participants to rate the necessity of the items consistently. The questionnaire items with a consensus ratio exceeding 70% on the third try were adopted. The final adopted questionnaire items were again reviewed by the participants and agreed upon by all. A total of 85 items were adopted under five primary headings, including 12 items for "work-related information and work history," 11 for "life history," 22 for "subjective symptoms," 37 for "current medical history," and three for "past medical history." The items for the regular health check-up were finally adopted under the primary headings of "work-related information and work history," "subjective symptoms," and "current medical history." We assumed that these items provide an overview of health information that can be utilized in occupational health practice. Based on our findings, there is a need to develop a standardized questionnaire for regular health check-ups and to consider the management and utilization of workers' health information.

Cancro Esofágico associado ao Trabalho

Introduction/framework/objectives There are oncological pathologies in which it is possible that some occupational exposures can modulate their appearance. The aim of this review was to sumarize, in a succinct and practical way, the most relevant and recent published data on the subject, in the international literature, in relation to Esophageal Cancer. Methodology This is a Bibliographic Review, initiated through a search carried out in January 2022, in the databases “CINALH plus with full text, Medline with full text, Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cochrane Methodology Register, Nursing and Allied Health Collection: comprehensive, MedicLatina and RCAAP”. Contents Occupational risk factors associated are asbestos, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, acetaldehyde, nitrosamines and some dry cleaning solvents. However, occupational studies are reasonably scarce. Several entities have classified asbestos as carcinogens in relation to the lung and pleura; however, in relation to the esophagus, the evidence is less intense. Still, some estimate that asbestos increases the risk by 2.38 times, even though the relationship between asbestos occupational exposure is not fully understood. They are classified as belonging to group 1 (human carcinogens). After inhalation, not all of the fibers are eliminated by macrophages; the accumulation of these potentiates the production of free radicals, causing eventual alterations in the DNA. If the fibers are removed quickly, there is no toxicity; therefore, their deposition and clearance will influence the oncological potential. The initial response is provided by macrophages, which in turn cause inflammation and tissue damage. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, such as benzopyrene, arise from the combustion of organic matter; are likely carcinogens and mutagens in humans. At the Occupational level, there are found in foundries, chimney sweeps, ovens, catering and incinerators; in this context, the main routes of entry are inhalation and cutaneous. Some genetic polymorphisms influence the damage. Discussion and Conclusions There are some sectors/tasks/agents associated with Esophageal Cancer, with greater or lesser consensus in the international literature. All Occupational Health and Safety professionals working in these areas and all workers involved must be aware (at least briefly) of the associated conditions, in order to mitigate the risk. It would be interesting to assess their knowledge on this topic and understand, among the most relevant sectors at the national level, which concrete protection measures (collective and individual) are taken and what their respective effectiveness appears to be. KEYWORDS: esophageal cancer, safety at work, occupational health and occupational medicine.

Cancro Gástrico associado ao Trabalho

Introduction/framework/objectives There are oncological pathologies in which it is believed that some occupational exposures can modulate their appearance. The aim of this review was to summarize, in a succinct and practical way, what most relevant and recente data was published on the subject, in the international literature, in relation to Gastric Cancer (GC). Methodology This is a Bibliographic Review, initiated through a search carried out in January 2022 in the databases “CINALH plus with full text, Medline with full text, Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cochrane Methodology Register, Nursing and Allied Health Collection: comprehensive, MedicLatina and RCAAP”. Contents Gastric Cancer is the fifth most common and the second or third deadliest. Pathogenesis includes a complex interaction between genetic, microbiological, environmental and dietary factors, as well as alcohol, tobacco and socioeconomic status. The possible association with occupational issues is insufficiently investigated; references are found for wood, aromatic amines, pesticides/herbicides, coal, chromium, cadmium, lead, asbestos, solvents, nitrogen oxides, ionizing radiation/rádon and Helicobacter Pylori. The most relevant activities in this context are stone extraction, mining; agriculture, fishing; ceramics, textiles, food, rubber, leather and cosmetics production; traditional Chinese medication; laundry (traditional and dry); as well as stations with dust and/or high temperatures (metallurgy, foundry, boilermakers) and fire departments. Discussion and Conclusions There are some sectors/tasks/agents associated with Gastric Cancer with greater or lesser consensus in the international literature. All Occupational Health and Safety professionals working in these areas and all workers involved must be aware (at least briefly) of the associated conditions, in order to mitigate the risk. It would be interesting to assess their knowledge on this topic and understand, among the most relevant sectors at the national level, which concrete protection measures (collective and individual) are taken and what their respective effectiveness appears to be. KEYWORDS: gastric cancer, stomach cancer, safety at work, occupational health and occupational medicine.

Psitacose e Saúde Ocupacional

Introduction/framework/objectives Psittacosis is a rare entity caused by Chlamydophila psittaci. This bacterium is transmitted through contact with contaminated birds, namely psittaciformes, which include parrots, macaws and parakeets, as pigeons and chickens. The objective of this work is to highlight the pathology and the role of Occupational Health in it. Methodology A bibliographic search was carried out on original articles published in Portuguese and English, in June 2022, in the PubMed and Cochrane Library databases, using the keywords “Psittacosis”, “Occupational exposure” and “Occupational health”. Three articles were also included, not covered by the research, relevant to the work, for reporting the Portuguese reality. Contents Outbreaks can occur in workers with occupations that involve contact with live birds or carcasses, such as veterinarians, breeders, or pet store workers. However, it is difficult to establish the precise incidence and prevalence of psittacosis, probably due to the lack of routine screening. Transmission occurs mainly by aerosols, inhalation of urine, feces or other contaminated particles; transmission between humans, although possible, is rare. The incubation period ranges from five to 14 days, but may extend to weeks in cases of subacute or latent infection. It has a clinical presentation like a flu-like syndrome and can cause disseminated and even potentially fatal disease. The most frequent findings on chest radiography are segmental or lobar consolidation, especially in the lower lobes. It can occasionally cause marked leukocytosis, c-reactive protein (CRP) is often elevated, and liver enzymes change in approximately half of hospitalized patients, with elevation of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and low serum albumin levels. Tetracyclines are the drug of choice for treatment. Discussion and Conclusions Although the number of cases is apparently small, the impact of the disease is most likely underestimated. Thus, it is necessary to increase the awareness of this pathology both for Occupational Health professionals and for employers and workers themselves. On the other hand, an approach is needed that encompasses collaboration between human and animal health agencies, laboratories and medical and veterinary professionals, for timely surveillance, reporting and treatment. Thus, anamnesis and early recognition of the epidemiological context are extremely important, with a view to diagnosing and instituting appropriate therapy. In addition, occupational risk factors and exposure control among workers should be considered to prevent transmission in the workplace. KEYWORDS: psittacosis, occupational exposure, occupational health.

Development of the core of an ICF-based instrument for the assessment of work capacity and guidance in return to work of employees on sick leave: a multidisciplinary modified Delphi study

BackgroundSeveral occupational health disciplines are involved in return to work guidance, implying that good interdisciplinary collaboration is important. A shared conceptual framework and a common language for the assessment of work capacity and guidance in return to work is expected to be at the benefit of appropriate and sustainable employability of sick employees. The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) can be considered a shared conceptual framework and is also promising in terms of a common language. The purpose of the current study is to reach multidisciplinary consensus among occupational health professionals on the content of an ICF-based instrument for the assessment of work capacity and guidance in return to work.MethodsTo obtain multidisciplinary consensus we conducted a modified Delphi study among twelve occupational health experts, including four occupational physicians, four insurance physicians and four labour experts. The study included two e-mail rounds and two virtual meetings. In the consecutive rounds the experts assessed ICF items as well as a list of non-ICF-based work-related environmental factors on their relevance for the assessment of the work capacity and guidance in return to work together with their interpretability.ResultsThe four consecutive Delphi rounds resulted in 20 items that are minimally needed for the assessment of the work capacity and return to work possibilities of employees on sick leave. The final list included six items on personal functioning, seven items on social functioning and seven items on physical functioning.ConclusionsThis set of items forms the core of an ICF-based instrument, which is expected to facilitate interdisciplinary and intradisciplinary communication because of the use of a shared conceptual framework. As such, it should be of help in the guidance in return to work of employees on sick leave and contribute to appropriate and sustainable employability.

Safeguarding in occupational health

According to NHS England safeguarding means “protecting a citizen’s health, wellbeing and human rights; enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect” and goes on to say that “Safeguarding children, young people and adults is a collective responsibility”. So, like health and safety safeguarding is everyone’s business. Occupational health professionals have always needed an understanding of the issues around safeguarding in adults, but this need has increased in recent years as more vulnerable workers have been recruited and vulnerability has been better recognized in the workplace. It is important to remember that workers can be both permanently vulnerable, e.g., due to a learning disability or only temporarily vulnerable, e.g., due to a current mental health condition. Many media reports concentrate on the safeguarding of children and the elderly, populations not usually encountered in occupational health practice. But the Covid pandemic has brought OHPs direct access to people’s homes during video and to a lesser extent, telephone consultations and with that has come the potential to witness behaviours which would not be seen in a conventional face to face occupational health assessment. This may sound far-fetched but consider the scenario of a routine video consultation with a worker aimed at providing advice to their manager on their likely return to work.

Occupational Medicine and Total Worker Health®: from preventing health and safety risks in the workplace to promoting health for the total well-being of the worker.

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of Public Health interventions for global social and economic development. Still, the community's well-being depends on each individual's health. In addition to pandemics, health conditions can be altered by chronic degenerative diseases, aging, disabilities, and work. Personal behaviors such as poor nutrition, lack of physical activity, tobacco use, excessive alcohol consumption, and drug use can also affect health and safety at work. In the last twenty years, we have witnessed rapid changes in the nature of work, workplace and workforce. In parallel, there is increasing attention to fatigue, psychosocial risks and the achievement of decent, sustainable and healthy work as societal goals. Consequently, in 2011, NIOSH developed Total Worker Health®, a holistic approach to worker well-being to help improve worker health and safety. More recently, in Italy, the Ministry of Health has provided for the preparation of projects according to the "Total Worker Health (TWH)" approach in the National Prevention Plan for the five years 2020-2025. As indicated by the Ministry, the strategic role of the occupational physician is fundamental, being the only figure of occupational safety and health professionals able to integrate the health and safety of workers with their well-being to reach the Total Worker Health.

Occupational medicine and ergonomics: a new paradigm for improved management of ergonomic risks

Abstract Despite the existence of numerous initiatives and methods to prevent occupational risks and improve workplace well-being, musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) remain a major health concern in European countries. Without doubt, the cause of this worrying situation is multifactorial, and various disease management approaches have been proposed in the scientific literature. However, the authors of this article identified a gap that should be considered: collaboration between occupational health professionals and ergonomists would lead to more efficient ergonomic interventions and proper implementation of proactive measures for occupational health and safety. The paper presents a brief literature review and proposes a methodological framework that englobes the cooperation of occupational health professionals and ergonomists for implementation of ergonomic interventions.

Process evaluation of the ‘Grip on Health’ intervention in general and occupational health practice

BackgroundFor working patients with a lower socioeconomic position, health complaints often result from a combination of problems on multiple life domains. To prevent long-term health complaints and absence from work, it is crucial for general and occupational health professionals to adopt a broad perspective on health and to collaborate when necessary. This study aimed to evaluate how the ‘Grip on Health’ intervention is implemented in general and occupational health practice to address multi-domain problems and to promote interprofessional collaboration.MethodA process evaluation was performed among 28 general and occupational health professionals, who were trained and implemented the Grip on Health intervention during a six-month period. The ‘Measurement Instrument for Determinants of Innovations’ was used to evaluate facilitators and barriers for implementing Grip on Health. Data included three group interviews with 17 professionals, a questionnaire and five individual interviews.ResultsWhile most health professionals were enthusiastic about the Grip on Health intervention, its implementation was hindered by contextual factors. Barriers in the socio-political context consisted of legal rules and regulations around sickness and disability, professional protocols for interprofessional collaboration, and the Covid-19 pandemic. On the organizational level, lack of consultation time was the main barrier. Facilitators were found on the level of the intervention and the health professional. For instance, professionals described how the intervention supports addressing multi-domain problems and has created awareness of work in each other’s healthcare domain. They recognized the relevance of the intervention for a broad target group and experienced benefits of its use. The intervention period was, nevertheless, too short to determine the outcomes of Grip on Health.ConclusionThe Grip on Health intervention can be used to address problems on multiple life domains and to stimulate interprofessional collaboration. Visualizing multi-domain problems appeared especially helpful to guide patients with a lower socioeconomic position, and a joint training of general and occupational health professionals promoted their mutual awareness and familiarity. For a wider implementation, stakeholders on all levels, including the government and professional associations, should reflect on ways to address contextual barriers to promote a broad perspective on health as well as on collaborative work.

Ability of youth operators to reach agricultural all-terrain vehicles controls

Problem: Utility All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) are one major cause of youth injuries and fatalities on farms. Utility ATVs have heavy weights and fast speeds that require complex maneuvering. Youth’s physical capabilities may not be sufficient to perform those complex maneuvers correctly. Therefore, it is hypothesized that most youth engage in ATV-related incidents because they ride vehicles unfit for them. There is a need to assess ATV-youth fit based on youth anthropometry. Method: This study focused on evaluating potential inconsistencies between the operational requirements of utility ATVs and the anthropometric measures of youth through virtual simulations. Virtual simulations were performed to assess 11 youth-ATV fit guidelines proposed by several ATV safety advocacy organizations (National 4-H council, CPSC, IPCH, and FReSH). In total, 17 utility ATVs along with male-and-female-youth of nine ages (8 to 16 years old) and three height percentiles (5th, 50th, and 95th) were evaluated. Results: The results demonstrated a physical mismatch between ATVs’ operational requirements and youth’s anthropometry. For example, male-youth aged 16 of the 95th height percentile failed to pass at least 1 out of the 11 fit guidelines for 35 % of all vehicles evaluated. The results were even more concerning for females. Female youth 10 years old and younger (from all height percentiles) failed to pass at least one fit guideline for all ATVs evaluated. Discussion: Youth are not recommended to ride utility ATVs. Practical Applications: This study provides quantitative and systematic evidence to modify current ATV safety guidelines. Furthermore, youth occupational health professionals could use the present findings to prevent ATV-related incidents in agricultural settings.

Experience, user satisfaction, and difficulties of online occupational health consultations during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional survey of workers in Japan

COVID-19 has led to an increased use of online consultations in occupational health. We examined experience, satisfaction, and difficulties with online consultations during the first year after the COVID-19 pandemic by surveying a sample of workers. An online survey was conducted in March 2021 among full-time employees of an online panel survey (E-COCO-J: The Employee Cohort Study on the COVID-19 Pandemic in Japan). Respondents were asked to report whether they had online or face-to-face consultations with occupational health professionals in the past year, their level of satisfaction, and their difficulties and problems related to the online consultations. Of the 1,153 respondents, 1,102 (excluding those who were unemployed or on leave) were included in the analysis. Fifty respondents had had online consultations in the past year and 57 had face-to-face consultations. The proportion of respondents who reported satisfaction with online consultations was high (more than 70%) for general health, follow-ups, and guidance consultations, among others. However, the proportion of satisfaction with online occupational consultations was low (less than 40%) for employees who worked long hours, or took leave or returned to work. Over 30% of the respondents indicated that the difficulties with online consultations were due to incongruence with their expectations ("I preferred a face-to-face consultation instead of an online one"), quality of communication ("I did not feel like I was able to consult sufficiently"), and concerns about confidentiality ("I was worried that someone could hear our conversation"). The experience of online consultations was similar to that of face-to-face consultations. Satisfaction with online occupational consultations for those who worked long hours and those who took leave or returned to work was low. In the online consultation for occupational health, the occupational health professional may be required to judge its suitability depending on type of the consultation and take necessary consideration and measures to maintain the quality of the online consultation.

Silicosis after short-term exposure.

Silicosis develops after inhalation of dust containing respirable crystalline silica (RCS) and is recognized as an occupational disease. Workers also develop accelerated and acute silicosis after shorter exposure to respirable silica dust at high concentrations. The objective of this study is to investigate and identify the occupational groups at the highest risk of silicosis due to short-term RCS exposure. All confirmed cases of silicosis reported to the Central Register of Occupational Diseases in Poland between 2000 and 2019 were included. Data analysis covered: gender, age at the time of occupational disease diagnosis, exposure duration to RCS and sector of the national economy. A total of 2066 confirmed cases of silicosis were analysed. Thirty-two cases occurred after RCS exposure shorter than 5 years. Median age was 50. Seventy-five per cent (n = 24) of these cases were diagnosed in industrial processing workers who were mainly employed in manufacturing of non-metallic mineral products (44%, n = 14) and metal production (19%, n = 6). 16% (n = 5) of cases were associated with employment in mining and quarrying, 6% (n = 2) in conservation of monuments and 3% (n = 1) in construction. The findings identify occupational groups at risk of silicosis due to short-term silica exposure. Medical professionals should be aware of early silicosis symptoms, and occupational health professionals and employers should improve protective and preventive measures in silica related industries.

Adverse Reactions after the Third Dose of the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine among Medical School Residents in a Regional Reference University Hospital in Italy.

The recent emergence of new variants of concern (VOCs) of SARS-CoV-2 and the uncertain duration of protection provided by the primary immunization cycle have highlighted the need for COVID-19 booster vaccinations. However, only a few studies have assessed the safety and reactogenicity profile of mRNA booster doses. Therefore, we conducted an online survey with the aim of assessing the adverse reaction profile in the 7 days following a third dose of the BNT162b2 vaccine in a population of resident physicians who had already been investigated after the primary vaccination. Among the 512 resident physicians (female = 53.2%, mean age = 29.8 years) invited to participate in the survey, 222 completed the survey (56.5% female, mean age of 29.9 years), with an average time from second to third dose of 8.6 months. The most common adverse reactions were local pain (88.3%), fatigue (58.1%), muscle/joint pain (44.1%), and headache (38.3%), all subsiding in 48-72 h. While the local reaction rate was similar to that following the first two doses, the systemic reactions were considerably less common and milder compared to the second vaccination. Nonetheless, over one third (36.1%) of participants reported interference with their normal activities. These results complement our previous findings and could aid occupational and public health professionals in the counselling of vaccinees.

Workplace social support, mental health and work functioning among young workers

Abstract Background Young adults with a history of mental health problems (MHPs) report lower work functioning (WF) compared to their peers without a history of MHPs. The identification of modifiable, protective workplace factors, such as workplace social support, is needed to increase WF.We examined the moderating role of workplace social support from supervisors and co-workers in the prospective association between MHP trajectories from childhood to young adulthood and WF among young adults. Methods The most recent 2019/2020 data of N = 861 young workers, participating in the 18-year follow-up Dutch TRAILS (TRacking Adolescents’ Individual Lives Survey) cohort study, was used. MHP trajectories for internalising and externalising problems included measurements at ages 11, 13, 16, 19, 22 and 26. Supervisor and co-worker social support were measured at age 29. WF was assessed at age 29. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the moderating role of workplace social support in the association between MHP trajectories and WF. Results Four trajectories were identified for both internalising and externalising problems. Young adults with high-stable MHP trajectories reported more often low WF (ORs 3.73 (95% CI 2.28-6.12) and 2.88 (1.78-4.65) for internalising and externalising problems respectively) than those with low-stable trajectories. Higher supervisor and co-worker social support were associated with a lower odds for low work functioning (adjusted ORs ranging from 0.67 (0.54-0.83) to 0.84 (0.71-1.00)). No moderating effect of workplace social support was found for the association between MHP trajectories and WF. Conclusions Both supervisor and co-worker support were shown to be important for all young workers, regardless their history of mental health problems. Occupational health professionals should create awareness among employers and employees that workplace social support is beneficial for young adults’ work functioning. Key messages • Both supervisor and co-worker social support are important for all young workers’ work functioning, regardless of their history of mental health problems. • Creating awareness of the impact of workplace social support on young adults’ work functioning among employers and employees should be a priority area for occupational health practice and policy.

Why I became an Occupational health Practitioner

In June 2013 I joined a private hospital which had just signed a contract with a local Mining organization. I was assigned to manage the contract as a site manager/company doctor. It was in the deep rural areas of Botswana. I had just finished my medical internship, I had no management background and no occupational health/medicine background. In fact, I did not even know how to take a proper occupational health history. The scope of the project was broad. It covered managing day-to-day operations of the mine clinic which included both occupational health and primary care services. The field of occupational health is broad and covers the prevention of illnesses arising out of employment, work-related injuries and disorders, and all aspects of the interactions between work and health. Occupational health professionals should be involved in the design and selection of health and safety equipment, appropriate methods and procedures and safe working practices. They should encourage workers’ participation in this as well as providing feedback from experience. I was also expected to do daily patient consultations, attend management meetings and advise the Company.